The integration of nurses with foreign background into Finnish healthcare institutions : A literature review
Egbete, Blessing Ihechi (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202504106194
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202504106194
Tiivistelmä
This thesis explores the multifaceted process of integrating nurses with foreign backgrounds, also known as Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) nurses, into the Finnish healthcare system. The study primarily focuses on identifying the factors that influence this integration process while highlighting the challenges encountered by CALD nurses. Furthermore, it examines the practices and strategies used to facilitate their successful integration. Through a systematic literature review, the research analyzes existing studies around the topic to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of foreign nurses working in Finnish healthcare institutions. The study utilized thematic analysis to identify common themes and patterns related to the integration process of CALD nurses.
The findings of the study revealed that several key factors significantly influence the integration of CALD nurses into the Finnish healthcare workforce. These factors include language proficiency, cultural competence, organizational support, recognition of qualifications, and discrimination. The thesis emphasizes that proficiency in the Finnish language is a cornerstone of successful integration for CALD nurses, as it affects their ability to communicate effectively with colleagues and patients, provide safe and adequate care, and build professional relationships with their colleagues.
Cultural competence is also identified as a crucial factor, as it enables CALD nurses to navigate the cultural differences within the healthcare environment and provide culturally sensitive care to patients. The study highlights the importance of organizational support in providing CALD nurses with adequate orientation, language training, and mentorship to facilitate their adaptation to the new healthcare system and workplace culture
The thesis concludes by emphasizing the importance of addressing these challenges and implementing effective strategies to support the integration of CALD nurses, It suggests that by providing comprehensive language training, fostering cultural competence, enhancing organizational support, streamlining qualification recognition processes, and combating discrimination, Finnish healthcare institutions can create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for CALD nurses. This, in turn, will enable them to fully utilize the valuable skills and experiences of these nurses, reduce employee turnover rates, and ultimately improve the quality of healthcare ser-vices provided to patients.
The findings of the study revealed that several key factors significantly influence the integration of CALD nurses into the Finnish healthcare workforce. These factors include language proficiency, cultural competence, organizational support, recognition of qualifications, and discrimination. The thesis emphasizes that proficiency in the Finnish language is a cornerstone of successful integration for CALD nurses, as it affects their ability to communicate effectively with colleagues and patients, provide safe and adequate care, and build professional relationships with their colleagues.
Cultural competence is also identified as a crucial factor, as it enables CALD nurses to navigate the cultural differences within the healthcare environment and provide culturally sensitive care to patients. The study highlights the importance of organizational support in providing CALD nurses with adequate orientation, language training, and mentorship to facilitate their adaptation to the new healthcare system and workplace culture
The thesis concludes by emphasizing the importance of addressing these challenges and implementing effective strategies to support the integration of CALD nurses, It suggests that by providing comprehensive language training, fostering cultural competence, enhancing organizational support, streamlining qualification recognition processes, and combating discrimination, Finnish healthcare institutions can create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for CALD nurses. This, in turn, will enable them to fully utilize the valuable skills and experiences of these nurses, reduce employee turnover rates, and ultimately improve the quality of healthcare ser-vices provided to patients.