More than 90 years of Nursing Migration to the United Kingdom: Have We Really Learnt Anything?

John Unsworth*, Alwin Puthenpurakal

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

This chapter takes a critical look at the role of nurse migration in shaping Britain’s health services over the past 90 years. It explores the challenges associated with the integration of nurses from overseas in the 1930s and the 1940s and explores parallels with today’s workforce challenges and the issues with integration and progression faced by contemporary internationally educated nurses. This chapter brings together an in-depth policy analysis and challenges, some of the assumptions made by governments and regulators. It provides an overview of how internationally educated nurses have flourished in Britain despite the odds. The chapter examines what needs to change, how it can be changed and how we are now at a crossroads with more than a quarter of all registered nurses in the UK being internationally educated.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationGlobalization and Integration of Internationally Educated Nurses
Subtitle of host publicationA Comprehensive Analysis
EditorsRola El Moubadder, Ruth Wojtiuk, Ruth Lee
Place of PublicationCham, Switzerland
PublisherSpringer
Pages87-116
Number of pages30
Edition1
ISBN (Electronic)9783032011060
ISBN (Print)9783032011053
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 27 Sept 2025

Keywords

  • Diaspora
  • International nurses
  • Migration
  • Racism
  • Structural barriers
  • Support
  • United Kingdom
  • Workforce

Cite this