Voices of Foreign-Educated Filipino Nurses: Stressors and Coping Strategies Regarding Transition

Background - In the United States (U.S.), the nursing shortage will affect nearly every state with a projected growth and replacement of 1.2 million nurses for 2020 (U.S. Department of Labor, 2012). Based on the Filipino culture, the family’s welfare, family obligation, and sacrifices for family members are some of the contributing factors that influenced Foreign-educated Filipino nurses (FEFNs) to emigrate from their homeland (Zaide, 1999; Parrenas, 2005).

 Objectives - To identify the stressors, coping strategies and perceived effectiveness of those coping strategies in regards to the transition of foreign-educated Filipino nurses in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

 Design - Phenomenology Study

 Settings - Northeastern Pennsylvania in acute care and long term care facilities.

Participants - Ten foreign-educated Filipino nurses who received their nursing education in the Philippines, live within the NEPA area, and working as a RN in NEPA.

 Methods - A phenomenological approach opted to examine the stressors, coping strategies, and effectiveness of coping strategies of 10 FEFNs in relation to the transition of FEFNs to Northeastern Pennsylvania (NEPA) through face-to-face interviewing. Methods of data analysis incorporated the guidelines of Moustakas’ (1994) “Modification of the Stevick- Colaizzi-Keen Method of Analysis” (p. 121).

 Results - The study results provided insight into their stressors related to their Living Environment, Family Here and Home, Achieving Independence, and Work Environment. Their utilization of coping strategies to address their stressors centered on their Inner Strength, Culture Expression and Identity, Future for Family, and Environmental Support. The effectiveness of their coping strategies created an experience that stimulated successful acculturation to the NEPA area.

Conclusions - The significance of the study provided understanding into the recruitment of the FEFNs, the magnitude of resources available, and the strength of their collectivistic culture. The implications for transitioning of FEFNs have the potential to improve collegiality among nursing personnel, expand environmental resources for future FEFNs, and modify the recruitment process for future FEFNs.