Global migration of internationally educated nurses: Experiences of employment discrimination

Abstract

With over 57 countries reporting a critical shortage of healthcare workers worldwide, increasing reliance of developed countries on registered nurses from less developed countries of Africa and Asia has generated a significant policy debate about public health, ethical and policy concerns related to international migration of nurses. Discrimination and unequal treatment faced by migrant nurses is one of the most important issues related to international migration of nurses. This article present a discussion of the broad topics surrounding nurse migration followed by a synthesis of 15 published qualitative and quantitative research articles related to specifically to the subject of employment discrimination experiences of internationally educated nurses in Canada, United Kingdom and the United States. Evidence shows that international nurses often encounter covert and overt discrimination in the workplace. It is important for nurses to be aware of the extent and nature of employment discrimination encountered by migrant nurses. Nursing leaders and policy makers need to ensure that all nurses are treated equally in the workplace.