Recognition of nursing qualification and credentialing pathway of Filipino nurses in Finland: A qualitative study

AIM

To understand the experiences of Filipino internationally educated nurses (FIENs) on their recognition and credentialing pathway in the recruitment process in Finland.

BACKGROUND

The nursing shortage in Finland results in the recruitment of internationally educated nurses (IENs) such as those from the Philippines. In the context of migration, IENs experience a rigorous process to become qualified nurses in the destination country.

METHODS

A thematic analysis of the secondary data from qualitative interviews was conducted. Ten FIENs (n = 10) were recruited from university hospitals in Finland through purposeful and snowball sampling. The study adhered to the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) checklist.

RESULTS

Three main themes were identified. First, pre-migration victories and predicaments described the experiences of FIENs during the recruitment process and the pathway to acquiring a Registered Nurse qualification. Second, ambiguous integration implied integrating into the workplace while working on the top-up education programme as a prerequisite to nursing registration. Lastly, migration uncertainty discussed the interest among FIENs to continue practising as Registered Nurses (RNs) in Finland.

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-migration orientation and workplace integration experiences influenced FIENs' choice to practise as RNs in Finland. The licensure pathway for FIENs required collaboration from various stakeholders in Finnish society. It is recommended to structure the system for the recognition and qualification process of IENs by creating a national model in line with international standards and requirements in collaboration with higher education institutions.

IMPLICATION FOR NURSING POLICY

Recognition of previous education and clinical experience can facilitate the transition to becoming an RN for IENs, but the lack of a clear education model and recognition of foreign nursing qualifications leads to deskilling and hinders IENs from practising. Policies prioritising education and integration into the local healthcare system can facilitate the integration and professional growth of IENs, enabling them to contribute significantly to the healthcare system.

Engaging Leadership Competencies Through Population Health Policy Advocacy: A Review of the Evidence

The purpose of this article is to identify the gaps in prelicensure nursing curriculum regarding the teaching and learning of policy advocacy and the necessary nursing leadership competencies that are significant in addressing social determinants of health at an upstream, policy level and to discuss how current prelicensure nursing curricula integrates and applies concepts of population health, policy advocacy, and nursing leadership competencies. The authors performed a conceptual review of the literature, analyzing the current, evidence-based scholarship on the topic in an effort to categorize and describe relevant concepts and outline a relationship between them, by combining the concept terms nursing leadership, policy advocacy, population health policy, nursing education, and social determinants of health. The conceptual review identified gaps in nursing education regarding the preparation of nursing graduates for leadership engagement at the policy level, which presents opportunities for future research and exploration. This article shares the thematic gaps, major findings, and recommendations that resulted. Continued effort should be invested into the development of more robust discussions and curriculum related to population health advocacy and the impact on population health in baccalaureate nursing educational programming.

Assessment of determinants predicting success on the Saudi Nursing Licensure Examination by employing artificial neural network

BACKGROUND

This study aims to use the artificial neural network as a novel approach to explore factors that determine and predict successful performance of nursing interns in Saudi Arabia on the Saudi Nursing Licensure Examination (SNLE).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study employed a cross-sectional, analytic approach. A total of 62 nursing interns were recruited by convenience sampling from the University of Hail to participate. Data collection was conducted from September to December 2019. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the demographic characteristics of the nursing interns and their responses regarding examination determinants. Neural network analysis was used to identify factors that are highly predictive of the success of the nursing interns on the SNLE.

RESULTS

Overall, the nursing interns were undecided (3.94 ± 0.14) about the influential factors determining their success. Their study hours (100%) and grade point average (GPA) (96.9%) were identified as strong determinants reflective of the tenacity and vigor of the nursing interns, based on the predictive power of the model. Meanwhile, age (45.7%), marital status (21.3%), gender (15.2%), and the type of academic program (5.9%) were considered the least important of the sociodemographic variables.

CONCLUSION

Exam preparation activities such as preparation programs, review classes, and exam simulations must be promoted and enhanced to increase the passing tendencies of the nursing interns in the SNLE. The GPA and increased study hours make the most significant contributions to success on the SNLE as compared to other variables such as age, gender, marital status, and the academic program. This study serves as a springboard for nursing educators and administrators in laying tailored strategies to strengthen the nurse interns' GPA and time management.

Students' Midprogram Content Area Performance as a Predictor of End-of-Program NCLEX Readiness

Many programs have implemented end-of-program predictive testing to identify students at risk of NCLEX-RN failure. Unfortunately, for many students, end-of-program testing comes too late. Regression and relative importance analysis were used to explore relationships between 9 content area assessments and an end-of-program assessment shown to be predictive of NCLEX-RN success. Results indicate that scores on assessments for content areas such as medical surgical nursing and care of children are predictive of end-of-program test scores, suggesting that instructors should provide remediation at the first sign of lagging performance.

Genetics-genomics competencies and nursing regulation

PURPOSE

The aim of this article is to explore the interaction between the integration of genetics-genomics competencies into nursing curricula and regulatory standards. By taking a global perspective of activity in this field, we aim to develop a framework that can inform strategic planning in relation to international genetics-genomics and nursing education.

METHODS

We focus our exploration around a small-scale international survey on the progress, achievements, and critical success factors of 10 countries in relation to the integration of genetics-genomics into nursing education, with exemplars from three of those countries.

FINDINGS

Analysis of the data generated 10 themes, each with several subthemes that play a critical role in the development of genetics-genomics in nursing education and practice. The themes were organized into three overarching themes: nursing in genetics, genetics in nursing, and recognition and support. Genetics-genomics competence is not fully integrated into nursing education at an appropriate level in any country, nor was it reflected robustly in current standards for registration and licensure.

CONCLUSION

Strong leadership from the specialist genetics community plays a critical role in defining genetics-genomics competence but the engagement of nursing professionals at senior levels in both government and regulatory institutions is essential if nurses are to be active participants in the innovations offered by genomic healthcare.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Safe and effective nursing practice must incorporate the needs of those with, at risk for, or susceptible to genetic-genomic conditions, as well as those who might benefit from the application of genomic technologies in the diagnosis and management of common conditions such as cancer and heart disease. The scope of such practice can be articulated though competence statements. Professional regulation defines the standard of competence that practicing nurses should demonstrate at initial registration and licensure.