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Globalization of Healthcare

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Globalization of Healthcare

The nursing shortage is one of the major challenges facing the global healthcare system,

and the United States is also not an exemption. This has led to hiring foreign-born nurses to meet

the demand created by the limited number of nurses in most countries, especially those whose

populations are older adults. However, although this can be seen as a solution, it also creates

challenges for their countries of origin and the host nations. Determining the factors contributing

to nurses' migration, the challenges experienced by both home and host countries, and examining

the credentialing process in the US is significant to understanding the aspect of the global

migration of nurses.

The nursing shortage has been a global health challenge that has significantly contributed

to the migration of nurses from their countries of birth to other countries, such as the United

States. This migration is triggered by the desire for improved opportunities for personal success

and professional development, better working conditions such as good pay, and how they can

advance their careers (Gray & Johnson, 2009). Political tensions and instabilities, limited

opportunities that can accommodate all the job seekers, and social unrest are also some of the

causes of this migration.

However, there are also challenges occurring when nurses migrate. In the host country,

when nurses migrate, they leave gaps in their country's healthcare system, making it challenging

to meet the increasing demand for healthcare service provision to the population (Connell et al.,

2007). Additionally, when the skilled workforce migrates, the home country will have to spend

more training and hiring new nurses to fill in the gaps. The migration also worsens the already

worse nursing shortage in the home country, which may jeopardize the operations of the

healthcare system. In the host country, there is the challenge of having to deal with diverse
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backgrounds and language barriers, making communication difficult with patients and

colleagues. Moreover, the host country must train foreign professionals to understand the work

system and culture in providing care (Aluttis et al., 2014). Also, there can be more workload as

the available nurses in the home country are forced to train foreign nurses, which may create

additional workload stress for the nurse.

The US has one of the most rigorous registration and credentialing requirements for

foreign-educated nurses. First, they must pass the National Council Licensure Examination

(NCLEX) to rest their ability, knowledge, and skills to practice nursing in the country (CGFNS

International, 2019). States within the country will require the foreign-educated nurse to

demonstrate minimum language competency by passing the Test of English as a Foreign

Language (TOEFL) examination. Before the foreign-educated nurses can sit the NCLEX

examination, they are expected to meet the eligibility criteria established by the state board of

nursing and submit a valid visa per the immigration requirements.

In conclusion, the nursing shortage is a global issue, so nurses are migrating from their

home countries to other foreign countries. The US is one of such countries receiving a higher

number of foreign-educated nurses. However, it is a process met with challenges, such as gaps in

the home country and communication barriers in the country they have immigrated to. The US

credentials its foreign-educated employees by passing the NCLEX exams.

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References

Aluttis, C., Bishaw, T., & Frank, M. W. (2014). The Workforce for Health in a Globalized

Context–Global Shortages and International Migration. Global health action, 7(1), 23611.

https://doi.org/10.3402/gha.v7.23611%40zgha20.2014.7.issue-s2

CGFNS International. (2019, March 29). How to Work as a Nurse in the U.S. CGFNS

International, Inc. https://www.cgfns.org/steps-to-working-as-nurse-in-united-states/#

Connell, J., Zurn, P., Stilwell, B., Awases, M., & Braichet, J. M. (2007). Sub-Saharan Africa:

Beyond the Health Worker Migration Crisis?. Social science & medicine, 64(9), 1876-

1891. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2006.12.013

Gray, J., & Johnson, L. (2009). Intentions and Motivations of Nurses to Migrate: A Review of

Empirical Studies. International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, 4(4), 41-

48. https://doi.org/10.1108/17479894200800023