Global migration and factors that support acculturation and retention of international nurses: A systematic review (26 June 2022)

Summary

Nursing workforce shortages are an issue of international concern, with the gap between demand for services and the limited numbers of nurses widening. Recruiting nurses internationally is one solution that is helping to bridge this gap in some health systems. This systematic review in the International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances aimed to explore the lived experiences of international nurses working and living in different countries globally. The authors identified factors that can help nurses from other countries to adapt culturally to the UK health system, and that may support retention of international staff.

The authors found that in order to improve the long term retention of international nurses, cultural integration and language barriers should be sensitively managed to enable effective acculturation. Culturally sensitive leadership should also be promoted to ensure zero tolerance of inappropriate racist and discriminatory behaviours.