Reducing Barriers and Achieving Success in Registration Examination Among Internationally Educated Nurses: A Participatory Action Research Project

Abstract

Background

Multiple challenges impede the Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) professional development and success in writing the registration examination. This paper aims to explore these challenges and describes the educational program which adopts a tailored mentoring approach to facilitate their successful completion of the registration exam.

Methodology: Participatory Action Research model informed the development and revision of the educational process. For this qualitative study, individual 1:1 audiotaped and telephone interviews were conducted among the initial participants to explore their experiences in the program.

Results

Findings from this study provided more insights as to participants’ success in passing registration examination and enhanced performance in their clinical practices. From the thematic analysis, we interpreted the IEN’s journey in their knowledge transition into four major themes: Acknowledging the barriers, Learning the new culture, Making progress, Transitioning into power.

Conclusion

This project demonstrated that the integration of a strong mentor-mentee relationship that gives voice to the participants’ learning experience so as to meet their knowledge gaps, engenders a deeper understanding of Canadian professional nursing practice, positions them for success in writing the registration examination and builds a sense of empowerment among them.