In 2002, I stepped off a flight from India to the UK with a suitcase in one hand and hope in the other. Like many internationally educated nurses, I came with a dream – to care, grow and contribute to a health system known for its integrity and professionalism.

But two decades later, I’m witnessing a troubling reversal. International nurses, who once arrived with pride and purpose, are now quietly packing their bags – not because they’ve failed, but because the system is failing them. The departure of international nursing staff isn’t just a staffing issue; it’s a deeper loss. What’s truly slipping away is a wealth of experience, diversity, leadership and promise.
International nurses do far more than plug workforce gaps. We shape services, mentor teams, lead improvements, and represent the diverse communities we serve. We’re cultural bridges in clinical corridors – advocates, carers and change-makers. So when one of us leaves – not to go home, but to go elsewhere – it’s not just a career move. It’s often a silent act of disillusionment.

Many of us leave for consistent, complex reasons. Structural inequality remains a major hurdle. Despite our capabilities and experience, we’re often passed over for promotions and unfairly assumed to be less competent. Once the welcome banners are taken down, many of us are left to fend for ourselves, struggling to navigate unfamiliar systems and cultural expectations with little to no support. Toxic workplace cultures make things worse – microaggressions, exclusion, language-based bias and casual racism still persist in too many clinical settings. And with other countries offering better pay and clearer, more supportive routes for leadership, family integration, and career growth, the pull to leave becomes even stronger.

There’s also a damaging belief that international nurses should simply be grateful to be here. But gratitude does not excuse inequality. Being recruited is not the same as being respected. Every nurse deserves to grow, lead and thrive in their workplace. International nurses are not charity, nor are we a temporary fix – we’re a vital, long-term part of the NHS’s present and future.

When we lose internationally educated nurses, we lose much more than rota coverage. We lose lived experience, multilingual care, cultural insight and leaders who could help build a more equitable system. For those of us who stay, it’s a lonely and exhausting position. We mentor new arrivals knowing full well that they, too, might leave if nothing changes. We advocate for inclusion while often feeling excluded ourselves.

To change course, systemic action is essential. We need to establish fair career progression pathways that offer mentorship, leadership training and sponsorship opportunities. Leadership across the NHS must be inclusive and culturally intelligent, with a real understanding of what internationally educated staff face. Discrimination and microaggressions must be tackled head-on – through robust policies, effective training and accountability, not silence. And we must build lasting pastoral and professional support systems that go far beyond the recruitment phase, enabling international nurses to flourish rather than merely survive.

A truly inclusive NHS won’t just welcome international nurses – it will champion them. It will see our differences as strengths, invest in our development, reflect us in leadership, and foster a culture where no nurse feels they have to leave to feel valued. The choice is ours: keep losing talent or build a future where every nurse, regardless of where they trained, can call this home. Because when hope packs its bags, it doesn’t just leave quietly – it takes the future with it.