The attitudes of Turkish nurses towards the employment of internationally educated nurses

• Published in: International nursing review 2018-06, Vol.65 (2), p.209-216
• Main Authors: Harmanci Seren, A.K., Eskin Bacaksiz, F., Yildirim, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Attitudes; Clinical nursing; Cross-Sectional Studies; Developing Countries; Employment; Female; Foreign Professional Personnel - statistics & numerical data; Hospitals; Humans; Internationally Educated Nurses; Interprofessional Relations; Licensure, Nursing; Male; Migration; Nurses; Nurses, International - statistics & numerical data; Nursing; Nursing Shortage; Personnel Selection; Policy making; Questionnaires; Recruitment; Turkey; Working conditions
• ISSN: 0020-8132; 1466-7657
• DOI: 10.1111/inr.12431

Aim To define the attitudes of nurses working in public hospitals towards the employment of internationally educated nurses. Background The employment of internationally educated nurses is expected to be an important strategy for solving the nursing shortage in Turkey and many other countries. Methods This descriptive and cross‐sectional study was conducted with nurses working in seven public university hospitals in different geographical regions of Turkey in September 2015. The data were collected from 1061 nurses in these hospitals using a self‐report questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, t‐test and the Mann–Whitney U test. Results The participants generally did not have positive attitudes towards the employment of internationally educated nurses citing the possibility of experiencing cultural and professional difficulties. They also indicated that the employment of internationally educated nurses is not a real solution for the nursing shortage unless working conditions for nurses are improved. However, younger nurses have more positive attitudes towards employment of internationally educated nurses than older ones. Implications for nursing policy Defining the attitudes of the nurses working in clinical fields towards the employment of internationally educated nurses is an important issue, because it provides data for reviewing the existing policies and evaluating the possible issues that require attention during implementation of these policies. Policymakers may focus on both creating better working environment conditions and helping both the native and internationally educated nurses during the recruiting process.