Conference Proceedings - School of Nursing & Midwifery - Trinity ...

School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin: 8 th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference
Transforming Healthcare Through Research, Education & Technology: 7 th – 9 th November 2007
Conference Proceedings
Back to contents page
Title: Overseas nurses attitudes and perceptions of
integration into the perioperative workplace setting
Ms Theresa Cummins RGN, PG, H-Dip, Dip Mgt
Perioperative Nursing Practice Development Co-ordinator
353 Carnlough Road
Cabra
Dublin 7
Ireland
cummintm@tcd.ie
Background:
The nursing shortage in Ireland has resulted in the recruitment of
nurses from all corners of the globe to deal with the shortage.
However, our healthcare system now appears to be somewhat
dependant on overseas nurses. As a result it is imperative that we
fully appreciate the challenges these overseas nurses may face on
arrival and during integration in order to gain a greater
understanding of the integration process. This study aims to identify
and measure these challenges and the extent to which the
challenges can effect the nurses’ integration into the perioperative
setting. To have a global nursing workforce that can be transferable
from one country to another is a nursing issue worth researching.
Method:
A quantitative descriptive approach was taken using an anonymous
questionnaire to collect the data. The questionnaire consisted of
four sections to obtain demographic data from the sample,
perceptions of their integration, attitudes in relation to working in
the perioperative environment and concluded with two open-ended
items which asked the participants to comment on the integration
process and any other aspects of integration they found a challenge.
Non-probability convenience sampling was used and overseas
perioperative nurses from four major teaching hospitals were
recruited for the study. Following ethical approval from all study
sites questionnaires were distributed to 220 nurses, 113
questionnaires were returned and analysed.
Analysis
For the purpose of this study quantitative data was collected from
the questionnaires and analysed using SPSS. Descriptive data
retrieved from the two open-ended items on the questionnaire was
analysed using a thematic approach to add depth to the data
Summary of Key Findings
The findings of the study concur with previous findings in relation to
the benefits of induction and ‘buddy’ programmes to assist in the
- 181 -