nurse recrution

fergus51 · Feb 14, 2004

Because supply doesn't meet demand. We don't graduate enough nurses to meet our own needs, plus many nurses leave the profession early in their careers.

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Mar 3, 2004

And it works because foreign nurses are very willing to come here, expenses paid, to make more than they would at home.

Kinda like water seeking its own level, the world economy is indeed becoming a world economy.

sdcasaj · Mar 3, 2004

The nursing profession in the caribbean is being targeted by nurse recruiters from the u.s.a. Why does the u.s.need to recruit foreign trained nurses despite the large number of nurses who graduate from nursing colleges yearly?

I've asked lots of recruiters the same questions and they usually say it comes down to three issues

1. Lots of US nurses are getting out of the field

2. Too many US nurses complain too much about their jobs

3. Foreign nurses have better attitudes and give better care because of having better attitudes

RNPATL, DNP, RN · Mar 4, 2004

I've asked lots of recruiters the same questions and they usually say it comes down to three issues
1. Lots of US nurses are getting out of the field
2. Too many US nurses complain too much about their jobs
3. Foreign nurses have better attitudes and give better care because of having better attitudes

I am not certain that I agree with #3. I think nurses in general have far more challenges working here in the US. Advancing technology and the role of the nurse has greatly increased over the years. I am certain that nurses in the US hold more responsibility and accountability than nurses abroad. As far as attitude is concerned, I think US nurses tend to verbalize their advocacy a great deal for the patient.

In relationship to #2 .... nurses are not treated with the level of respect that they deserve. This is very frustrating to US nurses and for many of them, they leave the field. For others, they are committed to the patient, yet struggle with the way their employers treat them. I don't believe that US nurses complain more than other nurses. I do believe that US Hospitals take a great deal of advantage of US nurses.

In addition, there are many professional options open for women today and nursing may not be appealing to them. I know of many younger nurses that have decided to change careers shortly after entering nursing so they can work regular hours, make more money and have a better life. These are real reasons why nurses do not stay in the profession. It can be very frustrating for a nurse that has a passion to nurse and can not support his or her family on the wages provided. Perhaps this is one of the complaints that nurses have. It is certainly one that I have. But I am committed to being a nurse and can not see myself doing anything else.

Oh and just a point to remember .... recruiters have no clue! I have yet to meet a recruiter that has recently or ever worked the floor as a nurse and tried to balance and juggle managing care, medications, assesments, treatments, orders and the mirad of other challenges that nurses handle on an assignment of more than 10 patients. So, I guess I would not always listen to what the recruiters are telling you. From my perspective, the recruiters are only trying to get you to sign on the dotted line so they get their commission check.

Hope this helps to answer some of your questions. :)

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Mar 4, 2004

I've asked lots of recruiters the same questions and they usually say it comes down to three issues
2. Too many US nurses complain too much about their jobs
3. Foreign nurses have better attitudes and give better care because of having better attitudes

This is a load of BS, if I've ever heard one.

If you really want to know, ask a NURSE, not a recruiter.

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Mar 4, 2004

I am not certain that I agree with #3. I think nurses in general have far more challenges working here in the US. Advancing technology and the role of the nurse has greatly increased over the years. I am certain that nurses in the US hold more responsibility and accountability than nurses abroad. As far as attitude is concerned, I think US nurses tend to verbalize their advocacy a great deal for the patient.
In relationship to #2 .... nurses are not treated with the level of respect that they deserve. This is very frustrating to US nurses and for many of them, they leave the field. For others, they are committed to the patient, yet struggle with the way their employers treat them. I don't believe that US nurses complain more than other nurses. I do believe that US Hospitals take a great deal of advantage of US nurses.
In addition, there are many professional options open for women today and nursing may not be appealing to them. I know of many younger nurses that have decided to change careers shortly after entering nursing so they can work regular hours, make more money and have a better life. These are real reasons why nurses do not stay in the profession. It can be very frustrating for a nurse that has a passion to nurse and can not support his or her family on the wages provided. Perhaps this is one of the complaints that nurses have. It is certainly one that I have. But I am committed to being a nurse and can not see myself doing anything else.
Oh and just a point to remember .... recruiters have no clue! I have yet to meet a recruiter that has recently or ever worked the floor as a nurse and tried to balance and juggle managing care, medications, assesments, treatments, orders and the mirad of other challenges that nurses handle on an assignment of more than 10 patients. So, I guess I would not always listen to what the recruiters are telling you. From my perspective, the recruiters are only trying to get you to sign on the dotted line so they get their commission check.
Hope this helps to answer some of your questions. :)

Fantasic post, RNPATL. You nailed it.

