We can learn from nurses who have been recruited internationally
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We can learn from nurses who have been recruited internationally

Barry Quinn Consultant editor, Nursing Management

The insufficient number of nurses required to serve a growing and diverse population remains a challenge worldwide. In our feature (page 16), Nick Evans reminds us that, as the UK continues to respond to the impact of Brexit, the recent pandemic and world events, many healthcare organisations are once again looking to international recruitment to help address the national shortfall of nurses.

Nursing Management. 29, 2, 5-5. doi: 10.7748/nm.29.2.5.s1

Published: 07 April 2022

There is an urgent and ongoing need to critically examine why people from diverse backgrounds, cultures and genders do not become nurses, and why so many of our colleagues choose to leave their nursing roles.

Now may also be a good time to reflect on the richness of experiences and the learning opportunities that arise through working alongside nurses from across the world.

Figures show that, of almost 732,000 staff on the nursing register, more than 30,000 come from the European Economic Area (EEA) and almost 92,000 from outside the EEA. The countries providing the largest numbers of nurses are the Phillippines and India.

All of these nurses bring with them a diverse range of experiences of life and nursing from which we can all learn and improve our practice.

By learning from our international colleagues we can develop new approaches to clinical practice and nursing care, and find new ways to be more inclusive.

As the feature article suggests, this richness also needs to be reflected by the presence of many more international colleagues in senior nursing teams and senior positions.

We can promote the beauty of diversity in nursing by appointing more international nurses to managerial positions. This will not only put the profession in a stronger position, but also make it a more attractive career option to homegrown nurses.

‘By learning from our international colleagues we can develop new approaches to nursing’

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