From Migration to Professional Recognition: Labour Market Integration of Internationally Educated Nurses and the Effectiveness of Bridging Programmes in Austria

The research focus lies on the evidence-based design and improvement of labour market integration for internationally educated nurses in Austria — across the full continuum from credential recognition and Nostrifizierung through to qualification-adequate, long-term equitable professional practice.

The following areas are addressed:

• Evaluation of bridging programmes: 
  How do participants experience a bridging course, which pedagogical, organisational, and workplace-related factors support successful completion, and where does the programme need targeted further development? Findings feed directly back into practice to make transition programmes more effective and more equitable.
• A systematic review of international research and measurement literature on IEN integration: 
  Which aspects of labour market integration are well studied — such as access, language acquisition, and recognition procedures — and which remain underexplored, for instance the question of long-term outcome equity compared to domestically educated colleagues?
• Building a theoretical and methodological foundation for future research that supports IENs at every stage of their journey — from Nostrifizierung through bridging to sustainable, qualification-adequate employment.

Overarching goal: The overarching aim is to develop effective, scalable, and equitable transition and integration strategies that strengthen individual career opportunities, quality of care, and staff retention within the healthcare system
This research is part of the doctoral dissertation of Nathalie Traugott BScN, MSc at the Vienna University of Economics and Business.