RNPATL, DNP, RN · Mar 4, 2004

.... thanks :)

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Mar 4, 2004

Now, where are my petunias and tomatoes when I've got the proper soil mix to plant them?????

I think any time you've got a labor force willing to work for less, that's where business goes. Simple. The sad thing? Those countries our recruiters are raiding are even more desperately in need of nurses than we are. But the recruiters will make their bucks, won't they? And the US will have their nurses. And with the trend continuing, the wage will drop back down. (And don't grab up that one line and hold it up as my hidden agenda. You'd be wrong.)

I have seen good foreign nurses, glad to be here, happy to be a part of American culture and the health care profession. And I have seen them be absolutely useless, act as though they do not understand the simplest statement, deny patients the dignity of even being helped to the toilet in favor of having an aide clean up a soiled bed, sleeping through a night shift unless the UM or night shift supv was in the area. In that way, about the same as the American born and educated nurses I've worked with and been cared for and taught by.

It's not as simple as you would have it seem, and I think you overlooked some extremely important points.

shotnbum · Mar 5, 2004

I would definitely agree with most all of your post...except the Recruiter portion. I am a RN recruiter. I am also a ICU nurse. I feel I understand what RNs want from the company/hospital they work for....I agree we have a long ways to go in achieving good woking conditions for us. I DO uderstand what it is like to be a floor nurse. However, I feel this is what makes me good at what I do...(recruiter).

:)

I am not certain that I agree with #3. I think nurses in general have far more challenges working here in the US. Advancing technology and the role of the nurse has greatly increased over the years. I am certain that nurses in the US hold more responsibility and accountability than nurses abroad. As far as attitude is concerned, I think US nurses tend to verbalize their advocacy a great deal for the patient.

In relationship to #2 .... nurses are not treated with the level of respect that they deserve. This is very frustrating to US nurses and for many of them, they leave the field. For others, they are committed to the patient, yet struggle with the way their employers treat them. I don't believe that US nurses complain more than other nurses. I do believe that US Hospitals take a great deal of advantage of US nurses.

In addition, there are many professional options open for women today and nursing may not be appealing to them. I know of many younger nurses that have decided to change careers shortly after entering nursing so they can work regular hours, make more money and have a better life. These are real reasons why nurses do not stay in the profession. It can be very frustrating for a nurse that has a passion to nurse and can not support his or her family on the wages provided. Perhaps this is one of the complaints that nurses have. It is certainly one that I have. But I am committed to being a nurse and can not see myself doing anything else.

Oh and just a point to remember .... recruiters have no clue! I have yet to meet a recruiter that has recently or ever worked the floor as a nurse and tried to balance and juggle managing care, medications, assesments, treatments, orders and the mirad of other challenges that nurses handle on an assignment of more than 10 patients. So, I guess I would not always listen to what the recruiters are telling you. From my perspective, the recruiters are only trying to get you to sign on the dotted line so they get their commission check.

Hope this helps to answer some of your questions. :)

RNPATL, DNP, RN · Mar 5, 2004

You are the exception to the rule. In my nursing management days, I ran across and worked with many recruiters, most not nurses. They were only concerned about their ability to meet high end quotas for filling positions. I am glad to see that there are more nurses that are recruiters. It will only serve to make the placement of nurses (US and foreign) a little easier and less stressful for all involved. :)

SmilingBluEyes · Mar 5, 2004

I've asked lots of recruiters the same questions and they usually say it comes down to three issues
1. Lots of US nurses are getting out of the field
2. Too many US nurses complain too much about their jobs
3. Foreign nurses have better attitudes and give better care because of having better attitudes

OMG this is such a blatant and GROSS misunderstanding or mis-statement of the real reasons behind the shortage crisis in the USA.

I could not possibly disagree with numbers 2 and 3 more vehemently. It shows a real problem we have with understanding our issues in nursing in the USA today. And it sounds like typical bean-counter speak to me. Not the reality, however, just what they *want* to see.

Things won't change soon with attitudes like this pervading out there, that much I KNOW. I am so sorry to see such attitudes frankly. This is why number 1 is the truth, if anything! :angryfire