Nurses Being brought in from another country

[KTYRN]

Not sure how I feel about this and I'm wondering if anyone out there has experienced this with there hospital. The hospital I currently work in is bringing 15 nurses from another country in to work at our hospital. These nurses have 3 yr. contracts with the hospital. I here a lot of buzz from other nurses, saying they aren't going to stay if they are brought in, they won't be welcomed etc... I'm trying to see the bright side of this, this will help with the shortage of nurses. Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone else has had this experience and what the thoughts are on this?

[tigress_8207, ASN, BSN]

That same thing is happening right now at our main hospital.There was this big uproar but now things have settled somewhat.Don't see what the fuss is about they are still geting their due pay plus additional help in short staff areas.Thought they'd be glad to ease their work load but i guess they probably felt like the foreign nurses were going to take over or something.

[bagladyrn, RN]

To all of the nurses posting here who are considering immigrating to the US: Please don't think that you will face unpleasant treatment from your fellow nurses when you arrive. While many of us may have issues with the general topic of corporations importing large numbers of nurses, in general we tend to be friendly and supportive of the individual nurses with whom we work. (Yes there are exceptions, but they are usually unpleasant to everyone!)

One suggestion I would have to nurses for whom English is a second language - when you are in a mixed group of nurses, especially in such places as the nurses station, make an effort to speak in English, rather that holding a private conversation in your own language across your coworkers. I worked for some years with the hearing impaired and we were required to simultaneously sign all our conversations, even those between hearing individuals to avoid the feelings of exclusion and rudeness. Recently I have been working a unit where all the staff on at times speak another language and feel quite out of the loop especially when it is obvious from the occasional understandable words that they are discussing pt. and unit issues.

[pissa]

:offtopic:

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

thank you.

[RGN1]

To all of the nurses posting here who are considering immigrating to the US: Please don't think that you will face unpleasant treatment from your fellow nurses when you arrive. While many of us may have issues with the general topic of corporations importing large numbers of nurses, in general we tend to be friendly and supportive of the individual nurses with whom we work. (Yes there are exceptions, but they are usually unpleasant to everyone!)

One suggestion I would have to nurses for whom English is a second language - when you are in a mixed group of nurses, especially in such places as the nurses station, make an effort to speak in English, rather that holding a private conversation in your own language across your coworkers. I worked for some years with the hearing impaired and we were required to simultaneously sign all our conversations, even those between hearing individuals to avoid the feelings of exclusion and rudeness. Recently I have been working a unit where all the staff on at times speak another language and feel quite out of the loop especially when it is obvious from the occasional understandable words that they are discussing pt. and unit issues.

Thank you, I hope the nurses I get to work with will be the nice ones! Mind you I'm from the UK so the English language won't be such a problem.

I know what you mean about others talking in their language across you though because I worked in a hospital that recruited big time from India. The nurses were all very competent & good to work with but when they were on together you could end up feeling excluded in your own workplace because they would hold conversations in their own language at times. It was even worse when doctors who were also form their part of the world came on to the ward. Sometimes I'd feel like getting up, going home & leaving them to it!!

However, we had a constructive discussion about it at a ward meeting and a rule was made that when they were on duty on the ward they had to speak English. From then on everything was fine, they didn't take offence or anything. They admitted that they just hadn't even thought about how this could make their co-workers feel.

[marpat12]

As a foreign nurse (from Northern Europe) who is about to start working in a big University Hospital soon, I'm interested in knowing how are international nurses generally welcomed in American hospitals. Of course it depends on the hospital, unit and the international nurses's own personality must have some infuence in it too. But...how do you American nurses see a foreign nurse? Are they generally welcomed or seen as a threat etc.? What is your own opinion or the trend in your workplace? Do you have a lot of international nurses in your workplace and if yes, where do they come from? I'm very excited to start working soon, but also a little nervous about the new working culture, how will people welcome me, how fast will I learn new things etc...

As far as I'm concerned, the behavior of these nurses described in the first post, who've threatened to leave, is inappropriate and very low. I would feel terrible, as one of those Indian nurses, if I knew there were people who wouldn't want me there. It's stressful enough to learn new things, get to know new collegues and speak foreign language... no one would want someone to dislike you in addition to the already existing stress. I feel sorry for these nurses and hope they wouldn't be shown any bad feelings in front of their faces. Of course personalities can clash, but there shouldn't be prejudices before evn meeting these people. I have worked with a few LPN's and nurses from abroad in my home country, and there were bad ones and great ones. Just like in my fellow countrymen/women. But I would never judge someone by only their nationality.

What, by the way, means "clannish"? I googled and got 2 options, either "snobby" or "clinging together". In my case, I won't propably make "clans" with other international (from a different country from mine) nurses, as there are none in my future unit. In the same hospital yes, though.:wink2:

Hi there,

I too am in the same position as you. I am currently in australia and waiting to move to california hopefully beginning of next year and have the same worries as you do. Of course I am looking forward to such challenge but I just hope I feel welcomed and part of the whole team.

[sarahrain]

We do have foreign nurses as well. I pity them cos they have to be by their own.. More stressful than the local staff nurses. For me I wouldn't want to go to be an immigrant nurse. but as a volunteer or traveling, it is ok for me.

[missmatched]

I'm not a nurse, yet. But I most of my friends are and we all come from the Philippines. It'll be interesting once I join the workforce. As for language, I'll say I hold my own, have been speaking English in seems like forever(with accent, of course) and have live here in the US for 8 years. I'm sure my Filipino nurse friends are just as good as any nurse, and I hope to be a good one.