Project to explore how UK can better retain and learn from overseas nurses

A new national project is set to explore how the UK can better retain, develop and learn from its internationally educated nursing and midwifery workforce.

The Florence Nightingale Foundation’s (FNF’s) new policy and research project aims to learn from the UK’s internationally educated workforce and the global nursing diaspora to help build a ‘stronger, more connected profession’.

The ‘Global Talent, Local Impact’ project will celebrate existing good practice, showcase success stories and work alongside internationally educated nurses and midwives, employers, regulators, diaspora groups, global partnership managers and policymakers.

The findings will examine how collaboration through global health partnerships can strengthen the UK workforce while supporting global health systems.

The FNF project will also focus on how nursing and midwifery leaders shape inclusive workforce cultures, including where internationally educated colleagues are being encouraged to ‘belong, contribute, and lead’.

Sharing global lessons

Dr Natasha North, director of the Florence Nightingale Foundation Academy, said: ‘Nursing leaders have a pivotal role in creating cultures where internationally educated nurses and midwives are not only included, but truly celebrated as part of our global workforce.’

Dr North stressed that the FNF wanted to use its project to ‘learn directly’ from international nurses and make use of their ‘global insight’.

‘By sharing those lessons nationally and globally, we can build a stronger, more connected profession that recognises our shared future depends on valuing every nurse and midwife, wherever they began their journey,’ she added.

Recommendations for the future

The findings will be used to shape evidence-based recommendations for long-term change, with a final report due in Spring 2026.

Any internationally educated nurses and midwives working in any setting across the UK are being invited to take part, alongside leaders supporting internationally educated colleagues and members and leaders of diaspora networks.

Ariel Landa, chair of the project’s Steering Committee and chair of The Alliance of International Nurses and Midwives Diasporas in the United Kingdom, said: ‘For decades, these dedicated professionals have been the backbone of the NHS and the wider UK healthcare system, ensuring it remains responsive, resilient, and capable of meeting the ever-evolving and complex needs of our population.

‘It is not enough to simply acknowledge their presence; we must actively listen to, engage with, and work alongside our internationally educated workforce. Nothing should be done for them without them.’

Today, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) revealed it’s advice line has seen a 55% rise in racist incidents being reported in the last three years.

In June, data from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) found that overseas nurse recruitment had fallen for the first time in six years.