Beyond the Borders: Navigating the Hurdles Faced by Internationally Educated Nurses

Authors

  • Mehtab Jaffer Western University Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31542/phbgb071

Keywords:

internationally educated nurse, challenges, reflections

Abstract

Globally, nurses from low-middle income countries (LMICs) decided to migrate as internationally educated nurses (IENs) for their financial stability and to improve quality of life. IENs play a vital role in strengthening the country’s healthcare settings. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (2021), the international migration of nurses to Canada was 8.1%, the number increased by threefold from 2017-2018.

This commentary draws on my personal experiences as an international nursing student of PhD program in Canada. As part of PhD program, I am constantly struggling to manage academic and research workload. Using a reflective approach, this paper will examine multifaceted issues as an IEN such as professional identity and cultural adaptation, communication and language issues, and systemic barriers and credentialing issues. Through a lens of personal experience, this paper will highlight how these issues impact health and well-being within individuals.

Author Biography

  • Mehtab Jaffer, Western University

    My name is Mehtab Jaffer (Mehtab Nathwani as legal name) an international student, currently enrolled in Doctoral (PhD) in Nursing Program at Western University.

Published

2025-07-17