Workplace Integration and Professional Adaptation among Filipino Migrant Nurses in a UK Hospital: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study

Jane M. Tagum-Briones; Cyril B. Romero; Jezalyn O. Vargas

doi:10.56741/hesmed.v5i03.2582

Authors

Jane M. Tagum-Briones University of Saint Anthony
Cyril B. Romero
cyrilbromero@gmail.com
University of Saint Anthony https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4047-3035
Jezalyn O. Vargas University of Saint Anthony

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56741/hesmed.v5i03.2582

Keywords:

Filipino Nurses, Internationally Educated Nurses, Migrant Nurses, Professional Adaptation, Workplace Integration, United Kingdom

Abstract

Internationally recruited nurses must transition into healthcare systems that may differ substantially from those in which they were educated and previously employed. This study examined workplace integration and professional adaptation among Filipino migrant nurses employed at Darlington Memorial Hospital in the United Kingdom and explored associations with selected demographic and employment characteristics. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 26 Filipino nurses recruited through purposive sampling. Participants completed a self-developed, expert-validated questionnaire using a four-point Likert-type scale. The present analysis focused on the 10-item workplace environment domain. Descriptive statistics and exploratory Pearson correlation analyses were performed. Participants reported favorable workplace experiences overall (mean = 3.29). Understanding local healthcare practices and protocols and adapting nursing practice to cultural contexts received the highest rating (mean = 3.46). Professional development and access to resources each received a mean of 3.38, while workplace belonging was also rated favorably (mean = 3.35). Participation in team meetings or departmental activities received the lowest rating (mean = 3.12), followed by supportive leadership and clarity of reporting structures (both mean = 3.15). Workplace scores were significantly associated with age (r = .52, p = .007) and length of service (r = .51, p = .007), but not with civil status or clinical department. The findings suggest relatively strong clinical and procedural adaptation alongside opportunities to strengthen organizational participation, communication, and structured support. Comprehensive onboarding, mentorship, leadership support, and sustained professional development may facilitate the workplace integration of internationally recruited nurses.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Jane M. Tagum-Briones, University of Saint Anthony

is a faculty member, Research Coordinator, and Program Head of the Master of Arts in Nursing at the University of Saint Anthony, Philippines. She holds dual licensure as a registered pharmacist and nurse. Her work focuses on graduate nursing education, curriculum development, and research mentoring, with extensive experience in guiding students and advancing scholarly work in healthcare education. (email: jbriones@usant.edu.ph).

Cyril B. Romero, University of Saint Anthony

is a researcher and full professor in the Graduate School (Master of Arts in Nursing) at the University of Saint Anthony, Philippines. She is also affiliated with the Indonesian Institute of Science and Technology Research, where she contributes to international academic collaborations. Her expertise includes nursing research, academic publishing, and digital communication, and she frequently serves as publication chair in international conferences. (email: romerocyrilb@gmail.com).

Jezalyn O. Vargas, University of Saint Anthony

is a Licensed Professional Teacher, Philippine Registered Nurse, and a Staff Nurse in the General Outpatient Department at Darlington Memorial Hospital, United Kingdom. She has attended various professional trainings and seminars to strengthen her expertise in nursing practice and education. Her professional interests include patient care, health education, clinical practice, and interdisciplinary learning. She is committed to advancing healthcare quality through evidence-based practice and continuous professional development. (email: jezavargas1.9@gmail.com).

References

C. Pressley, D. Newton, J. Garside, J. Stephenson, and J. Mejia-Olivares, “Internationally recruited nurses and their initial integration into the healthcare workforce: A mixed methods study,” Int. J. Nurs. Stud. Adv., vol. 5, Art. no. 100154, 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.ijnsa.2023.100154.

C. Pressley, D. Newton, L. Sanderson, B. Simkhada, J. Stephenson, P. A. Duodu, W. Gillibrand, M. Pallam, and J. Garside, “International nurse migration experience of the first two years: A mixed methods study,” J. Adv. Nurs., vol. 81, no. 5, pp. 2672–2686, 2025, doi: 10.1111/jan.16543.

C. Pressley, D. Newton, J. Garside, P. Simkhada, and B. Simkhada, “Global migration and factors that support acculturation and retention of international nurses: A systematic review,” Int. J. Nurs. Stud. Adv., vol. 4, Art. no. 100083, 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.ijnsa.2022.100083.

