Importing nurses from the Phillipines

911fltrn · Nov 14, 2002

Maybe one day this will make a huge shortage in the phillipines! Im sure it already has or is. I wish they would hurry up and raise the wages over there. Then I could move there! Ive been to the phillipines 3 times and love the place. I flew a patient there once! That was kind of spooky! Im not sure she would have survived in the U.S. let alone in one of the poor facilities mentioned a few pages back! Hope everyone is having a great day!

NancyRN · Nov 14, 2002

Well stated, booboo! Thank you!

Q. · Nov 14, 2002

Whoops wrong thread.

mjamesRN · Feb 2, 2003

Here's a twist to this subject:

Prejudice aside, a nurse is a nurse -- Phillipine nurses are welcome, but just as many English-speaking, American-trained nurses are being deported (see below). The State Boards of Nursing are doing nothing about this. Just who are our allies here? As the article states, the state senators have done nothing either, so to where does this guy and all other nurses being deported turn???

PRESS RELEASE

Abel Castello-Diaz, R.N.

"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE" Dateline: January 13, 2003

Contact: Mr. Abel Castello-Diaz

[email protected]

IMMIGRATION'S NEW POLICIES CONFLICT WITH MEDICAL NEEDS OF AMERICANS

Despite a growing national critical nursing shortage, the INS is deporting USA trained Registered Nurses.

ABINGTON, PA -. Abel Castello-Diaz, (INS# A029-109-758) a 39 year old Critical Care RN who was trained in this country during his 26 years living here is being deported at the end of a 15 year effort to become a citizen, because of a clerical error.

The Vice President of Patient Services, Linda Schofield, RN, MBA, and Denise Lavery, RN, CCRN, Director of Critical Care Services, along with hundreds of RN's who are his colleagues at Abington Memorial Hospital, Abington, PA have worked to keep Mr. Castello serving the medical needs of their patients at their medical facility. They cite both his abilities and the need for such qualified personnel due to the significant shortage of Registered Nurses in the USA, especially in specialties such as Critical Care. So far, their efforts have not made any difference to the INS.

Ms. Schofield states, "Mr. Castello is a valuable member of our Critical Care Department at Abington Memorial Hospital and we've been frustrated by our inability to retain him as part of our healthcare community."

Friends of Mr. Castello and the families of patients whose lives he has helped to save are seeking a reversal of the deportation order based on the fact that he never received notification of his date of Appeal and had his case decided without his Appeal. Apparently, there is not enough staff in the Philadelphia INS office to take the steps needed to properly notify individuals and their attorneys, so important mail is sent through non-certified - non-acknowledged mail resulting in an environment that has few checks on possible abuse.

Senators Arlen Specter and Rick Santorum have been contacted by a great many people trying to prevent this miscarriage of justice and loss to the community. So far both offices are offering no assistance.

###

if anyone has any insight on this they can email to the above contact or to me: [email protected]

cwernc · Feb 2, 2003

From what I have read, it can often take a year after the Phillipine nurses arrive for them to be credentialed and able to work (in some cases). In the mean time, were all the nurses aware of a forgotten population of Nurses who are wanting to fill roles in their profession?

We are disabled Nurses. A lot of us cannot work the floor, running the halls, but we cna to discharge teaching, follow up ER calls, instruction of any kind with the patients. We are well educated, well trained Nurses, that by some unforseen accident, be it on the job or a stroke, an MVA, we cannot work the floor.

Few of need actual wokstation accomidation, what we need is maybe to motor in a chair or scooter, or evn waler to get to the workstation. We may not have the tolerance for 8 hour days, but we can help in busy times.

How can we get this message across to Nursing/hospital/other administrations? When we mention the disability, or show up with an ambulation device, we generally do not hear back. Some of us have been "forgotten" in the waiting room.

WE have a web site called Disabled Nurses and Healthcare workers at Yahoo.com. Please join us, read our stories.

