Nursing shortage: Are foreign-trained RNs the answer?

The nursing shortage is real and the numbers scary.

Consider these facts from a myriad of sources compiled by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN):
• According to an article in the January/February 2007 issue of Health Affairs, in 2020, there will be 340,000 fewer nurses than this country needs – about three times the current shortage.
• We aren’t getting any younger. More than half of the nurses currently working plan to retire between 2011 and 2020.
• Hospitals in the United States have, on average, an 8.5 percent vacancy rate for RN positions.
• According to a report by the AACN, U.S. nursing schools turned away 42,866 qualified applicants from BS and graduate nursing programs in 2006. Not enough teachers, clinical sites, classrooms, preceptors and money.

I could go on, but you get the idea.

So how do we fix the problem?

Some think we should import nurses from other countries. For instance, there are lots of nurses in Mexico who want to come here. It’s no mystery why. A nurse in Mexico might make $600 a month. A few miles north of the U.S. border, the salary is $3,700 a month.

By the way, the Chicago-based National Council of State Boards of Nursing, which administers the standardized RN licensing exam, says that most foreign-educated nurses who qualify to work here come from the Philippines, India, South Korea and Canada. And a 2004 study by the Immigration Policy Center reported that 11.5 percent of working RNs were foreign-born. Experts say this proportion will grow while we figure out what to do.

Some think we should allow more foreign grads into the country. It’s is a quick fix while we increase capacity at U.S. nursing schools.

Opponents say the language barrier is a problem, as well as inferior education programs in other countries. Still others think an abundance of foreign grads will drive down salaries.

Should we allow more foreign nurses to work in the United States?

What are your ideas for fixing the shortage of RNs?

If we do, what are the benefits and/or consequences?

What do you think?