Tri-City to recruit up to 15 more nurses from the Philippines
By: PAUL SISSON - Staff Writer | ∞
OCEANSIDE ---- Tri-City Medical Center will again turn to the Philippines to help it cope with an ongoing nursing shortage.
At its meeting Thursday, the hospital's board of directors voted 4-2, with members RoseMarie Reno and Kathleen Sterling opposed, to import up to 15 Filipino registered nurses at a total cost of $225,000, or $15,000 per nurse.
The money will be paid to Global Care, an international recruiting firm, as a finder's fee. In exchange for the hospital's investment, each nurse will sign a two-year loyalty agreement. All nurses must have passed a Filipino registered nursing exam, have job experience in their home country, and speak fluent English.
The board did not list ongoing contract negotiations with Blue Cross on its monthly meeting agenda. The hospital and the insurance company allowed their contract to lapse on Jan. 1, potentially affecting thousands of Blue Cross members.
Both sides said Thursday that there were no contract breakthroughs to report.
Thursday's vote brings Tri-City's total number of nurses imported from the Philippines to 30 and the hospital's total cost to $450,000. In September 2004, the board voted 5-2 to hire 15 nurses at a total cost of $225,000.
Mark Weinberg, vice president of human resources, said the first 15 nurses have not yet arrived in America and will come to the hospital some time between March and June.
Weinberg said that the delay was caused by the federal government, which he said stopped all importation of workers last year.
"The national government put a hold on all immigration of that type, but they've raised it now, so we can bring them in," Weinberg said.
He said Tri-City has 95 nursing positions open and has been recruiting vigorously in the area, and throughout the nation, for years.
"There is an extreme shortage of nurses, not only for California, but also for the entire United States," Weinberg said.
A new California law mandates a higher patient-to-nurse ratio in most of the public hospital's departments. Weinberg said the hospital is able to meet those ratios by paying nurses overtime and by hiring "registry" or "travel" nurses who can work at different hospitals on a day-to-day basis.
"By far it's cheaper to have people who are here," Weinberg said, adding that nurses who work at one hospital are generally thought to provide better care because they are more intimately familiar with their workplace.
Director Sterling, who voted against the recruiting agreement, said she was worried that Global Care may have a conflict of interest with an another medical organization.
"I think this is precarious," Sterling said.
Robert Wardwell, the hospital's chief financial officer, said he was not concerned, because a conflict of interest between the recruiting firm and another health organization would not mean a similar conflict between Global Care and Tri-City.
"We have no conflict," Wardwell said.
Contact staff writer Paul Sisson at (760) 901-4087 or psisson@nctimes.com.
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Writer wrote on Jan 27, 2006 6:44 AM:Whatever it takes to meet the state-mandated patient-nurse ratios!
Roy wrote on Jan 27, 2006 8:44 AM:Tell me these are jobs no American will do! How come there are not more classes for nurses? Why does the AMA keep limits on them when there are such shortages and they have been foreseen for years.
Dorathy wrote on Jan 27, 2006 10:59 AM:if we as patients cannot purchase prescription drugs legally from out of the USA, why should we settle for health care from people without proper US credentials? I want to know my nurse/caregiver is licensed and trained to US standards- not some foreign country.
Concerned Citizen wrote on Jan 27, 2006 11:27 AM:Ok we know there are a shortage of nurses and there are numerous training facilities locally. But if there are shortages why don't more students enroll to become nurses? Or are there local certified nurses who aren't being hired? Philippine nurses are just as qualified as US nurses and meet every standard there is. Medical attention is time sensitive, so if they need to hire overseas and it works into the budget then do it!
Liz wrote on Jan 27, 2006 2:25 PM:Teachers are next...it's already happening on the East coast. It's easier (read: cheaper) to recruit and keep migrant workers than it is to fix the systemic problems that drive people out of the profession. Mark my words...
lee wrote on Jan 28, 2006 12:17 PM:.. ya whatever it takes so big corperations keep their profits up and wages down.. that is all this is doing and the imported workers no matter who aren't told that their salay won't even pay for basic living expenses.. but they will hold them to the contract.. bet they will even charge them for the airfare..
Meow wrote on Mar 11, 2006 7:51 PM:They should build more nursing schools in all states especially in most populated states. Encourage students from college universities, community colleges, secondary schools to enroll in the nursing programs in college. I think most Americans just don't wanna do dirty jobs, but it's rewarding! Nurses from poor countries are willing to do these jobs 'cuz most US citizens are afraid to do it.
Rodel wrote on Aug 23, 2006 2:37 AM:I know nurses personally who are from the Philippines, it is sad because they are treated as slaves. They are not allowed overtime pay and they only get 40% of their wage for 2 years. The recruiter gets the rest and if they want to be bought out, the poor nurse must pay more than $25,000.00 plus the recruiter gets the placement bonuses instead of the nurse. It's all money folks, it costs more than you think.
Glory wrote on Dec 11, 2006 1:28 AM:You admit it or not nursing job is really hard and stressful. These Filipino nurses had all the patience to tackle the job. They passed all the required requirements to work here. All jobs had orientations and training and they are capable for the jobs. Patients likes Filipino nurses too. They observed who are working in the unit not talking alone.
DS wrote on Dec 11, 2006 6:51 AM:The people who complain about this importation of labor are the sameones who also complain about the high cost of health care. Wake up. You can't have it both ways.
leslie wrote on Nov 17, 2007 6:26 PM:Please tell tri-city medical center to not waste any more money paying finder's fees to bring in foreign nurses. i just attended two job fairs (graduating as a RN BSN). We were told to move. We speak fluent english and have worked ourselves silly to find out there are twenty applicants for every opening. We are citizens.Offer new grad training by contacting USF,CCSF, or SFSU. People who graduated in May are still looking, classes coming up are double our size.Thanks
kichie wrote on Jan 28, 2008 4:15 AM:Filipino Nurses are very outstanding in terms of caring for someone who is in need of care!!! thats why they are really in demand nowadays...
Filipino Nurses
keep up the good work...=p
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