What countries are in demand for IEN (internationally educated nurses)?

RN9742 · Jun 4, 2014

I recently read an article that stated the UK was in high demand of nurses.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jun 4, 2014

Not UK as they can barely employ their own. Plus preference must be given to UK the EU citizens. The same for most of Europe. One cannot be licensed in the Philippines if not a Filipino citizen. Canada & US are struggling to employ citizens as is Australia. New Zealand has closed doors to anyone with less than 2 years post licensing paid experience. There is little demand for new grad/inexperienced nurses.

Some say the Middle East is still seeking qualified nurses but there is bias and pay/work conditions are linked to gender and ethnic background rather than skills and experience. There are many country specific cultural rules that must be abided by in the Middle East.

Fiona59 · Jun 4, 2014

IENs are demanding a lot of countries should take them. So IENs have a big demand.

If you are asking if any countries are in need of nurses, then the blunt answer is very few. Like JBN said the middle east but there are reasons.

Lebazir · Jun 4, 2014

Thank you so much for all your respond!

You are right JustBeachyNurse, I worked in Saudi Arabia for 4 years and there is really a bias.

You are all right, Middle East needs more nurses rather than US and UK.

Maybe if you are a highly competitive and a highly qualified nurse, try US and UK.

steppybay · Jun 6, 2014

Not in the USA, the hiring demand for foreign nurses is nowhere near the levels of years passed, given the glut of US educated nurses and even the experienced US nurses are having a difficult time.

There's very little reporting of foreign nurses being hired when compared to higher numbers of US nurses that are hired. Yes, of course, there may be those that numbered a few hundred but out of how many US ones hired is a very low percentage against the 10,000's hired annually (either by retirement, job changes, quitting, fired, new grad hires, etc)

Here's a pretty good article below about the nursing profession ending for many international applicants, some being due to not able to provide the proper work requirements and or documentation (visa or work authorized SS#):

CLICK this link here: https://allnurses.com/international-nursing/end-phillipine-nursing-885162.html Read the trailing comments also.

I'll have to find the thread where someone from the Phils applied for a nursing job but was told to her from HR --something to the effect of .....we're not hiring international nurses, only those with US BSN... are being considered, that was a slap in the face.