Nursing shortage is a global challenge for healthcare, according to WHO 2020. In Finland, there was a need to recruit 8,300 healthcare professionals in 2020 and 16,700 nurses in 2022, which exceeded the forecasted shortage (Keva 2021, Keva 2023). As the demand for healthcare professionals increases, attention is being paid to the attractiveness of the sector, increasing the number of places for training and developing practices for work-related immigration (Keva 2021). The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health predicts that the need for international recruitment will increase by up to 10 percent by 2030 (STM 2023). The proportion of foreign-born nurses among those employed was approximately 3.7 percent in 2020, up from 3.4 percent the previous year. Although the number of healthcare professionals with a foreign background has increased in Finland, 11 percent of those who have received education in the sector are unemployed. This figure was more than twice that of the unemployment rate for all those who had received education in the field (STM 2020). Challenges have been identified in the employment of international nursing students in Central Finland, such as language skills, language awareness in the workplace, integration into the workplace, and the lack of a mentoring model. As foreign language students are mainly employed outside of Central Finland, skilled and trained workers cannot be utilized regionally. There has been a need to develop leadership skills among social and healthcare personnel. New, more flexible forms of collaboration are needed, as well as regional strengthening of social and healthcare units and educational organizations and the development of existing teaching and guidance methods. In addition, team training and reality-based learning environments are proposed for training courses (STM 2020). Based on this proposal from STM, identified regional development needs, and workplace requests, the OVE training project was launched in the fall of 2022. The project develops a student-led multicultural module training model for nursing - the OVE training model - in which international students can better integrate into the work community. The project develops student guidance from individual guidance towards group guidance, and individual training towards multicultural team training. The development work is carried out in collaboration with four different training guidance units at the Nova Hospital. The aim is to strengthen approximately 120-140 nurses’ guidance skills and cultural sensitivity, language awareness, and understanding of the importance of diversity in the work community. The aim is also to strengthen cooperation between Jamk and the training organization. With the strengthening of the competence of nurses, international students receive support in developing their Finnish language skills and their employment opportunities in Central Finland. The project's actions and the strengthening of employee guidance skills are integrated into the everyday nursing work on the ward. Students practice as a team under the guidance of professionals, and act as peer mentors for each other. In addition to developing the training model, a coaching package is provided for internship supervisors to strengthen language awareness, guidance skills, and cultural sensitivity. During the project, video materials are also created. The competence and confidence of nursing professionals in guiding international students have been strengthened as a result of the project. During the project, 4-6 mentor coaches are trained to disseminate the model to new wards after the project ends.
