34 Experiences of internationally recruited nurses and midwives in the UK: a scoping review of the literature from 2010-2023

Abstract PTH 7: Health Policy and Health Services 2, B308 (FCSH), September 5, 2025, 11:30 - 12:24 Aims The UK health and care workforce is in crisis, with major challenges in staff recruitment and retention. Now more than ever, the UK is reliant on international recruitment. Half of the new joiners to the Nursing and Midwifery Council register in 2022-2023 were internationally recruited nurses and midwives (‘IRNs’). We conducted this scoping review to understand the experiences of IRNs in the UK, including difference between EU and non-EU nurses. Methods We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL and Web of Science for peer-reviewed articles that explored the experiences of IRNs in the UK between 2010-2023. Three reviewers screened articles for eligibility. Data from the included articles were charted and coded thematically. Results From 28 articles, we identified several major themes. IRNs often migrated expecting better work opportunities and environments but faced lengthy and complicated processes, including passing English language and clinical competency tests. Professionally, IRNs had to adapt to the British nursing culture as the only ‘correct’ way, with skills from previous experiences often not being transferrable. Despite previously holding senior roles, many IRNs were not permitted to perform advanced tasks, leading to deskilling and feelings of being ‘trapped,’ particularly among those in the care sector. IRNs also faced challenges in adjusting their personal lives, needing to overcome both major and subtle cultural differences when socialising with local communities. Additionally, IRNs especially non-EU nurses experienced multi-level discrimination, including racist abuse from both patients and their nursing colleagues and managers. This discrimination impacted their workplace integration and career progression opportunities. Conclusion We summarised the diverse challenges faced by IRNs in the UK, all of which hinder their integration into the workplace and broader society. We highlighted the urgent need for the government, employers, and professional bodies to better support IRNs during their migration journey, professional adaptation, and career development.