A courageous journey: Experiences of migrant Philippine nurses in Norway

Abstract

Aims and objectives: To explore how Philippine-educated nurses explain their choice of Norway as their migration destination and their experience with the credential assessment process in Norway.

Background: Norway has an increasing need for nurses, and nurses educated in non-EU countries are an important resource for the Norwegian health service. Philippine nurses compose the largest group of internationally educated nurses from outside the EU, but their Philippine nursing education is only credited as equivalent to 2 years in Norway. Migration is known to engender stressful experiences amongst migrant nurses, which may affect their health. However, studies on Philippine nurses' experiences of migrating to and working in Norway are lacking.

Design and methods: The study used a hermeneutic design, conducting qualitative research interviews with ten Philippine nurses. All of them had a certification as auxiliary nurses, but not as registered nurses. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research is used.

Results: The nurses' choice of a migration country appeared to be both random and based on the opportunity to find well-paid work, as well as having acquaintances who had already migrated to Norway. The migrated Philippine nurses seemed experienced and competent. In Norway, they were disappointed as they felt undervalued. The nurses struggled to learn Norwegian, while striving for survival when acquiring jobs or accommodations. They were excluded from acting as legal nurses in the Norwegian healthcare system; they fulfilled the governmental requirements, but they were repeatedly rejected. The informants saw this as harsh, but still hoped to be successful.

Conclusions: There is a need to facilitate effective language training and a well-founded, predictable system of credentialing.

Relevance to clinical practice: Attention should be paid to the integration of immigrants and safeguarding and strengthening the professional competence the nurses bring with them.

Keywords: Filipinos; Philippines; credentialing; discrimination; hope; internationally educated nurses; migration.