The doctoral dissertation in the field of Nursing Science will be examined at the Faculty of Health Sciences at Kuopio Campus. The public examination will be streamed online.
What is the topic of your doctoral research? Why is it important to study the topic?
Filipino nurses who have received their education outside the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA) constitute a substantial proportion of the international nurse population. These nurses are frequently recruited to the Nordic countries as nursing assistants via various migration pathways. However, a substantial research gap exists within the Nordic region concerning the pre-migration experiences of internationally educated nurses (IENs) recruited directly from the Philippines. This research gap is particularly pronounced in relation to the process of recognising their qualifications to become registered nurses in the receiving country (the country of migration).
The majority of studies concentrate on the integration phase; however, factors influencing preliminary and post-migration periods, such as job satisfaction and professional competencies, have not been thoroughly investigated. Additionally, there is a paucity of research exploring nurse migration models that support the ethical, systematic, and transparent design of the recruitment process through multi-stakeholder collaboration.
A more thorough examination of this topic at the policy level could contribute to enhancing working conditions, professional development, and the integration of not only recruited Filipino nurses but also other internationally educated nurses. Furthermore, it could provide substantiating evidence to support more equitable and effective recruitment practices.
What are the key findings or observations of your doctoral research?
The present dissertation study examined the key success factors in the labour migration and recruitment of internationally educated nurses (IENs) from outside the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA) to the Nordic countries. The findings of the research indicated that a sustainable and successful recruitment process is contingent upon the following factors: Firstly, it is imperative to formally acknowledge prior nursing education and professional competencies from the outset of the preliminary migration stage. Integration should be initiated already at this stage. Secondly, it is crucial to recognise the significance of job satisfaction and professional competencies in facilitating integration. Thirdly, the development of a comprehensive tool that can support individuals from the preliminary migration stage through to the post-migration stage is essential. A particular emphasis should be placed on the recruitment of internationally educated nurses with the objective of averting the phenomenon of professional de-skilling and the provision of clearly delineated career development opportunities.
How can the results of your doctoral research be utilised in practice?
The nurse labour migration model developed by my research provides a framework for standardising international recruitment, with a particular emphasis on cooperation between countries of origin and destination and continuous professional development. These results provide the Nordic health systems with concrete tools to alleviate the nursing shortage and ethicise international recruitment, thereby strengthening both multicultural competence in the workplace and patient safety. Policymakers and decision-makers can use this dissertation in implementing legislation and standardised protocols, monitored by the government through digitalisation, to ensure systematic and transparent labour migration in the Nordic region.
What are the key research methods and materials used in your doctoral research?
The study included three original sub-studies as follows: 1) a qualitative secondary analysis using thematic analysis of interviews of FIENs recruited (n=10) in university hospitals who had completed a nursing qualification at a university of applied sciences, 2) a mixed methods systematic review of scientific articles (n=11) between 2013 and 2023 encompassing the experiences of IENs (n=2884) from different countries, and 3) a policy Delphi with panel of experts in the fields of nursing education, healthcare administration, immigrant recruitment, policy development, and nursing practice from five Nordic countries, including Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden (first round n=38, second round n=33, third round n=30). Methodological triangulation was utilised to synthesise all sub-studies by combining both qualitative and quantitative data.
The doctoral dissertation of Floro Cubelo, MPH, entitled Building pathways for Filipino internationally educated nurses’ mobility to the Nordic region: recruit, integrate, retain and sustain – A nurse labour migration model will be examined at the Faculty of Health Sciences. The Opponent in the public examination will be Professor Riitta Suhonen of the University of Turku, and the Custos will be Professor Hannele Turunen of the 91. The public examination will be held in English.
