Importing nurses from the Phillipines

Nurses Activism

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My hospital is working on getting nurses from the Phillipines to fill some of our needs. We have been in the paper process for almost a year and now it looks like we actually will be getting some of these nurses in the next few months. Has anyone else gone this route? What were your challenges and surprizes. What did you discover you worried about needlessly?

I have another of my dumb questions -- especially for those RN's working in Great Britain. Years ago (during the last nursing shortage) we tried to recruit British/Scottish/Irish nurses but ran into the problem of skill. At that time (about 15 years ago) those nurses didn't start IV's and had little or no skill in that area. Do RN's in GB have IV competency now? Told you it was a dumb question.

"In the UK all nurse training is totally free.It is paid for by the British taxpayer.Not only that, there are thousands of foreign nurses getting free training here,as it has been for many years..

I am one of them,but I will be staying here as it is now my home. "

Well, I guess that tells us that free education is not going to be the answer to alleviating the shortage here in the USA.

How nice, that so many countries can afford to provide free university educations for their citizens but here in the USA it cost literally a small fortune to recieve a 4 year college education unless you have a scholarship or a God forbid, sports

scholarship.

But then, since our supposed quality of living is so much better than other countries, our dollars worth more, people want to come here and take advantage of these things.

So, my question, is the quality of life really better here than in the Phillipines? or other countries?????

My own husband is from Rome, Italy and why is it that we don't see many Europeans here? Maybe the quality of life in their own countries is better??? I know in Italy for the most part it is. People do not work like dogs without vacations, holidays, etc. like here. They do value those aspects of their own cultures. Employers shut down companies for a week at Christmas, in August unlike here. University education is basically free there compared to what college tuition costs here. Granted some living expenses are more expensive like utilities, gasoline, but the strong family ties if you have them outway some of that. Italy has its own share of poor people but their socialized government at least gives them some access to health care and retirement pensions.

Hi Imeejon. I believe that criticizing and giving opinion are two totally different words. I just aired my views on what Florry has written about the Filipino nurses. I don't have anything against her, I don't even know her. I stand corrected. I thought she was living in the UK.

About "Tagalog", it is my native language. However, yes, you are partly right about "Tagalog" being pushed... as the NATIONAL language not the native language.

I don't know why you are quite against the Filipinos, considering that you are ONE OF US. No matter how long someone had lived in a foreign country, granted his British/American citizenship, or probably have reconstructive surgery...he is, and always will be, a FILIPINO.

Yes, the Philippines is probably known for the "not-so-good" impressions being sensationalized by media, by people, by fellow Filipinos who forgot where they originally come from. I am still proud to say that despite of all of these, I'm still proud to be called a Filipino. What am I proud of? The rich heritage we've got, the beautiful sceneries, our hospitality, closely knit families, respect for the elderly, known for bravery (i.e. people's power), hardworkers, adaptability,etc.

Yes, we also have flaws like poverty (same with other developing countries), pollution (most of the countries have that), corruption (is Philippines the only country known for it), bombings (like what's happening in some parts of London), etc.

Imeejon, sometimes, we just have to take both sides instead of concentrating on one side...it has to be fair, isn't it? Thanks for replying. God bless.

I spent time in the Philippines when a friend invited me to recuperate there. I was in the middle of chemotherapy and needed the warmth of the sun. Many people I met there were poverty stricken. The lady who did laundry for me lived in a shack with dirt floors. The children had never seen flush toilets.

I had a wonderful time getting to know these people, bringing them ice cream and polishing the little girls' nails red like mine. I will never forget how little they had and yet how genererous they were. They did not understand English, but they understood "chemotherapy". They brought me food, little gifts, and one woman even came to clean our home, knowing I needed extra precautions for cleanliness. I promised God that if I survived the cancer, I would come back when I was stronger and do volunteer nursing for these beautiful people.

I did survive; I have made one trip so far, and I intend to go back at least once a year.

When I object to Filipino nurses coming to America, it is because it's just wrong to ask anyone to work without breaks, without meals, and under such stressful conditions, no matter if they are American, Irish, or Filipino.

Nursing is a mobile profession, one of its few advantages. An idividuals, Nursing acreditation and practical experience is recognised on an international level. So why should a nurse be denied the right to practice on the international stage, just because they come from asia. All heath systems are rigidly regulated, therefore one would assume that if they are registered or can gain registration in a given country, then they are competent to practice. Good luck to them:kiss

"So why should a nurse be denied the right to practice on the international stage, just because they come from asia. All heath systems are rigidly regulated, therefore one would assume that if they are registered or can gain registration in a given country, then they are competent to practice. Good luck to them"

The issue is not whether or not they are competent to practice but whether or not a country is adequately protecting it's own workers from deplorable working conditions which by itself is causing a shortage which needs to be corrected BEFORE bringing in more help thus delaying the need for correction.

"all health systems are rigidly regulated"

Really?

That may be so in most advanced countries, but in many others regulation is either non-existent or a joke.That is why so many countries require careful checking before someone is admitted to their register.

What about those countries which are diploma mills where corruption is the norm and your professor will accept cash as a prerequisite? Where there are no further checks after initial registration,no continuing education requirements, and where a nurse has NEVER been struck off except for not paying her annual registration fee?

In the UK, it is rare that a nurse is struck off.Perhaps that is because(apparently like the USA) you have to be dedicated to put up with the low pay,long hours and poor working conditions.

For Waza

Very few countries in the world allow immigration,unless you are the spouse or child of a citizen, or maybe just rich.Your country does allow certain skilled workers,which at present includes nurses from some countries.So does the USA of course.

Foreign nurses in the UK must leave when their contract finishes.

