Abstract
Purpose - The purpose of the study is to explore, describe and develop a greater understanding of overseas Black and minority ethnic nurses' experiences of, as well as the impact of, their experiences on the quality and service delivery in the UK's NHS. Design/methodology/approach - Phenomenology was adopted to explore overseas nurses' experiences. Twelve face-to-face interviews were completed and all participants involved were interviewed in their homes. Participants originated from Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. Findings - Findings revealed five themes such as building ties, reflecting on experience, moving on, reduced confidence and lack of support. Practical implications - Despite negative experiences, participants indicated that time working in the NHS was useful and contributed towards their development. In recruiting and retaining overseas nurses in the UK NHS, it is important to address their needs - demonstrating NHS commitment to a diverse workforce with ultimate effects on patients' care. Originality/value - This article shows that some overseas nurses are unhappy in the clinical environment and as a consequence they decide to seek alternative workplaces where they feel that they may be valued. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.