Exploring the Experiences of Migrant Nurses in the UK: A Salutogenic approach to Integration of Ghanaian Nurses

Abstract

Background: Migration of nurses and other healthcare professionals from developing countries to advanced countries have a seen an unprecedented hike in recent times due largely to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This has resulted in the influx of Ghanaian nurses moving to the UK to fill the health care needs of the NHS in the UK. The health care system in the UK is heavily dependent on the expertise of migrant nurses in order to meet the continuous needs of its patient population. Ghanaian nurses constitute a significant percentage of this growing number of migrant nurses, however little is known about the experiences they face in their working environment.

Objective of the study: This study explored the experiences of migrant nurses in the UK through a salutogenic approach to integration of Ghanaian migrant nurses. The study further sought to find out the workplace integration challenges these migrant nurses experience, and the resources the nurses use to cope with their workplace integration challenges.

Data Materials and Methods: A phenomenological qualitative approach was used to probe the challenges experienced by Ghanaian migrant nurses in the UK and how they were able to identify and use the needed resources. Six interviews were conducted via zoom and Microsoft teams. Purposive sampling technique was utilized to recruit participants of the study. Data was analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis (Reflexive TA) by Clarke & Braun (2021).

Findings of the Study: The findings revealed that the participants faced multidimensional and multifaceted challenges in the UK’s healthcare system. These challenges include, high workload, the issues of integration into the new culture, language barriers, as well as lack of professional recognition based on their competence and training. It was also found that alongside Challenges and Struggles in the workplace, the analysis of the data also revealed that the participants had Formal and informal coping resources at their disposal. The results indicated that peer support networks, strategies for resilience building among participant nurses, virtual platforms for interaction among coworkers, education facilities such as preparation for OSCE, relevant training etc. institutional resources which include IENs and cultural education initiatives, and availability of mental health resources played a significant role for the study participants and other overseas nurses in general to cope with the challenges they faced.

Conclusion: The study sought to explore the experiences of migrant nurses in the UK using a salutogenic approach to the integration of Ghanaian nurses in their working environment. The data was collected through interviews where Ghanaian migrant nurses shared their personal experiences of integration into the UK’s healthcare system. Afterwards, the data was transcribed and then analyzed using Braun and Clark’s (2006) reflexive TA model. The researcher explored different themes of challenges they face as well as the resources that contribute to their integration and well-being in the UK’s healthcare system.