For lee1

I agree with you. In the last year some 13,000 filipino nurses arrived in the UK where they will earn at least 20 times what they would get at home. As a result,discussions on substantial salary increases and other improvements have gone quiet.It needs about 40% on basic to catch up with other graduate earnings,but

right now 3% MAY come-sometime!For the Government the heat is off.Also,as most of those nurses have filled the bottom level jobs,there are now few of those advertised,and new graduates may no longer find vacancies in their area.

10 years ago there were few vacancies in the UK. Oh yes, there were not enough nurses,but no one was willing to pay for more. All over the country they were being fired,as reorganised hospitals, run by accountants, employed care assistants instead.

If the government changes here,it will may happen again.It is sad that next time the nurses may be saved,as just like the USA,they are gradually having to take on the work of doctors!

I am glad someone said it first! But here it goes, I probably will get tons of hate mail for this one...

Nursing - especially in the hospital - involves lots of critical thinking and problem solving. You must think outside the box. Sudden changes in staffing, patient condition, etc., call for innovative decisions.

What are the Phillipines known for? Cheap labor...ie, "Made in the Phillipines" Any inventions come to mind? The automobile? The airplane? New medicine? New technology? New weapons?

It is very hard for me to swallow the rote answers to nursing challenges I am fed by Phillipino supervisors. They won't listen to rationale or new ideas. They are great for reciting policy and procedure and saying "Yes, sir, doctor, sir..." Not "i think we need to think this through or look at new ideas." When I don't have time to check the P&P book, I ask a Phillipino nurse - and get the answer - so there is a bright side, right?

So there it is, I am very frustrated with the current situation I am dealing with. Can you tell? I have a Phillipino supervisor who won't listen to reason, she will work you like a dog - and enjoy it. She even told us we need "discipline". Yet she is good at bowing to authority - so our complaints go unheard.

Give me someone with critical thinking skills, reason, logic, an open mind. I have NO interest in working with more "cheap labor."

And in the process, keeping my working conditions and salary DOWN.

I just want to comment on what the norwegian (forgot her username) said about Filipinos saying yes when they mean no and saying no when they mean yes. In Tagalog (filipino native language) a positive question is answered by no and a negative question is answered by yes. So if you ask a Filipino a question that is negative she is most likely to say yes when she actually means no. Is this making any sense?

For example

Q: You have not seen this movie?

A: Yes

Q: Yes what?

A: Yes, I have not seen this movie.

Sorry for the example. I can't think of anything right now but it is something like that because if you translate the first question in Tagalog it will be answered by Yes in Tagalog and it will mean no, she has not seen the movie. Am I making sense?

This is true to new immigrants and not for those who stayed here for a while.

Many european countries allow immigration or work permits only in the areas where there is a current shortage of that occupation. Otherwise, you can travel there as a tourist, but not allowed to stay or live there. The US, in allowing foreign nurses to immigrate or work in the US, isn't any different.

After reading this thread for the first time today, I am really embarrased for the USA that nurses from other countries are reading this thread and seeing some really questionable attitudes. If the attitudes don't embarrass me, then certainly the stereotyping does, especially by Americans who have never travelled outside the USA or lived in another country to know first-hand what they're talking about.

The hope is that a severe shortage here will give nurses a greater voice in wages, benefits and patient loads. A "supply and demand" thing. The reality is that patient loads can't become lighter when there IS a shortage and no one is there to fill the job, assuming that a hospital even wanted to increase nursing staff. How many times have we been told that we have to "make do" because there isn't anyone to work? If 250,000 foreign nurses were allowed to come to the USA, we'd only fill current vacancies that current staffing levels require. 250,000 nurses still wouldn't fill a need for improved staffing or the increasing vacancies over the next 20 years. You've got a better chance of improving staffing ratios when there is enough staff to actually improve it!

To answer the original question: I think the problems with foreign nurses is USA fear, lack of understanding (by the US nurses), stereotyping, fatalistic thinking (they will prevent us from making changes), assigning negative attributes such as they can't "think outside the box" (and if that isn't the pot calling the kettle black!), prejudice and stereotyping.

Any nurse who is willing to deal with that kind of built-in discrimination and prejudice just by coming here, certainly is of higher moral character than their counterparts here in the USA who expouse such nonsensical arguments.

Personally, I would welcome and be very grateful for another set of hands, or 3 or 4 or 5 of them. If they can't speak English, I'll do pantomine. I'm sure such a nurse could figure out how to empty a bedpan without me needing to ask for the help in English. And, I'm equally certain that they are intelligent enough to pick-up on our laws, procedures, and language very quickly. More quickly, in fact, than the USA nurses would be willing to try to bridge any language or cultural barriers.

Putting on my flame-proof underware now.

As Youda stated:

"The reality is that patient loads can't become lighter when there IS a shortage and no one is there to fill the job, assuming that a hospital even wanted to increase nursing staff. How many times have we been told that we have to "make do" because there isn't anyone to work? If 250,000 foreign nurses were allowed to come to the USA, we'd only fill current vacancies that current staffing levels require. 250,000 nurses still wouldn't fill a need for improved staffing or the increasing vacancies over the next 20 years. You've got a better chance of improving staffing ratios when there is enough staff to actually improve it! "

i look forward to filling some of our vacant positions with qualified nurses from wherever. Only once we get some of our positions filled will some of the heat be off.....We talk about how hard we work, and we do work hard. We are always wanting more staff to help out. It is only when we can recruit some more nurses that we will also be able to look at retention effectively. Recruitment is a short term fix, but retention is the long term. We need to do both.

I have worked with nurses from all over the world...when they are good they are good...when they are not..they are not...doesn't seem to matter where they came from. I wll say it once more that my personal experience with the Philipino nurses has been excellent.

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