Foreign educated nurses working in the United States

[CT Pixie]

Not really sure where this should go..if this isn't the correct forum feel free to move it.

My question is a simple one. Being the melting pot, I'd think that the United States would have a big variety of nurses from other countries and not one Nationality being more abundant than another. Why is it that the Philippines nurses seem to be the majority of foreign nurse. Is it that their nursing programs are very similar to the States programs therefore any easier transition for working here? I'd think that Countries bordering the US (or very close) would be the majority of the foreign educated nurses..Mexico, Puerto Rico, Canada..etc. in the States. The Philippines seem so far away to be having so many nurses being educated there and coming here.

I hope that doesn't come out sounding like I am against Phillipine nurses coming here, because thats not my intent at all. I have no problem with any foreign educated nurse coming here and easing the nursing shortage. I'm just curious why it is there are so many Phillippine nurses here in the States.

[flightnurse2b, LPN]

when i worked in florida, we had many nurses from the phillippines, but also a large amt of haitian and jamaican nurses, indian nurses and russian nurses.

here in nc, ive worked with alot of african and chinese nurses.

alot of the international nurses ive worked with said they come here for a better life and to make money so they can support their family and eventually bring them here to the states. some of the stories i have heard, particularly from the nurses from haiti and india are heartbreaking. one nurse told me she had one pair of gloves per night to take care of 32 patients, and having 4-5 patients expire on one shift was a nightly occurence.

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

I think on my floor my co-workers enjoy my different sense of humor and the way I talk-not just the accent but my way of phrasing sentances. They do fuss me and spoil me I think I am treated really well and have a lot of respect for them all. I dont think they see me as 'foreign' any longer, I know I dont feel 'foreign, I just feel like one of the girls.