Leadership Strategies in Resolving Communication Challenges Among Internationally Educated Nurses: A Literature Review

Abstract

Communication and leadership are critical aspects of nursing, particularly among international educated nurses (IEN) who bring diverse cultural backgrounds, experiences, and communication skills and styles in healthcare system. IENs faces challenges related to language proficiency and effective communication plays a vital role in ensuring patient safety and collaboration with other healthcare providers. Nurses’ leaders and managers should support the IENs to improve their communication skills and to ensure that resolving conflict should be in culturally sensitive manner. Aim: The study seeks to consolidate existing research on the leadership strategies employed by nurse leaders or managers to address communication challenges encountered by IENs. Methods: A semi-systematic literature review included 12 articles in this study (n=8 qualitative studies, n=1 cross sectional study, n=1 qualitative and exploratory, n=1, descriptive phenomenological study, and n=1 mixed method). Covidence was used as an online platform tool to facilitate the process of the review by two authors. Results: The review yielded four different themes that points towards identified leadership strategies and interventions. This includes a. supportive, coaching, mentorship/supervisory, b. collaboration and strategic leadership strategy and c. transformational and d. transcultural and experiential leadership. Conclusion: The literature review conducted revealed a combination of leadership strategies utilized by nursing leaders/managers to help resolve communication barriers experienced by IENs. Overall, there is no single, clearcut strategy identified to resolve these challenges. Instead, as a nurse manager or nurse leader, one must be able to tailor the strategies to be used according to the needs of the IENS.