A synthesis of the literature on Asian nurses' work experiences in the United States.
Nursing shortages in the United States have underscored the need for foreign nurse recruitment. The major population of foreign nurse recruits has long been Asian. When employing foreign nurses, fair employment practices and quality of care must be ensured; however, few empirical studies were found on this topic. Thus, the purpose of this article is to synthesize the extant literature about Asian nurses' work experiences in and adaptation to the U.S. health care system. The author searched four major bibliographic databases, as well as the ProQuest Dissertation and Thesis Database and analyzed eight empirical studies based on four predetermined inclusion criteria. The major themes identified in the selected scholarly works were: (a) overcoming language barriers, (b) dealing with discrimination, (c) adopting U.S. nursing practices, (d) adjusting to U.S. social customs, (e) becoming accustomed to U.S. culture, and (f) reconciling work ethics. Additional research studies, using both quantitative and qualitative approaches, are necessary to gain in-depth knowledge related to this phenomenon.
Lin
Li-Chen
LC
The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing, Austin, TX 78701, USA. lycheejulie@yahoo.com
D000064:Acclimatization; D044466:Asian People; D003469:Culture; D004651:Employment; D005551:Foreign Professional Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D009726:Nurses; D011287:Prejudice; D014481:United States