Why the US has so many Filipino nurses

Summary

The Philippines faces a critical shortage of nurses, despite thousands graduating each year. This paradox traces back to the U.S. colonization era, where Americanized nursing education prepared Filipinos for work in the U.S. Over decades, migration policies and poor local wages pushed many nurses abroad, particularly to the U.S. While both countries have benefited from this labor, Filipino nurses often face exploitation and discrimination. Today, Filipino nurses continue to serve on the frontlines, particularly amid the COVID-19 pandemic, navigating the push-pull forces of migration and the ongoing shortage of healthcare workers.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Philippines faces a nurse shortage, despite graduating tens of thousands of nurses annually.
• 😀 The nurse shortage problem in the Philippines stems from complex historical and economic factors.
• 😀 The U.S. colonization of the Philippines in 1898 played a significant role in shaping the country's nursing education system.
• 😀 U.S. training of Filipino nurses led to many Filipinos being prepared to work in the U.S. healthcare system.
• 😀 After World War II, the U.S. needed nurses to fill vacancies and turned to Filipino nurses due to their Americanized training.
• 😀 Economic conditions in the Philippines, including low wages for nurses, pushed many Filipino nurses to seek opportunities abroad.
• 😀 By the 1960s, the U.S. actively recruited Filipino nurses to fill nursing shortages, using both immigration policy and labor recruiters.
• 😀 Many Filipino nurses in the U.S. faced discrimination, limited advancement opportunities, and underpayment, despite their qualifications.
• 😀 Under the rule of Ferdinand Marcos in the 1970s, the Philippine government actively promoted the export of labor, including nurses, to boost the economy.
• 😀 Today, the Philippines remains the largest exporter of nurses globally, with many working in the U.S., despite ongoing exploitation and discrimination.
• 😀 Filipino nurses continue to play a critical role in global healthcare, including at the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, despite facing risks and challenges.

Q & A

Why does the Philippines face a shortage of nurses despite graduating tens of thousands of nurses each year?

The Philippines faces a shortage of nurses due to many nurses migrating abroad for better job opportunities, particularly in countries like the U.S. The low wages and poor working conditions in the Philippines push many trained nurses to seek work overseas.

How did the Philippines' nursing system develop during American colonization?

During American colonization, the U.S. established nursing schools and implemented a training system that taught Filipino nurses Western medical practices in English. This system inadvertently prepared Filipino nurses to work in the U.S. healthcare system.

What was the purpose of the Cadet Nurse Corps program during World War II?

The Cadet Nurse Corps program was designed to address the nursing shortage caused by the war. It provided free lifetime education to women, encouraging them to enlist as nurses to help treat injured soldiers and support civilian hospitals.

Why did so many Filipino nurses move to the United States in the mid-20th century?

Many Filipino nurses moved to the U.S. due to better job opportunities, as the Philippine economy was still struggling with low wages and limited job prospects. U.S. hospitals were actively recruiting Filipino nurses to fill gaps in their workforce.

What role did the U.S. exchange visitor program play in the migration of Filipino nurses?

The exchange visitor program allowed U.S. hospitals to recruit Filipino nurses by offering them temporary work placements. Filipino nurses, who had been trained in the Americanized nursing system, became a key source of labor to fill shortages in U.S. hospitals.

How did changes in U.S. immigration policy in 1965 impact Filipino nurse migration?

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 made it easier for people from around the world, including Filipino nurses, to apply for immigrant visas. This led to an increase in Filipino nurses filling nursing shortages across the U.S. in the 1960s and beyond.

How did the Philippines' economy and government policies influence nurse migration?

The Philippine government actively promoted labor export, including the migration of nurses, as a way to stabilize the economy. Filipino overseas workers, including nurses, sent significant remittances back home, which became an important source of income for the country.

What impact did martial law under Ferdinand Marcos have on Filipino nurses?

Under martial law, the Philippines faced a worsening economic situation, which led to rising unemployment. The government further promoted labor migration, encouraging nurses to work abroad as part of its labor export policy, which contributed to the ongoing migration of Filipino nurses.

How have Filipino nurses been treated in the U.S. healthcare system?

Many Filipino nurses have faced discrimination and exploitation in the U.S. healthcare system. They were often placed in underpaid, lower-level positions despite their qualifications. Over time, Filipino nurses organized to push for better working conditions and to address discriminatory practices.

What has been the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Filipino healthcare workers?

Filipino healthcare workers have been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus pandemic, both in terms of exposure and mortality. Many Filipino nurses were on the frontlines of the pandemic, and a significant number of healthcare worker deaths were among Filipino staff.