Kerri Arcus
Whitireia NZ.
Title: What do internationally qualified nurses ‘bring’ to their postgraduate nursing studies?
Biography
Biography: Kerri Arcus
Abstract
This research reports on what Internationally Qualified Nurses (IQN) ‘bring’ to their postgraduate studies, examined from the different perspectives of the IQNs themselves and their nursing lecturers. The complexities of transition and integration for IQN into nursing workforces of a newly adopted country is under scrutiny internationally. However, when these nurses progress their careers via postgraduate studies, little attention has been paid to this transition.
This study explored the transition of IQNs into postgraduate courses and the factors that supported their success. The research was undertaken in partnership between nursing faculty and Poutama: Learning Support Services. Ethics approval was gained, and an online invitation to participate was sent to all postgraduate nurse students across two semesters in 2016-2017. Postgraduate teaching staff were invited to answer a similar survey.
Nine IQNs responded who were predominantly from the Philippines but whose foundational nursing education was in English. Eight of the nine academic staff respondents were experienced tertiary teachers of eight or more years.
The IQNs identified their prior nursing knowledge and experience as the predominant skill that would support their success but expected to further this through postgraduate studies. Academic staff also considered IQN prior nursing knowledge a strength, and also identified their apparent motivation and resilient approach to learning. Academic staff valued the IQNs cultural contribution, but identified their need to develop an understanding of the NZ cultural-professional context and advance their academic scholarship.
Entering postgraduate education requires a transition to higher level study. For these IQN, they must also transition to a new educational approach. This double transition must occur quickly for academic success within course timeframes. The findings of this small study can inform nursing education to promote strategies for success for IQN advancing their nursing careers in their newly adopted countries.