105 Integration challenges in international nursing education

Abstract EP1.1, e-Poster Terminal 1, September 3, 2025, 10:35 - 11:00 Background Globally, there is a shortage of healthcare workers which is estimated to increase, due to aging populations, the increase in NCD’s, ageing staff, and nurses leaving the job. In response, Finland, like many countries have increased their recruitment of foreign nurses, alongside increasing nursing education programmes, and nurse bridging programmes for international nurses. This has seen the increase of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) nursing students, and an increase of CALD nursing workforce in Finland. JAMK Nursing Degree Programme started in 2000 and the current intake is 40 students yearly, this programme implements ethical principles in student reception and guidance. The classes are authentically diverse, with students from 20 different countries from Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America; studies are in English, with Finnish language required in compulsory clinical practice. Challenges associated with professional practice of CALD students include mentoring provision, language learning, and experiences of exclusion. Response to Challenges During practice supervision, time allocated to teachers’ support and guidance is limited. To meet this challenge, EU and nationally funded projects have helped to develop tutoring in clinical practices: SaSu (2021-2023) and OVE (2024-2026) and Talent Boost (2021-). These projects train nurse mentors and staff in cultural awareness, issues of inclusion, and integration. Additionally, language support is provided to students in clinical settings, also providing orientation to mentors on CALD students language learning process which strengthens collaboration with healthcare units and employers. Data from prior experience of mentoring from both students’ and mentors were used to plan and implement the projects. Their experiences of the received support from the project’s activities were analyzed, and a model was developed to support integration of CALD nurses to the Finnish healthcare workforce. Conclusion Successful integration is facilitated by individual, pedagogical and multi-organization cooperation.