The demand in American hospitals and health networks for foreign healthcare professionals from emerging market countries like the Philippines, India, Brazil, Mexico and Nigeria has skyrocketed after the Covid pandemic. It is driving US healthcare policy makers and to re-evaluate their immigration policies and US hospital networks to enhance their image as prospective employers for these sought after professionals. The trend extends beyond the United States to Australia, Canada, Germany and Israel among other countries.

This demand is being driven by the following factors:

1. Shortage of healthcare workers in western countries: The US, among other western countries, faces a severe shortage of healthcare professionals that range from nurses, nurse practitioners, Advance Practice Providers, Specialists, Physician Assistants and Doctors. Foreign healthcare workers help fill these gaps, especially in rural and underserved areas.
2. The Covid pandemic and aging populations: The Covid pandemic and the sudden stress on the US healthcare system brought home the acute shortage of healthcare professionals in US hospitals. It led to American policymakers rethinking the option to attract foreign healthcare workers to their shores. The aging population in the United States, Germany and Japan leads to a demand for healthcare professionals.
3. The increasing need for specialized skills: Some areas of healthcare like cardiology, oncology, critical care, emergency room, peri-operative, family medicine, pediatrics, geriatrics and women’s health require specialized skills that are in short supply domestically. Foreign healthcare professionals often possess the relevant work experience and skills in these specialized areas and are sought after to address such specific needs of US hospitals.
4. Cultural and linguistic diversity: The US healthcare system serves a diverse population. Foreign healthcare professionals can communicate effectively and understand the cultural nuances of patients from various backgrounds is essential.
5. Cost savings of hiring foreign workers: American hospitals, clinics and health networks face especially high costs of employing healthcare support personnel like nurses and nurse practitioners due to a local shortage. Consequently, traveling nurses who commute from one hospital to another can be almost 50-60% more costly on a per hour basis than dedicated, stationed nurses. Foreign nurses are able to fill the supply gap at a much more affordable cost given the relatively lower labor costs (up to one-fifth of the cost of an American nurse with a similar skillset and specialization.

PSS is advising US hospitals on recruiting foreign healthcare workers like specialty nurses and nurse practitioners who are qualified and interested to work in the United States. If you are a healthcare provider or hospital looking to supplement your workforce with foreign healthcare professionals, we would love to hear from you. Click here.

If you are a foreign registered nurse, nurse practitioner or specialist who has completed the NCLEX exam and has a valid nursing license in a US state, we would like to hear from you. Click here.