US RN's what is your opinion on Foreign trained RN's

[madwife2002]

This is part of my ongoing research regarding foreign nurses impact in the USA please feel free to answer my poll and keep updated in my blog which can be found in BLOGS from Uniform to "Scrubs.

You may check more than one box

https://allnurses.com/nursing-blogs/polls-regarding-foreign-370279.html

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

It is set by the Department of Labor and depends on the area, the position and the employer. It's called the "prevailing wage". The idea is to ensure that employers are not simply trying to import foreign workers (in any field) for lower wages rather than paying US citizens appropriate wages.

While this is the intent, unfortunately, it does not work that way.

I have worked for several facilities that kept wages on the low end of local standards or had notoriously poor working conditions than the local norm, thus creating a "shortage" of qualified staff taking jobs there. When they cannot get local staff, they used that to allow them to import staff.

It was very routine, in my local area that when nurses attempted to unionize, management would threaten to bring in foreign workers, who would be less likely to complain about conditions or force the hospital to improve ratios.

Retrogression has actually forced some facilities to treat local nurses fairly, so that they can work in more tolerable conditions.

In at least one central Florida facility, it had such a bad rep, no one local wanted to work there - that facility actually recently reformed to the point that it could get magnet status, to attract workers. Given that for the past few years, they have not been able to easily "import" workers, they had no choice.

Still, many of us distrust the management of that facility, that we wonder that when retrogression is lifted, will it keep magnet status?

So while, it is certainly not the fault of immigrants, and not the intent of law, the ability of a facility to import nonlocal nurses does significantly affect local nursing conditions/wages.

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I find foreign workers much like any others. Some good, some great, some bad, some mediocre. I do have to say that there are frequently language and cultural barriers, even with those that come from English speaking countries. There are significant social differences, whether one speaks the same "language" or not.

I also find that many are less likely to object to inappropriate conditions, perhaps as they are worried about their own status in this nation. Though, after being here for many years, many are just as outspoken as locals - perhaps, because deportation is no longer an issue.

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I also worry that their status and cultural issues as well as unfamiliarity with local support systems may endanger them. I worked an assignment with a very sweet nurse that later "disappeared". She was from India, in an arranged marriage, had a son that had some serious medical issues. She developed cancer, and could no longer have any more children....shortly thereafter, she "disappeared" while she was recovering and off work. The spouse did not report her missing and went back to India with the child. There had been police reports of spousal abuse, during the brief time (I was a traveler and got floated a lot) that I worked with her....and I feel angry and upset that we did not pick up on the issues and do something.

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

I have worked for several facilities that kept wages on the low end of local standards or had notoriously poor working conditions than the local norm, thus creating a "shortage" of qualified staff taking jobs there. When they cannot get local staff, they used that to allow them to import staff.

Well, if the facility has low wages, then that *IS* the prevailing wage. It's simply not a matter of intent. They have to advertise the position at the prevailing wage, which cannot be less than what the locals earn.

[momofstudent, ADN, BSN]

I have worked with excellent Canadian and British nurses. They are not all from India or the Philapines. In general I feel all foreign-born and trained nurses are more pleasant and harder workers than US trained. If they have training deficits, they eventually catch up, the language improves and I really feel they are much sweeter than the average American woman. I must say I was shocked to see that people feel they are negatively affecting the job prospects of US citizens. Where were all you nurses when they decided to bring in foreign nurses anyway. Working in silicon valley riding the wave of the computer industry? Oh, and BTW I was born in California.

[andeam]

I'm not an RN, but I work very closely with them. From my experience, there are poorly trained, foreign born nurses and there are exellently trained ones. The same goes with American trained nurses, there are the good, and the bad. We can't generalize a group of nurses just because they were not trained in America.

[Valerie Salva, BSN, RN]

My choice is "other."

Large numbers of foreign nurses in certain areas of the US enable employers to ignore problems with working conditions, wages, and the treatment of American nurses.

When the US manufacturers want to find a way around paying decent wages, addressing poor working conditions, and want cut operating expenses so that they can keep more $ for their executives and shareholders, they close their US factories and open up plants overseas.

Hospitals bring in nurses from overseas.

Same thing.

[Jo_picu]

While the foreign trained RN I worked with were lovely people and seemed to have a fair amount of knowledge, it was difficult getting report from them as their accents were so thick. I had a hard time understanding them. I think this is a disservice to the patient and can potentially be harmful. I worked with people from India and China primarily.

thankyou

[86toronado, BSN, RN]

On the wage argument:

I'm on the job hunt, so I've researched what the starting rate is for RN's at four of our area hospitals, one of which has a larger percentage of foreign nursing staff than the others (I've heard different estimates, but it's probably around 1/3).

They also have the lowest starting rate for RN's, by between $2-4/hour, and the lowest shift differentials.

Coincidence? I don't know.

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

I voted 'other'. I think they are valuable people and do a good job. I also think healthcare would prefer recruiting foreign nurses to retaining native nurses in many cases. I do feel like American jobs for Americans first, otherwise citizenship is a total joke and meaningless to those who possess it.

So, while I think foreign nurses are great, I'd rather recruit nurses from our native born population.

[CheekyRN]

I believe that foreign trained RN's are just as capable as US trained nurses. Lest you forget that not every US trained nurse is a good nurse either. If a nurse moves to the US and is fully able to work, can accompolish to get all of their proper paper work in order and can get a job then they have just as much right to it as an American. Besides isn't there a nursing shortage over there in America?

[HippyGreenPeaceChick]

I voted 'other'. I think they are valuable people and do a good job. I also think healthcare would prefer recruiting foreign nurses to retaining native nurses in many cases. I do feel like American jobs for Americans first, otherwise citizenship is a total joke and meaningless to those who possess it.

So, while I think foreign nurses are great, I'd rather recruit nurses from our native born population.

After being in the military, I agree with you about the meaning of citizenship. And with so many fields in the economy collapsing, you will see more Americans being diverted into health care. And former nurses returning to nursing fields. How will this affect the foriegn nurses who are already here. Will this affect their work permits. Also. From my personal outlook. I hope it does not, I am in love with a nurse from Manila.

[The Erudite]

An Interesting poll! I believe this is a inernational delima. In each and every country there are foreign nurses who actually would lower the wages, which consequently lead to taking the jobs of the local nurses. However, I am not sure if you are aware of this, but there are international agencies in our countries that recruit nurses to canada, united states, australia, united kingdom. They would plan, prepare, and deliver everything, all we have to do is pass the license exam and travel!

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

I know when RN's go to the UK they start on a lower grade until they are up and running, but the grades are fixed and RN's cannot lower the wages.