title: Adaptation challenges facing internationally educated nurses.
abstract: This article describes the challenges facing internationally educated nurses working in the United States, combining an extensive literature review with the personal perspectives of a registered nurse from Kenya. An extensive literature search was conducted, and databases were collected and reviewed, while the nurse was participating in an internship at a hospital in a border city in California. Intertwining the personal experiences of the first author with an extensive literature review, the areas of communication, culture shock, nursing roles, and practice and orientation needs are covered. This article reinforces the difficulties faced by internationally educated nurses and makes suggestions for helping them make the adjustment to the US workforce.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, California State University, Fullerton, USA.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chege
authors.forename: Maryanne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garon
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel / Q000208:ethnology; D003142:Communication; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D005551:Foreign Professional Personnel / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007630:Kenya; D019303:Multilingualism; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology / Q000600:supply & distribution; D014481:United States