Support program for internationally trained nurses starting work in the Netherlands
Official title: Empowering Nursing Newcomers
Run by University Medical Center Groningen · NCT07500688 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will see if a fast-track language and integration program helps refugee and migrant nurses start nursing jobs in the Netherlands.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 227 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University Medical Center Groningen Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Groningen, Provincie Groningen) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | March 4, 2022 |
| Main results expected | April 15, 2026 |
| Study ends | March 1, 2031 |
| Registry record updated | March 30, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07500688 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are refugees or migrants with a nursing or paramedical background, at least an MBO-4–equivalent diploma, practical (preferably hospital) experience, residency in one of the three northern provinces, sufficient learning capacity for a university language course, and a successful interview.
✕Probably not a fit
Those with diplomas below the MBO-4 level, or medical doctors, or individuals without sufficient language/learning capacity or outside the northern provinces are unlikely to benefit from this fast-track program.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
The program combines a vocational language course and intercultural communication training followed by supervised workplace placement to speed up integration of internationally trained nurses. This observational study collects feedback from participants and their supervisors using interviews and surveys and includes a cost–benefit look. It also documents workplace climate, including any experiences of exclusion, microaggressions, or discrimination. Results will be used to refine the program and inform regional workforce strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help qualified migrant and refugee nurses gain the language skills, guidance, and workplace experience needed to enter the Dutch nursing workforce more quickly, reducing staffing shortages.
How similar studies have gone: Similar fast-track integration and language programs for internationally trained nurses have shown generally positive but context-dependent effects on employment and language outcomes, with limited evidence specific to the Dutch setting.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * refugee or migrant with a nursing background or other paramedical background and sufficient indications that the relevant hospital department is prepared to cooperate in a fast-track integration trajectory * holding at least a diploma equivalent to the Dutch MBO-4 level * having practical experience, preferably in a hospital setting * residence in one of the three northern provinces * sufficient learning capacity to participate in a language course at the University of Groningen's Language Centre based on the intake and, if available, a study skills test * a successful application interview Exclusion Criteria: * diploma lower than Dutch MBO-4 level * refugee or migrant with a background as medical doctor
Where it's running
-
University Medical Center Groningen
Groningen, Provincie Groningen, Netherlands Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Arthur Wijsmuller, MD PhD
- Email: a.r.wijsmuller@umcg.nl
- Phone: +31625646662
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.