Understanding the experiences of Pakistani educated nurses working in the United Kingdom: a phenomenological approach



Muhammad, Dildar
Understanding the experiences of Pakistani educated nurses working in the United Kingdom: a phenomenological approach. PhD thesis, University of Liverpool.

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Abstract

Aim: The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experience of migrant Pakistani nurses working in the United Kingdom. Background: Pakistani educated nurses have a history of migration to Middle Eastern and developed countries, and despite severe nurse shortages the Pakistan government has no strategy to retain these professionals. Pakistan saw an unprecedented shortage of nurses during the years 2000-2007 when about 1200 nurses migrated to the United Kingdom. This nursing ‘brain drain’ has negatively impacted on the health system in Pakistan, leaving it depleted of experienced health workers. Nevertheless, what motivates Pakistani nurses to migrate, and post migration experiences of these nurses are not known. Methods: This study adopted the principles of hermeneutic phenomenology to explore the lived experience of Pakistani educated nurses working in the UK. A total of twenty one Pakistani nurses working and residing in the Northwest, Yorkshire and East Midlands of England were interviewed, including eleven females and ten male participants. In-depth face to face interviews were conducted with participants, supplemented by demographic information sheets, observations, and field notes. Analysis was carried out using van Manen’s thematic approach. Findings: Findings of the study reveal the complex nature of the ‘life world’ of participants and both dismal as well as affirmative experiences were revealed. The three major themes which emerged from the study findings were ‘Becoming a Migrant’, ‘Dissonance and Devaluation’ and ‘Outsider Identities’. The lived experience of nurses showed physical and emotional hardships in Pakistan that pushed them to leave the country and move abroad. Once migrated to the United Kingdom, these nurses started their careers in elderly care homes and found themselves devalued and deskilled. In addition, their lived experience included feelings of being isolated and alienated in the UK. Discussion: The meaning of study findings reveals the concept of ‘otherness’ as core to understanding these experiences in the socio-cultural and geo-political context of the study. The meaning of Pakistani migrant nurses’ lived experience is linked to marginalization, the politics of identity and belonging. The study is one of the first to describe the notion of ‘otherness’ as a means of understanding nurse migration, and adds to knowledge of the phenomenon of ‘otherness’ as it is lived and constructed. This study has also given voice to a small group of Pakistani migrant nurses who have otherwise been marginalised by their society, their profession and their migration to the UK.

Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
Additional Information: Date: 2015-05-08 (completed)
Subjects: ?? RT ??
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 20 Aug 2015 07:28
Last Modified: 17 Dec 2022 01:27
DOI: 10.17638/02015099
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/2015099