Importing Nurses to solve the shortage

snappy · Mar 26, 2001

hi peggy,

I agree with some part of your statement that in our profession it seems that the managers have a "if you don't like it leave attitude" but in regards to nurses from other places, I am a nurse from Canada and have worked in the USA for eight years and am very much interested in the healthcare delivery system of USA. I have no plans to ever seek employment in Canada, so their are some nurses that have come to USA and plan to help make nursing a better profession. What I am unsure of just like you is how Phillipine schooling compares to USA???

------------------

Dplear · Mar 27, 2001

These Asian nurses are not going to have to worry about their families in their old country. Once they get established they will have them move here.

They want to stay here. As a result, they will not be inclined to rock the boat. They are more than happy to work under the present conditions and for the unrealistic wages that most nurses receive.

Wildtime,

I had some respect for you now I know better. Before you go and summarize all Asian nurses this way I suggest you get to know them first. I happen to be a White American Male who did study nursing in the Philippines while I was in the Air Force there. I also married a Filipina Nurse here in the states a few years later. She is not interested in bringing her family here, hell infact her family makes more money that we do, being computer engineers and doctors. So next time before you say something like that, research your facts first.

And for those of you wondering about their not rocking the boat...wanna bet, I know a few that have told their bosses to shove it. And for the education portion, the schools there for the most part are US ACCREDITED by the US Government and Dept. of Education, the same people that accredited your nursing school.

had to edit due to my crappy typuing skills...after all I am just a nurse...LOL

[This message has been edited by Dplear (edited March 26, 2001).]

Navy Nurse · Mar 27, 2001

I have made this post in the past but will reinterate the issue. The Phillipines is the largest exporter of Nurses in the world. To enter the profession in the Phillipines is seen as a way to get out of the country. Some of their schools are excellent, but some when the demand gets higher seems to by pass some of the education requirements. They have to pass board exams in the U.S. just like all the other nurses. In some cases if they don't pass the boards they will work as aides.

Wildtime, I don't know what state you are from, but in Texas there are laws that prohibit employers from paying different wages to employees based on race. Granted they may stop the wages from going up, but they enter at the same pay levels.

Also, most of the Filipino nurses I know do not bring there families to the states, they send money back home to the Phillipines. They make as much money in a month as to what most Filipinos in the Phillipines make in a year.

TracyRN · Mar 27, 2001

I posted something a few months ago in regards to importing nurses from Enland. My facility recruited approx 50 nurses from all over the world thru an international agency based in England last November.

For an update: its 4 months later. Nobody's here yet. The Visas haven't been granted & the Boards haven't been taken. We're surviving. So be warned: it may take a while before they're there.

Incidentally, there are at least 2 foreign nurses at my hospital whose temporary work Visas hadn't been renewed and have been waiting over 4 months for renewal. Anybody know if perhaps there's something going on at the national level?

In any case, I work with a bunch of Philipino nurses and several MDs, male and female. They are a good bunch of skilled, friendly people who are no more afraid to stand up for themselves than I am (and I'm no shrinking violet). They have a very strong work ethic and often choose to work OT. Yes, they do send a good portion of their money back to the Philipines: their sense of family is strong and extends to nieces & nephews whose schooling they often finance. These are educated people (the RNs with whom I work are all 5 year BSNs from the Philipines) and I think you'll find that they will be a benefit to your team.

Since they do have a very strong sense of family, they are very much more cohesive than we are. If you're looking for an example of nurses standing together, look to the Philipinos, Wildtime.