Overseas nurses' experiences of equal opportunities in the NHS in England.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the experiences of overseas black and minority ethnic nurses in the National Health Service (NHS) in the south of England.


METHODS
Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 overseas black and minority ethnic nurses. All interviews were taped, transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. All transcripts were read and re-read to elicit general themes.


RESULTS
Qualitative data analysis was undertaken using Van Manen framework and this enabled a number of themes to be identified that were part of overseas black and minority ethnic nurses' experience, however, two main themes would be discussed in this study. Firstly, unequal opportunities in career advancement and secondly, unequal opportunities for skill development and training. Both themes affected overseas nurses chances of promotion in the NHS. RESEARCH LIMITATION/IMPLICATIONS: The study has identified a notably gap in the implementation of equal opportunity policies and suggests that a more transparent implementation of such policies is needed in the NHS in the UK where this study was conducted. Additionally, more research is needed to determine whether overseas nurses in other areas experience similar problems.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study could encourage managers to re-examine their equal opportunity policies in the light of these findings. Although this study has explored overseas nurses experiences, the findings cannot be generalised to the wider population. ORIGINALITY VALUE: The differences experienced by overseas nurses in relation to career opportunities and skill development and training.
Alexis
Obrey
O
School of Health and Social Care, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK. oalexis@brookes.ac.uk
Vydelingum
Vasso
V
Robbins
Ian
I
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel / Q000208:ethnology; D044383:Black People / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D002322:Career Mobility; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D005551:Foreign Professional Personnel / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010560:Personnel Selection; D011287:Prejudice; D012935:Social Justice; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013192:Staff Development; D013222:State Medicine; D000078329:Workforce