Study: Lower patient satisfaction associated with nurses trained abroad

Editor's Note

Employment of nurses trained abroad to substitute for nurses educated at home may negatively impact quality of care, finds this study conducted by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia;  University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; and Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery at King’s College London.

The study of more than 12,500 patients found that each 10-point increase in the percent of foreign educated nurses at the bedside was associated with a 12% lower odds of patients giving their hospital an excellent or very good rating.

Patients in hospitals with more nurses trained abroad also were  significantly less likely to report being treated with respect and dignity, getting easy to understand answers to their questions, and having the purpose of their medications explained.

1Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA 2National Institute for Health Research Collaboration for Applied Leadership in Health Research Wessex, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK 3National Nursing Research Unit, Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, King's College London, London, UK