Acculturation and socialization: voices of internationally educated nurses in Ontario.
BACKGROUND
This paper describes a study that explores the experiences of internationally educated nurses (IENs) in their efforts to gain entry to practice as Registered Nurses (RNs) in the province of Ontario, Canada.


OBJECTIVE
The aim was to uncover, in part, the issues related to professional nursing credentialling.


METHODS
This study was guided by a biographical narrative (qualitative) research methodology. A convenience sample of 12 IEN students volunteered for this study representing the Philippines, Mainland China, Korea, Ukraine and India.


RESULTS
The findings were that the IENs progress through a three-phase journey in their quest for licensure in Ontario. These phases include: (1) hope - wanting the Canadian dream of becoming an RN in Ontario; (2) disillusionment - discovering that their home-country nursing qualifications do not meet Ontario RN entry to practice; and (3) navigating disillusionment - living the redefined Canadian dream by returning to nursing school to upgrade their nursing qualifications.


CONCLUSIONS
Professional regulatory nursing bodies and nursing educators, as well as practising nurses, must be aware of the potentially confusing and unpleasant processes IENs go through as they qualify for the privilege of practising nursing in Ontario.
Sochan
A
A
School of Nursing, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto [corrected] Canada. asochan@yorku.ca
Singh
M D
MD
D000069:Acculturation; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel / Q000208:ethnology*; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D003142:Communication; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D004518:Education, Professional, Retraining; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D004651:Employment / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005551:Foreign Professional Personnel / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D007723:Korea / Q000208:ethnology; D008008:Licensure, Nursing; D008297:Male; D033262:Narration; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D009864:Ontario; D010560:Personnel Selection; D010679:Philippines / Q000208:ethnology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012951:Socialization; D014455:Ukraine / Q000208:ethnology