We are not whiners, we have disabilities but are functional persons, male and female, and would be delighted to work again.

We have an unofficial saying: "There is nothing wrong with our minds, it's our bodies that are broken.":confused:

NancyRN · Feb 2, 2003

cwernc, what a thoughtful letter!

I got cancer while in nursing school. Because of the treatment, I was left with extreme fatigue and an inability to lift more than 15 lbs. I've never really thought of myself as disabled, but I suppose I am. The term that comes to my mind is, "brokenhearted"! Nursing was a lifelong dream I accomplished after raising four children, going through cancer, chemo, radiation, and seven surgeries.

I can only manage about one day a week of the grueling hospital world, so I do agency. I will never work enough to "climb the ladder" to a less physical job.

As a patient, I'd rather have a disabled experienced nurse than a strong new graduate who can run a marathon but who might not recognize a change in my condition!

cwernc · Feb 2, 2003

Nancy,

That's what I had intended. To get the profession to think of us.

I, too, would rather have a disabled nurse caring for me and teaching me, as she will have the time- it is her job to teach me not hang blood, pass drugs, do dressing, etc.

I have been fortunate since my injury. I have had managers who take me with them, until 12-02, when my company closed. I now am experienceing the "discrimination" that I never thought would occur.

Join our group. We are great support for one another. I have 36 people in my pocket when I go on a screening interview this monday. It is comforting.

NancyRN · Feb 2, 2003

36 in your pocket? Not sure what that means! I'd love to join the group! What are you interviewing for?

cwernc · Feb 2, 2003

There are 36 of use that have formed our little group of disabled healthcare workers, and they have all told me they will be in my pocket monday. I am meeting for a screening interview with an HR recruiter for a triage nurse phone position.

Join us! we are at Yahoo!groups and the group is Disabled Nurses and Healthcare workers.

cutesabutton · Feb 2, 2003

The original poster asked for an honest opinion and that is what I will give. I have worked almost EVERY SPECIALTY in my 26 years of nursing. I have worked about 45 facilities in all. A variety of states and a variety of nursing roles. From staff nurse, agency nurse to charge nurse and manager. The most common problem I have seen and had to DEAL with from the nurses from the Phillipines was the abrupt nature and at times caustic personalities. Some were willing to adapt to the way we treat patients. Many do not feel patients are worth their time nor the answers to their questions. Quite a few were reprimanded and terminated due to their being so physically rough on patients during patient care. The language barrier of course is there and that can be worked on. Like any culture there will be differences. But out of all of the foreign nurses that came over to the US most often it was the Filipino nurses that would want to stick to their ways. You cannot teach compassion, you either have it or you don't. A few could see the way we are taught in school is different and are willing to change. But some are so problematic in the workplace it can make for a managers nightmare dealing with it. Most commonly was the speaking abruptly to patients and staff, talking in their language in front of the patients or staff then laughing in their private jokes. We consider that rude here. Of course we understand the technology is different, that too can be taught. Some just do not want to learn it. I've worked with nurses from Canada, Australia and England and NOT seen the problems I have as from the Phillipines. A couple that I was able to be somewhat close to explained to me; their education was so totally different than ours. They see compassion as something you do for family not patients. I wish I could give you a more positive answer, however you asked for the honest ones. Of course there are some, like I stated that are willing to change.

cutesabutton · Feb 2, 2003

I think I also need to make a clarification. First of all I am not a typical white American nurse making my statements. I am not WHITE. I am not a prejudice person for sure! I think Flory was asking just some basic questions on how others felt and their experiences. So, the poster that immediately tried to downgrade her grammar was unfair. Keep on subject. Don't take these responses as personal because you are not apparently fitting the description of the many nurses we have run into. OK?

NancyRN · Feb 2, 2003

Make that 37! I'll say a little prayer for you. Trying to join that group now.

Here is another link for disabled Nurses:

http://www.exceptionalnurse.com/