Internationally qualified nurses represent 25% of the New Zealand nursing workforce, similar to Australia, Canada, the US and UK. The transition from vastly different health systems can have implications for patient safety. Through understanding the perspectives of internationally qualified nurses, educational and healthcare agencies may be better able to support this transition. This study investigated internationally qualified nurses' perceptions of the competencies that pertain to patient safety. These were analysed alongside the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) competencies designed to define and measure competence for patient safety. Qualitative case studies of four internationally qualified nurses were discussed using Communities of Practice theory as the conceptual framework. The primary data sources were two semi-structured interviews with each of the internationally qualified nurses during a Competency Assessment Programme to obtain New Zealand nursing registration. Competency Assessment programme documents also provided data. Thematic analysis of the individual cases followed by cross-case analysis revealed that the social, cultural, and historical context of the health system and nursing role mediates how maintaining patient safety is perceived and enacted in practice. Recommendations from the findings of this study are important for ongoing internationally qualified nurses’ transition support.

与澳大利亚，加拿大，美国和英国相似，具有国际资格的护士占新西兰护理人员总数的25％。从截然不同的卫生系统过渡可能会对患者的安全产生影响。通过了解国际合格护士的观点，教育和医疗机构可​​以更好地支持这一过渡。这项研究调查了国际合格护士对患者安全能力的看法。这些与新西兰护理委员会（NCNZ）的能力进行了分析，这些能力旨在定义和衡量患者安全的能力。以“实践社区”理论为概念框架，对四名国际合格护士的定性案例研究进行了讨论。主要数据来源是在能力评估计划期间对每位国际合格护士进行的两次半结构化访谈，以获得新西兰护理注册。能力评估计划文件也提供了数据。对个案进行专题分析，然后进行跨案分析，结果表明，卫生系统的社会，文化和历史背景以及护理角色介导了在实践中如何感知和制定维护患者安全的方法。这项研究结果的建议对于持续获得国际合格护士的过渡支持非常重要。对个案进行专题分析，然后进行跨案分析，结果表明，卫生系统的社会，文化和历史背景以及护理角色介导了在实践中如何感知和制定维护患者安全的方法。这项研究结果的建议对于持续获得国际合格护士的过渡支持非常重要。对个案进行专题分析，然后进行跨案分析，结果表明，卫生系统的社会，文化和历史背景以及护理角色介导了在实践中如何感知和制定维护患者安全的方法。这项研究结果的建议对于持续获得国际合格护士的过渡支持非常重要。