Expatriate professional nurses’ experiences of preceptorship in a tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Professional nurses relocate to foreign countries as expatriate nurses due to host countries’ push or pull factors. Preceptorship programs are designed to support newly hired nurses in transitioning into a new health-care environment. Aims: This study aimed to understand expatriate professional nurses’ preceptorship experiences in a tertiary hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the goal of providing recommendations to enhance the preceptorship program and facilitate better adaptation among expatriate nurses. Setting and Design: This study was conducted at a tertiary military hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and employed a phenomenological research approach. Materials and Methods: Based on inclusion criteria, ten expatriate professional nurses were selected by purposive sampling. Data were collected through unstructured, audio-recorded, verbatim transcribed interviews, observations, and field notes. Statistical Analysis: Colaizzi’s seven-step methodology was employed for data analysis. Results: The results identified three themes: (1) participants experienced both positive and negative aspects of preceptorship, encountering personal adjustment challenges and issues with the initial orientation program; (2) preceptors’ abilities and dedication played a crucial role in assisting participants in adjusting to their new workplace; and (3) participants reflected on their preceptorship experience, expressing their expectations and opinions of the preceptorship program. Conclusions: Preceptorship is an effective onboarding strategy to support expatriate nurses in their adaptation process, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and continued management support.