Global Nursing Professional Migration: Addressing the Issue of Communication and Transition through Utilization of On-Line Education and Virtual Internships

The global nursing professional migration: addressing the issue of communication and transition through utilization of on-line education and virtual internships

            Each year many nurses migrate to the United States for better working conditions, career changes, enhanced development, a better life, safety for themselves or family, or sometimes just to experience something new. Research has shown that migrating healthcare professionals face many obstacles during the transition process to the new culture and healthcare system.  Some of those obstacles include: lack of understanding of United States Health Care System, lack of education about appropriate communication techniques, and lack of support from the sponsoring corporation during the transition period into a new and unfamiliar setting. Many nurses and their families have high levels of stress and disappointment when experiencing cultural shock from the immersion into a new culture. Those obstacles, on many occasions, prohibit new nurses from becoming successful as healthcare professionals within United States healthcare system. Many of them return to their country of origin or decide to change their career and remain within the USA border. Corporations and healthcare systems then are faced with all the migration costs, training and still are faced with a nursing shortage. This seminar will present the option of on-line education and visual internships as an opportunity to close the gap in education and aid in better transition into the new healthcare culture, professional expectations and social culture. By closing the gap and supporting migrating nurses through providing them with the needed education, professional development and support we will make the process of transition and cultural shock less overwhelming, thus, raising the chances of keeping the, much needed, nursing work force within the USA borders.

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