‘I Work With my Heart’: Experiences of Migrant Care Workers in a Northern, Rural Context

Abstract

in English:In Norway, long-term care needs are rising rapidly. Due to the dual-earner family model and the fact that many people live far away from frail parents and other dependent family members, the growing care needs may not be met through informal care. Through the Nordic welfare system, formal care services are provided to all citizens in need of care, regardless of their age, income or family relations. Since the 1990s, however, Norway has experienced a shortage of healthcare personnel. In this 'care deficit' situation, skilled immigrants play an increasingly important role. To date, the international literature has examined the experiences of the professional migrant care workers in a limited way. In particular, there is a lack of knowledge of this issue in rural contexts where recruitment challenges may be even more pronounced than in urban areas. This article addresses this knowledge gap by examining the spatial and relational experiences of skilled migrants working in the healthcare sector in Finnmark, northernmost Norway. In this study, the informants share largely positive experiences, stating that their care services are highly valued and that caring provides them with a sense of joy and mastery.Moreover, they talk about the importance of establishing trust in the relationship with their users and note that some patients end up becoming almost like family members. The migrants' relationships with colleagues and management at the workplace are also defined by mainly positive feelings, trust and respect. Caring is hence perceived by the migrants as an inherently sense-making practice.

A courageous journey: Experiences of migrant Philippine nurses in Norway

“…Research related specifically to immigrant nurses in Norway is scarce, with the exception of a few papers (Isaksen, 2012;Munkejord, 2017;van Riemsdijk, 2010avan Riemsdijk, , 2010bvan Riemsdijk, , 2013, and studies on Philippine nurses, however, are missing. The findings from the mentioned papers point out difficulties for informants from other countries and educational backgrounds to obtain credential recognition to work as medical doctors, nurses or healthcare workers in Norway (Munkejord, 2017). Even nurses within the EU, as from Latvia, it was found, were not immediately credentialed and their special skills were not being adequately paid for (Isaksen, 2012).…”

Gender Perspectives of Male Immigrant Healthcare Assistants in Norwegian Elderly Care

“…Research indicates that care workers with immigrant backgrounds are valuable resources in the context of workforce challenges in elderly care (Dahle & Seeberg, 2013;Isaksen, 2010;Munkejord, 2017;Seeberg, 2012). At the same time, the literature has raised questions about migrant care workers' social access and rights (Dahle & Seeberg, 2013) and their care provision for elderly citizens (Christensen & Guldvik, 2014), as well as the political dynamics behind a reliance on elderly care workers (Vike, 2017).…”

Helsevesenet trenger vår kompetanse- hvorfor ikke bruke den? En kvalitativ studie av filippinske sykepleieres opplevelse av veien til autorisasjon i Norge

“…En norsk studie viser at sykepleiere utdannet utenfor EØS er stolte over egen utdanning, men opplever utfordringer knyttet til språk, sykepleierolle og rasisme (Dahl, Dalen, Larsen & Lohne, 2018). En annen norsk studie (Munkejord, 2017) viser til migrerte helsepersonells positive mestringserfaringer ved å arbeide i eldreomsorgen, men også utfordringer knyttet til at helsepersonell som sykepleiere og leger ikke opplever å få anvendt kompetansen fra sine utdanninger.…”