According to data from 2022, there are approximately half a million foreign nurses working in the US. This number is quite staggering but to be expected. Given the deficit of nurses in the country, the government has turned to experts from abroad, most of whom have successfully integrated into society.
In fact, not only have the foreign workers adapted to the local norms, but they also introduced their own culture. International nurses are now an integral part of the healthcare force, to the point where they’re shaping medical practices and standards.
The Current Impact of International Nurses
Nurses are just a small part of the international medical workforce in the US. There are a total of 2.8 million immigrant healthcare professionals, who make up 18% of the total medical workforce. This percentage of immigrant workers is slightly higher compared to other industries.
Out of different specializations, home health aides (40%) and surgeons/physicians (26%) are medical professions dominated by the foreign labor force. Nurses are also prominently featured in US healthcare, working in various environments such as hospitals, nursing homes, and dental offices.
It is worth noting that the percentage of foreign nurses within the total healthcare workforce varies from state to state. These experts account for 16% of total nurse positions in the United States. However, states such as California (37%), Nevada (34%), and New Jersey (32%) are especially reliant on foreign nurse labor.
These foreign workers come from various countries. Pilipino nurses are the most represented group of immigrants, followed by medical experts from India, Jamaica, Mexico, Haiti, and Nigeria. The large number of represented countries adds to the cultural diversity and medical policy innovation.
Diversity within the Healthcare Workforce
By tapping into foreign labor force, the US government is not only filling empty spots but also enriching itself through diverse knowledge. Previously mentioned Filipinos make up for the largest number of nurse immigrants at 27%. India is also well represented, making for 20% of foreign nurse labor.
Although US healthcare is considered sophisticated, especially if we consider infrastructure and equipment, international experts can still improve the service quality. They introduce their own medical experience and experimental practices that might not be common in the States. Furthermore, some of them have advanced knowledge that might not be accessible in the US.
The reason why medical experts go to America is mostly affected by familial reasons (31%). A large number of nurses go to the US to improve their professional knowledge (29%), while others are simply looking for a better life (25%).
Economic Impact of Foreign Labor
The main benefit of having foreign nurses comes in the form of quality labor. Most of these professionals are heavily vetted by the government and employers, ensuring they have enough experience and expertise to tackle the hardest of jobs. In fact, they are often hired by organizations that otherwise struggle to onboard domestic nurses.
An international nurse earns an average salary of $81,220. Most of these workers send money home, approximately 66% of them, boosting the economy in their home countries. However, they also spend 60% of their earnings within the US on housing, cars, food, clothes, and other necessities.
Challenges International Nurses Face
Although getting a job in the US is a dream come true for many nurses, the transition is usually rough. Most foreign mediators use restrictive contracts to keep their clients in check. Furthermore, they often charge enormous fees to handle the documents and find a suitable job in the States.
Exploitation and coercive labor practices are very common, which is especially troublesome for inexperienced nurses who fled their country looking for a better tomorrow. While most nurses eventually break the agencies' shackles, they have a hard time during the first few years when they don't know much about US regulations and the market.
As a result, there are many concerns about ethical and legal practices that streamline foreign nurses in the US. Perhaps the biggest issue is forcing nurses into long-term contracts with disastrous conditions.
Given that many agencies are foreign-based, the US government doesn't have full control over the situation. The best thing they can do is force the local clinics and hospitals to be selective when choosing partners. This, in theory, should weed out mediators that would take advantage of their international workforce.
International Nurses in Long-Term Care
International nurses contribute to all medical sectors in the US, including long-term care. They’re vital for nursing homes, making up 20% of the total workforce. According to experts, the proportion of foreign-born medical experts will grow exponentially in the upcoming years, given that the US can’t educate enough nurses and the demand is continuously rising.
Not only do these workers fill the hole in the system, but they also bring a high level of expertise. Since the US has started the practice of importing foreign labor, the quality of care in nursing homes has increased significantly.
Unfortunately, the situation is less than ideal for international nurses. Aside from having to deal with immoral agencies, they also have to worry about employers. Clinics and hospitals understand these workers have nowhere better to go, giving them lower salaries than the locals.
Future Trends
As the Western population grows older, the demand for foreign nurses will keep on rising not only in the States but also in the EU. In fact, many countries are changing their immigration laws to streamline hiring of foreign medical staff.
While this bodes well for North America and Europe, it will likely have an adverse effect on other regions. In other words, third-world countries will start struggling with their medical staff as many of the domestic workers start fleeing their homes.
Finding a job in the US sounds great to almost any foreign-born nurse. However, to get the most out of this opportunity, you need to find the right international nurse recruitment agency to represent you.