title: Barriers to participation in governance and professional advancement: a comparison of internationally educated nurses and registered nurses educated in the United States.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study compared the perspectives of internationally educated nurses (IENs) and registered nurses (RNs) educated in the United States regarding participation in hospital governance structures and professional advancement.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Nurses' participation in hospital governance is reported to contribute to empowerment. No research has examined how IENs' perceptions about participation in governance compared with those of U.S. RNs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semistructured interviews were held with 82 nurses in 2 urban hospitals. Forty nurses were reinterviewed to follow up on themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Internationally educated nurses and US RNs shared similar perspectives. Nurses in both samples did not value participation in governance, lacked guidance about how to advance, and preferred to at the bedside.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Strategies to encourage nurses to participate in and value governance and professional advancement opportunities should be explored and adopted.
authors.affiliation: Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. rmw1203@gmail.com
authors.forename: Rebecca M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Wheeler
authors.forename: Jennifer W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Foster
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002322:Career Mobility; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005551:Foreign Professional Personnel / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006075:Governing Board / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D006786:Hospitals, Urban / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011209:Power, Psychological; D036301:Qualitative Research; D015144:Southeastern United States; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce; D055815:Young Adult