Systematized review of international registered nurses’ experiences of license validation process
Parrinello, Katerina (2024)
2024
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024120332139
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024120332139
Tiivistelmä
The thesis is a systematized review of registered nurses ‘experience of license validation process for international nurses in Finland, the United States of America (USA), and the United Kingdom (UK). The thesis cover information of how European Union (EU) educated nurses can work in the European Union. The topic is important since there is shortage of health care workers worldwide. Many countries are hoping for international nurses to help with the issue. When recruiting international nurses, it is beneficial to understand international nurses experience of the degree validation process and work experiences in health care settings. This information can be used to improve the process and make it convenient for the international nurses and authorities.
Method: The thesis was done as a systemized review. The data search was done on CINAHL, ProQuest and WebMD databases and publisher portals. 12 studies were included to the thesis. After reviewing the studies, a thematic analysis was done and the main themes for each country were identified.
Main themes for Finland were that licensing process was unclear for the intranational nurses. They found collaboration between higher education institutions, recruiting agencies and hospitals helpful. The nurses needed to balance their time between studying and working to get money.
For the USA, the main themes identified were the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), Authority to test (ATT)/ the credential evaluating organization Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS). Licensing process was seen long, expensive, and stressful. NCLEX required studying that needed to start enough early. Time management was essential between work and study. The nurses found that the knowledge studied for the NCLEX was useful for nursing practice in the US. The legal information was found to be useful. ATT/CGFNS document collection was hard and for some recruitment company closure caused complications. Some nurses had to take CGFNS exam that was not found to be helpful by some. One nurse mentioned it being similar to the NCLEX. Another one mention it could help with English language.
Main themes for UK were the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), the English language test (IELS) and cost of licensing. The different process for European Union (EU) and non-EU educated nurses was seen unfair. The nurses and educators did not know how to prepare for the OSCE exam, and it was found to be hard. One study found that the OSCE is seen positively by nurses. The English language test was found to be unnecessary confusing in the nurses’ opinion. The different process for EU and non-EU educated nurses was felt unfair.
Conclusion: Each country has a different path for the international nurses to obtain their licenses. Some of the issues being similar, the process should be improved to be optimal.
Recommendation: The subject should be studied more that the process could be optimized. By learning each process pros and cons the countries can develop their process and look example from the countries that the process is found to be relevant.
Method: The thesis was done as a systemized review. The data search was done on CINAHL, ProQuest and WebMD databases and publisher portals. 12 studies were included to the thesis. After reviewing the studies, a thematic analysis was done and the main themes for each country were identified.
Main themes for Finland were that licensing process was unclear for the intranational nurses. They found collaboration between higher education institutions, recruiting agencies and hospitals helpful. The nurses needed to balance their time between studying and working to get money.
For the USA, the main themes identified were the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), Authority to test (ATT)/ the credential evaluating organization Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS). Licensing process was seen long, expensive, and stressful. NCLEX required studying that needed to start enough early. Time management was essential between work and study. The nurses found that the knowledge studied for the NCLEX was useful for nursing practice in the US. The legal information was found to be useful. ATT/CGFNS document collection was hard and for some recruitment company closure caused complications. Some nurses had to take CGFNS exam that was not found to be helpful by some. One nurse mentioned it being similar to the NCLEX. Another one mention it could help with English language.
Main themes for UK were the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), the English language test (IELS) and cost of licensing. The different process for European Union (EU) and non-EU educated nurses was seen unfair. The nurses and educators did not know how to prepare for the OSCE exam, and it was found to be hard. One study found that the OSCE is seen positively by nurses. The English language test was found to be unnecessary confusing in the nurses’ opinion. The different process for EU and non-EU educated nurses was felt unfair.
Conclusion: Each country has a different path for the international nurses to obtain their licenses. Some of the issues being similar, the process should be improved to be optimal.
Recommendation: The subject should be studied more that the process could be optimized. By learning each process pros and cons the countries can develop their process and look example from the countries that the process is found to be relevant.