The Florence Nightingale Foundation

Funded by the Burdett Trust for Nursing and supported by NHS England, the programme was designed to address a critical national priority: strengthening the recruitment, integration, and retention of internationally educated staff within the NHS. 

Developed through rigorous research, expert consultation and participant insight, the programme offers a tailored blend of leadership development, cultural integration support and practical skill building. Participants, representing over 30 nationalities, reported overwhelmingly positive experiences, with 99% rating the programme as good, very good, or excellent, and 99% recommending it to others. 

The curriculum combines evidence based modules, ranging from personality preferences and team dynamics to quality improvement, communication, influence, and problem solving with reflective storytelling from IENMs and expert led webinars, including specialist sessions from RADA. This holistic approach generated significant improvements in leadership confidence, communication skills and self efficacy with participants reporting increased readiness to lead change and greater clarity about their career pathways. 

Importantly, the programme’s impact extends into daily clinical practice. Case studies illustrate participants applying new skills to improve patient communication, lead quality improvement initiatives and successfully progress into more senior roles. 

The evaluation highlights not only the programme’s success but also its role in shaping a more supportive, inclusive NHS for internationally recruited staff. Its findings provide a compelling foundation for future leadership development initiatives, ensuring IENMs are equipped, empowered and celebrated as vital contributors to the UK’s health and care workforce.