Immigrating in nursing: a grounded theory of how nurses process their professional practice specialization within the pharmaceutical/biotech industry

Rationale for the study: Despite the fact that nursing shortages have been reported for a prolonged period of time across all traditional practice settings within the US (Buerhaus & Staiger, 1999; Buerhaus, Staiger & Auerbach, 2000; 2003; 2009), there has been a growth in the number of nurses employed within the non-traditional practice setting of the pharmaceutical/biotech industry. The literature is void of both qualitative and quantitative studies that address the perspective of nurses who pursue professional practice within the non-traditional practice setting of the pharmaceutical/biotech industry. Understanding how nurses within the pharmaceutical/biotech industry perceive their professional practice may help illuminate the importance of characteristics of non-traditional practice settings. Methodology: Classic Grounded Theory was used to examine the process that nurses undertake to restore, support, and foster their professional practice within the non-traditional practice setting of the pharmaceutical/biotech industry. Rutgers University IRB approval was obtained prior to study initiation. Fifteen participants were interviewed regarding their perspectives of the decision-making process surrounding their migration and establishment of professional practice from traditional practice settings into the non-traditional practice setting of the pharmaceutical/biotech industry. All participants met eligibility criteria. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. This data was analyzed using constant comparative analysis as described by Glaser (1978). Results: The theory which emerged from the data is a four phase process which includes: Becoming Disillusioned, Acclimating into the Corporate Role, Achieving Belonging, and Nursing Specialty Actualization. Immigrating in Nursing is the Core Category which explains how participants resolved their main concern: to restore, support, and foster their professional practice in the non-traditional practice setting of the pharmaceutical/biotech industry. Conclusion: The study findings illuminate the challenges, milestones, and achievements that nurses within the pharmaceutical/biotech industry consider integral to their professional practice development and specialty actualization. The inside views of the choices and actions made by each participant in this study demonstrated many of the reasons why nurses within the pharmaceutical/biotech industry value their professional practice and the public health advancement and advocacy that they undertake.Ph. D.Includes bibliographical referencesIncludes vitaby Ellen M. Shanno