Studies have shown that by 2020, there will be “at least 400,000 fewer nurses available to provide care than will be needed” (Tanner, 2002). To prevent this nursing shortage from escalting, hospitals are recruiting nurses from other countries like China, Mexico, and India. However, it is from the Philippines that the U.S. gets most of its immigrant nurses (Berger, & Sochalski, 2004). According to the Sinai Hospital (2003), the recruitment process starts with a hospital contacting a recruiting agency to help get Filipino nurses. Next, the 
recruiters and hospital representatives travel to the Philippines to screen and interview nurses. Then, they determine who is qualified. The nurses have to obtain a visa and license, and consent to the hospital‘s contract, and agree to work for the hospital for a particular amount of time. The hospital then pays for the flight to the U.S. as well as housing (Sinai Hospital, 2003).
recruiters and hospital representatives travel to the Philippines to screen and interview nurses. Then, they determine who is qualified. The nurses have to obtain a visa and license, and consent to the hospital‘s contract, and agree to work for the hospital for a particular amount of time. The hospital then pays for the flight to the U.S. as well as housing (Sinai Hospital, 2003). America greatly benefits from this recruitment process. Since registered nurses constitute the largest healthcare group, they play integral roles in the functioning of our healthcare system (Berger, & Sochalski, 2004). Still, more nurses are leaving the profession tha
n those entering, posing many problems. Recruiting nurses from the Philippines may help curb nursing shortage numbers in the USA. Since most of the nursing schools in Philippines are American-based, nearly all the nurses can speak English fluently (Comerford, 2005). Recruiting agencies or hospitals do not have to spend money teaching them English. The money can be spent on necessary hospital supplies. Also, by having more nurses come into the workforce, thousands of lives are potentially saved because “inadequate nurse staffing” would be less of a factor (Tanner, 2002). CBS claims that the nursing shortages have been a factor in 24% of the 1,609 cases involving death and injury..reported since 1997.. (Tanner, 2002). More nurses means that more patients are attended to and are less likely to become more critically ill or injured. (More info on adverse effects of Filipino nurses coming here and effects on the Philippines)
n those entering, posing many problems. Recruiting nurses from the Philippines may help curb nursing shortage numbers in the USA. Since most of the nursing schools in Philippines are American-based, nearly all the nurses can speak English fluently (Comerford, 2005). Recruiting agencies or hospitals do not have to spend money teaching them English. The money can be spent on necessary hospital supplies. Also, by having more nurses come into the workforce, thousands of lives are potentially saved because “inadequate nurse staffing” would be less of a factor (Tanner, 2002). CBS claims that the nursing shortages have been a factor in 24% of the 1,609 cases involving death and injury..reported since 1997.. (Tanner, 2002). More nurses means that more patients are attended to and are less likely to become more critically ill or injured. (More info on adverse effects of Filipino nurses coming here and effects on the Philippines)Filipino nurses have numerous incentives to come and work in the United States. Because the Philippines is a job-scarce country, nurses seek jobs elsewhere. For many, working in the U.S. allows them to make “good” money, which they can send back to their families who are in dire need of it. Nurses in the Philippines get paid approximately $2,000-$2,400 annually as opposed to what nurses in the U.S. make, which is about $40,000 to $50,000 (Brush, 2004). Another incentive is that many Filipino nurses already have family living in the U.S. They see this as the perfect opportunity to be with them because they would not have to wait years just to obtain a visa . (More on incentives to become a nurse)
As long as the nursing shortage continues, scores of Filipino nurses are likely to come to America and enter our healthcare system (Berger & Sochalski, 2004). Hopefully, by 2020, we will see the positive effects of recruiting Filipino nurses.References
Brush, B.L., Berger, A, M., & Sochalski, J. (2004). Imported Care: Recruiting Foreign Nurses to
U.S. Healthcare Facilities. Health Affairs. Retrieved November 23, 2007, from
http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/full/23/3/78
Brush, B.L., Berger, A, M., & Sochalski, J. (2004). Imported Care: Recruiting Foreign Nurses to
U.S. Healthcare Facilities. Health Affairs. Retrieved November 23, 2007, from
http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/full/23/3/78
Burkhardt, M, A., & Nathaniel, A. K. (2008). Ethics and Issues in Contemporary Nursing. New
York: Delmar Learning.
Chicago Tribune. “Opportunities Lured Filipino Nurses”. Retrieved January 25, 2008, from
http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2005-12/21112418.jpg
Comerford, M. (2005). Why nurses leave the Philippines. The Daily Herald. Retrieved November 23, 2007, from http://www.dailyherald.com/special/philippines/part2b.asp
Dallas News. “Nursing School Students”. Retrieved January 25, 2008, from
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/img/01-07/0123nurses.jpg
Grow Inc. “Filipino Nurses at Recruitment Seminar”. Retrieved January 25, 2008, from
http://www.growinc.net/images/newsletter_pics/image006.jpg
Medtivia. “Filipino Nurses”. Retrieved January 25, 2008, from
http://www.medtivia.com/_images/cta_right1.jpg
Sinai Hospital and Foreign Nurse Recruitment: Getting Beyond “Stealing” Nurses. (2003). Retrieved November 23, 2007, from http://www.mdhospitals.org/mha/Ideas_in_Action/May2003/sinai.hospital.htm
Tanner, L. (2002). Nursing Shortage A Health Hazard. CBS News. Retrieved November 23,
2007, from http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/08/07/health/main517764.shtml
