Nurses Being brought in from another country

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Sep 10, 2006

The B all and end of inserting an IV cannule does not make a nurse, in fact in the UK hardly any nurses insert IV cannules but there are excellent nurses. I reckon most people can be trained to insert IV's but it doesnt make them a nurse, does it.

In the UK we have phlebotomists they just draw blood-they are not nurses.

In haemodialysis units techs dialysis-no nurses there.

I have run a haemo unit with me being the only trained nurse.

It takes more than just isolated jobs to make a trained nurse, it is the whole package deal.

catlady, BSN, RN · Sep 10, 2006

It takes more than just isolated jobs to make a trained nurse, it is the whole package deal.

Well put.

That was one of the hardest things to get across to my students when I was teaching--it was not the collection of technical tasks they were learning that would make them a nurse. It's also, IMO, one of the major points that separate new nurses from experienced nurses.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Sep 11, 2006

I am, all being well, moving to the US at the beginning of the new year. I will be coming with 20 years nursing experience. The hospitals I worked at in the UK expected their nurses especially the senior RN's to have experience in IV cannulation, venupuncture and IV additives and bolus. Many a time I have had to mix IV therapy especially IV antibiotics as pharmacy said they did not have the staff to perform this service especially at weekends and nights. I am scared at the move as I will be leaving my family and friends, yes I know that is my choice and I look forward to the move. I am hoping the hospital and staff will understand that although I have experience it is different to how things are done in the UK and will give me the time and understanding whilst I adapt.

RGN1 · Sep 11, 2006

:yeahthat:

suzy253, RN · Sep 11, 2006

I have no problem with nurses from other countries. In my post, I was commenting about 'better than new grads'.....because I'm a new grad & it disturbs me to read that as we were/are all new grads at one time. I'm proud to have received my RN at age 53 and hope my health holds out to give quality nursing care for as long as I can. :wink2:

Sheri257 · Sep 11, 2006

So what is the solution?

In an ideal world? Make the federal government update the wage data more often so foreign nurses would actually have to be paid real market wages. This would benefit both American and foreign nurses.

And, set up a website or something where foreign nurses can get get better wage information. Some of them have no clue what the market rates are until they actually move there and find out they've been ripped off. If they knew ahead of time and took better paying jobs, the hospitals wouldn't get away with this.

And, last but not least, we need a nationwide ratio law. Whether it's foreign nurses, new grads or whatever ... all of it feeds the revolving door of nursing where poor ratios and lousy working conditions prompts people to quit. This too would benefit both foreign and American nurses.

:typing

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Sep 11, 2006

I have no problem with nurses from other countries. In my post, I was commenting about 'better than new grads'.....because I'm a new grad & it disturbs me to read that as we were/are all new grads at one time. I'm proud to have received my RN at age 53 and hope my health holds out to give quality nursing care for as long as I can. :wink2:

You are still a young chick you'll be fine:wink2:

oncogene · Sep 11, 2006

Thank you Timothy, I learned something today and I am grateful for your honesty.

I realized that it wasn't what you were saying, but it was how you said it.
You talked about Americans being immigrants and it being a 'global' community. The implication is that you have as much right to be here as us because we aren't 'legimately' here, hence the phrase, 'land-squatter' and that the borders and rules shouldn't apply in a 'global' community.
That IS normally how comparing Americans as all being immigrants means: that we aren't anymore entitled to be here than anyone else.
I'm not an 'immigrant' because I didn't migrate here. In fact, I can trace my family history back to Texas from BEFORE Texas was a State, or in fact, a Nation in its own right for that matter. My great great great grandfather fought at the Alamo. I have relatives that fought on both sides of our Civil War.
I have a Great Uncle, A.J. Roberts, that died in WWII with ~1775 of his fellow soldiers and sailors as a prisoner of war on a Japanese hellship, in transit from Manila to Japan to be used as slave labor. The sinking of the Arisan Maru is still considered the largest loss of American lives in a single disaster at sea. It was sunk by an American sub as an unmarked Japanese warship on the eve of the Battle of Leyte Gulf. From the Pacific War Memorial on Corregidor: "Sleep, my sons, your duty done, for Freedom's light has come; sleep in the silent depths of the sea, or in your bed of hallowed sod, until you hear at dawn the low, clear reveille of God."
I was trying to point out, without putting down your underlying sentiment, that those two concepts can and will cause lots of resentment in Americans that could take such comments to be a repudiation of our national heritage.
So, what I said was this: many or most Americans will not look kindly on the point of view that all Americans are immigrants or that we are a 'global community'.
You are expressing generic platitudes and they are not inherently negative ones. But, they can, and would by many, be interpreted as specific negative comments about America and it's generally independent heritage.
I wasn't trying to 'change your mind' because I understood what you meant. I was just trying to point out that the way you said it could cause some unintended conflict.
Good luck on coming here. I'm sure both you and America will be blessed by your being here.
~faith,
Timothy.

suehp · Sep 11, 2006

I am, all being well, moving to the US at the beginning of the new year. I will be coming with 20 years nursing experience. The hospitals I worked at in the UK expected their nurses especially the senior RN's to have experience in IV cannulation, venupuncture and IV additives and bolus. Many a time I have had to mix IV therapy especially IV antibiotics as pharmacy said they did not have the staff to perform this service especially at weekends and nights. I am scared at the move as I will be leaving my family and friends, yes I know that is my choice and I look forward to the move. I am hoping the hospital and staff will understand that although I have experience it is different to how things are done in the UK and will give me the time and understanding whilst I adapt.

Hey Anna,

I guess where I work I have been lucky as all the nurses I have worked with have all been understanding and allow me to slowly get used to my new role here. As regards to inserting IV's - I had done none in the UK but I had done Phlebotomy....over here I havent had to do many but anyone that needs one I get called to have a go - sometimes I get them sometimes I dont...but isnt that the same for most nurses anyway??

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Sep 11, 2006

Hey Anna,
I guess where I work I have been lucky as all the nurses I have worked with have all been understanding and allow me to slowly get used to my new role here. As regards to inserting IV's - I had done none in the UK but I had done Phlebotomy....over here I havent had to do many but anyone that needs one I get called to have a go - sometimes I get them sometimes I dont...but isnt that the same for most nurses anyway??

Yes just like phlebotomy, sometimes you miss.

pissa · Sep 11, 2006

I want to work in hospital in USA as a nurse, and want to take the CGFNS exam in China. Some advice please, thanks.

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Sep 11, 2006

I want to work in hospital in USA as a nurse, and want to take the CGFNS exam in China. Some advice please, thanks.

:offtopic:

Please go to the international forum where you will find all the advice and information you require:wink2: