Experiences of African Nurses in Finland : A Case Study on Integration, Race and Language
Yabal, Judith (2015)
Jyväskylän ammattikorkeakoulu
2015
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201505249834
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201505249834
Tiivistelmä
There has been an increase in the past few years in the recruitment and education of foreign nurses in Finland. The differences in integration among foreign nurses however has differed based on country of origin and race, African nurses reported to have more difficulties integrating compared to their peers. What these differences are and what African nurses experience in their process of integration into the Finnish work environment are the interest of this thesis.
Qualitative research methods in a ‘two-case study’ design were used for this thesis. The method included in-depth interviews with chosen participants. The participants’ experiences were documented and later analyzed using thematic analysis, piecing together dominant patterns in the data that addressed the research questions.
The results highlighted the foremost challenges African nurses faced while studying and working in Finland compared to their foreign or Finnish peers. Dominant themes shown in the results were difficulties in learning the Finnish language, lack of trust from fellow staff, importance of practice placement mentorship, racial difference, feelings of lack of belonging, and poor outlooks on career advancement in Finland.
The purpose of this thesis is to open discussion on possible barriers to integration faced by minority nurses, to better promote and advance multicultural interactions in the Finnish work environment; as well as better prepare and aid nursing institutes in the reception, mentoring and education of a growing international nursing student population in Finland.
Qualitative research methods in a ‘two-case study’ design were used for this thesis. The method included in-depth interviews with chosen participants. The participants’ experiences were documented and later analyzed using thematic analysis, piecing together dominant patterns in the data that addressed the research questions.
The results highlighted the foremost challenges African nurses faced while studying and working in Finland compared to their foreign or Finnish peers. Dominant themes shown in the results were difficulties in learning the Finnish language, lack of trust from fellow staff, importance of practice placement mentorship, racial difference, feelings of lack of belonging, and poor outlooks on career advancement in Finland.
The purpose of this thesis is to open discussion on possible barriers to integration faced by minority nurses, to better promote and advance multicultural interactions in the Finnish work environment; as well as better prepare and aid nursing institutes in the reception, mentoring and education of a growing international nursing student population in Finland.