P. Villamin, V. Lopez, D. K. Thapa, and M. Cleary, “Retention and turnover among migrant nurses: A scoping review,” Int. Nurs. Rev., vol. 71, no. 3, pp. 541–555, 2024, doi: 10.1111/inr.12861.

J. A. Lanada and K. Culligan, “The experiences of internationally educated nurses who joined the nursing workforce in England,” Br. J. Nurs., vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 78–84, 2024, doi: 10.12968/bjon.2024.33.2.78.

A. Rajpoot, C. Merriman, A.-M. Rafferty, and C. Henshall, “Transitioning experiences of internationally educated nurses in host countries: A narrative systematic review,” Int. J. Nurs. Stud. Adv., vol. 6, Art. no. 100195, 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.ijnsa.2024.100195.

S. Kamau, M. Koskenranta, H. Kuivila, A. Oikarainen, M. Tomietto, J. Juntunen, A.-M. Tuomikoski, and K. Mikkonen, “Integration strategies and models to support transition and adaptation of culturally and linguistically diverse nursing staff into healthcare environments: An umbrella review,” Int. J. Nurs. Stud., vol. 136, Art. no. 104377, 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2022.104377.

M. Shiju, H. Hall, C. Lee, and C. Whitehouse, “Barriers and enablers of successful workplace integration of internationally educated nurses (IENs) in a host country: A qualitative evidence synthesis,” Policy Polit. Nurs. Pract., vol. 25, no. 4, pp. 228–240, 2024, doi: 10.1177/15271544241276860.

R. Joensuu, K. Suleiman, M. Koskenranta, H. Kuivila, A. Oikarainen, J. Juntunen, Y. S. Goh, S. Y. Liaw, and K. Mikkonen, “Factors associated with the integration of culturally and linguistically diverse nurses into healthcare organisations: A systematic review of quantitative studies,” J. Nurs. Manag., vol. 2024, Art. ID 5887450, 2024, doi: 10.1155/2024/5887450.

Y.-S. Goh and V. Lopez, “Acculturation, quality of life and work environment of international nurses in a multi-cultural society: A cross-sectional, correlational study,” Appl. Nurs. Res., vol. 30, pp. 111–118, 2016, doi: 10.1016/j.apnr.2015.08.004.

C. L. Covell and S. R. Sands, “Does being a visible minority matter? Predictors of internationally educated nurses’ workplace integration,” Can. J. Nurs. Res., vol. 53, no. 4, pp. 366–375, 2021, doi: 10.1177/0844562120939795.

S. Kamau, M. Koskenranta, T.-M. Isakov, H. Kuivila, A. Oikarainen, M. Tomietto, and K. Mikkonen, “Culturally and linguistically diverse registered nurses' experiences of integration into nursing workforce—A qualitative descriptive study,” Nurse Educ. Today, vol. 121, Art. no. 105700, 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.nedt.2022.105700.

O. Alexis, “Internationally recruited nurses’ experiences in England: A survey approach,” Nurs. Outlook, vol. 63, no. 3, pp. 238–244, 2015, doi: 10.1016/j.outlook.2014.10.005.

O. Alexis and A. Shillingford, “Internationally recruited neonatal nurses’ experiences in the National Health Service in London,” Int. J. Nurs. Pract., vol. 21, no. 4, pp. 419–425, 2015, doi: 10.1111/ijn.12284.

C. Roth, A. Breckner, K. Krug, C. Mahler, M. Wensing, and S. Berger, “Integrating internationally qualified nurses: A qualitative exploration of nurse managers' influence from nurses' experiences,” BMC Nurs., vol. 24, Art. no. 233, 2025, doi: 10.1186/s12912-025-02875-7.

R. Adhikari and K. M. Melia, “The (mis)management of migrant nurses in the UK: A sociological study,” J. Nurs. Manag., vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 359–367, 2015, doi: 10.1111/jonm.12141.

D. S. K. Ung, Y. S. Goh, R. Y. S. Poon, Y. P. Lin, B. Seah, V. Lopez, K. Mikkonen, K. K. Yong, and S. Y. Liaw, “Global migration and factors influencing retention of Asian internationally educated nurses: A systematic review,” Hum. Resour. Health, vol. 22, Art. no. 17, 2024, doi: 10.1186/s12960-024-00900-5.

