Learning from experience: improving the process of internationally educated nurses' application for registration - a study protocol.

AIM: This study aims to improve the efficiency of the application for registration process for internationally educated nurses seeking licensure to practice.

BACKGROUND: The licensure and employment of internationally educated nurses has been one strategy to address the global nursing shortage. However, little is known about which application characteristics relate to success in obtaining licensure.

DESIGN: This project uses evidence from a retrospective statistical analysis of four years of internationally educated nurse application data to inform the development and implementation of changes to policies and practices at the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta. Analysis of application data will also be conducted to evaluate the impact of the changes on outcomes and timelines.

METHODS: The project encompasses four phases, with funding from Health Canada's Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative approved in March 2011. Phase One focuses on a statistical analysis of application data to identify characteristics associated with success in the application process and quantify timelines for the phases of the process. The resulting knowledge will inform Phase Two, the development and implementation of policy and practice changes. Further analysis will be completed in Phase Three, comparing outcomes and timelines between pre- and postimplementation data using statistical analyses and exemplar-based statistics. Phase Four will focus on dissemination and knowledge transfer, potentially leading to further changes.

DISCUSSION: Findings, policy and practice adaptations and implementation evaluation will provide evidence about the internationally educated nurse application for registration process to Registered Nurse regulators, educational institutions, internationally educated nurses, employers and governments.