Paper
Saturday, 22 July 2006
This presentation is part of : Work Environment Strategies and Models
The Acculturation of International Registered Nurses Through a Nurse Residency Program: From the Perspective of the Participants
Claudia DiSabatino Smith, RN, MSN, CNA, BC and Judy C. Ong, BSN, MSN, APRN, BC. Nursing and Patient Education, St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
Learning Objective #1: List at least one strength and one weakness of the international nurse residency program as determined by international registered nurse participants.
Learning Objective #2: Describe unmet needs of the international registered nurse after participation in the international nurse residency program from the perspective of the participant.
International recruiting of registered nurses is one strategy to lessen the nursing shortage. Retention of those internationally recruited registered nurses (IRRNs) and other international registered nurses (IRNs) is another strategy. Nurse residency programs, designed to assist the transition of IRRNs and IRNs to nursing practice in the U.S., consume large amounts of human and financial resources for the sponsoring organization.  An exploratory qualitative research study was designed by multi-national co-investigators to explore the perceptions of twenty IRNs and IRRNs regarding their experiences and unmet needs following a nurse residency program designed specifically for IRRNs. SIGNIFICANCE: Retention of the nurse residency participants is one method of justifying costs to the organization, thereby making retention imperative. Retention of IRNs and IRRNs is more likely when they experience a successful transition to nursing practice in the United States. It is important to evaluate nurse residency programs for IRRNs and IRNs from the perspective of the participant to determine the effectiveness of the residency program in meeting the needs of the IRN and IRRN. Conventional evaluations of such programs are not effective methods of determining effectiveness due to cultural issues of respect and fear of deportation. SAMPLE: A cohort of 10 internationally recruited registered nurses and 1 international registered nurse. METHODOLOGY: Focus groups consisting of two to five IRNs and IRRNs are used for data collection. DATA ANALYSIS:  Transcripts of the focus group sessions were verified for accuracy, and reviewed for patterns and themes. RESULTS: The co-investigators will present findings focusing on strengths and weaknesses of the international nurse residency program and unmet needs of the participants.

See more of Work Environment Strategies and Models
See more of The 17th International Nursing Research Congress Focusing on Evidence-Based Practice (19-22 July 2006)