L. V. Ghazal, C. Ma, M. Djukic, and A. Squires, “Transition-to-U.S. practice experiences of internationally educated nurses: An integrative review,” West. J. Nurs. Res., vol. 42, no. 5, pp. 373–392, 2020, doi: 10.1177/0193945919860855.

K. L. Robinson, A. T. Booth, and A. Stamatis, “Exploring retention and orientation data for internationally educated nurses transitioning to U.S. nursing practice,” J. Nurses Prof. Dev., vol. 40, no. 5, pp. 256–261, 2024, doi: 10.1097/NND.0000000000001067.

D. M. Smith and N. Gillin, “Filipino nurse migration to the UK: Understanding migration choices from an ontological security-seeking perspective,” Soc. Sci. Med., vol. 276, Art. no. 113881, 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113881.

K. C. Iheduru-Anderson and M. M. Wahi, “Experiences of Nigerian internationally educated nurses transitioning to United States health care settings,” J. Transcult. Nurs., vol. 29, no. 6, pp. 603–610, 2018, doi: 10.1177/1043659618766225.

L.-F. M. Jurado and M. G. Saria, “Filipino nurses in the United States,” Nurs. Manage., vol. 49, no. 3, pp. 36–41, 2018, doi: 10.1097/01.NUMA.0000530423.71453.58.

C. L. Covell, M.-D. Primeau, K. Kilpatrick, and I. St-Pierre, “Internationally educated nurses in Canada: Predictors of workforce integration,” Hum. Resour. Health, vol. 15, Art. no. 26, 2017, doi: 10.1186/s12960-017-0201-8.

D. J. E. Berdida, R. A. N. Grande, M. H. Alshammari, and V. Lopez, “Stress, psychological well-being, social support, practice environment, resilience, job satisfaction, and acculturation among Filipino internationally qualified nurses: A structural equation model,” Nurs. Outlook, vol. 73, no. 3, Art. no. 102424, 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.outlook.2025.102424.

A. N. Hayne, C. Gerhardt, and J. Davis, “Filipino nurses in the United States: Recruitment, retention, occupational stress, and job satisfaction,” J. Transcult. Nurs., vol. 20, no. 3, pp. 313–322, 2009, doi: 10.1177/1043659609334927.

Á. Alonso-Garbayo and J. Maben, “Internationally recruited nurses from India and the Philippines in the United Kingdom: The decision to emigrate,” Hum. Resour. Health, vol. 7, Art. no. 37, 2009, doi: 10.1186/1478-4491-7-37.

P. Raghuram, “Interrogating the language of integration: The case of internationally recruited nurses,” J. Clin. Nurs., vol. 16, no. 12, pp. 2246–2251, 2007, doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2007.02097.x.

M. M. Jose, “Lived experiences of internationally educated nurses in hospitals in the United States of America,” Int. Nurs. Rev., vol. 58, no. 1, pp. 123–129, 2011, doi: 10.1111/j.1466-7657.2010.00838.x.

J. Nazareno, E. Yoshioka, A. C. Adia, et al., “From imperialism to inpatient care: Work differences of Filipino and White registered nurses in the United States and implications for COVID-19 through an intersectional lens,” Gender Work Organ., vol. 28, no. 4, pp. 1426–1446, 2021, doi: 10.1111/gwao.12657.

B. McBrien, F. O’Brien, S. R. Shetty, S. Keogh, J. Eustace-Cook, and G. Byrne, “The assessment of workplace integration of migrant nurses and midwives in global healthcare settings: A scoping review,” Int. Nurs. Rev., vol. 73, no. 3, Art. no. e70207, 2026, doi: 10.1111/inr.70207.

C. Connolly, J. Mcdonald, L. Unger, D. Williams, G. Cains, and K. Laver, “Strategies to support internationally educated nurses from non-English speaking backgrounds transition into the Western healthcare workforce: A systematic review,” BMC Nurs., vol. 25, Art. no. 591, 2026, doi: 10.1186/s12912-026-04654-4.

M. L. B. Ramira, M. J. Garcia-Dia, R. R. Rivera, C. T. V. Bautista, J. Juele-Schuster, L. S. Evangelista, and M. Sevilla, “Pathways to practice: Structural determinants of internationally educated nurses’ transition into the U.S. healthcare workforce,” J. Nurs. Regul., 2026, doi: 10.1016/j.jnr.2026.07.001.