RP Remains Major Source of Nurses in United States
By Irene R. Sino Cruz

The Philippines remains the favored sources of nurses in the United States, a US based manpower firm said.

RCM Health Care Services vice president Michael Saks said that most of their clients, such as hospitals and clinics, show preference for Filipino nurses.

“Our clients ask specifically for nurses in the Philippines, according to Saks.

About 95 percent of nurses the company has placed came from the Philippines while the rest comes from various countries, he said.

Saks, who cam here with other company executives, said that their company decided to come to the Philippines to conduct recruitment seminars in the Philippines to increase the number of recruitment from the country.

The United States is experiencing a shortage of nurses and therapists, which is increasing annually, he said

An article posted on the American Nurses Association (ANA) website noted that “there is a growing disparity between supply and demand of nurses that is leading to a potentially overwhelming nursing shortage and health care crisis”

“This shortage reflects a confluence of powerful forces including changing demographics, ever-decreasing resources and increased demands on the health care system and professionals, a declining social value on nursing as a career, and changes in career opportunities,” ANA added.

ANA also noted that the size of the US population older than 65 is projected to double over the next 30years, growing to 70 million by 2030.

“In addition, those over age 85, who tend to require more health care services than the young, are the fastest growing segment of this population. Such a burgeoning population of elderly promises to place unprecedented demands on a faltering system that threatens to crumble under the burden of increased need, “ it added.

The shortage of nurses is projected to grow by 27 percent annually until 2014 while the shortage in therapists will grown by 21 percent until the same year, Saks said.

However, RCM Health Care Services managing director Marc Chafetz urged nurses to acquire at least two-year experience here before deciding to look for a position in the Untied States.

“They need to get solid experience in the Philippines since this will add to their value,” Chafetz said.

Sustaining the quality of nurses expected from the Philippines is also a growing concern, Saks pointed out.

Because of this, Saks said, the company decided to come up with recruitment seminars in various areas in the Philippines to help nursing students and graduates acquire knowledge needed to successfully land a job in the United States.

“We talk about our organization, the trends in nursing, where its going, insights on resume writing and the immigration process,” he said.

Aside from informing new graduates and professionals about the process, Chafetz said, the company is also looking into developing partnership with universities and hospitals in coming up with nurses that have skills that match the standards required by their clients.

Evan Messer, coordinator of the firm’s foreign health staffing, said that the company plans to conduct recruitment seminars every year in various areas in the Philippines.

Messer also noted that the company is not asking any placement fees from successful applicants.

The company, which already held seminars in Makati and Iloilo, will be conducting seminars at Cebu City Marriott Hotel today (Saturday) and tomorrow (Sunday) starting eight o’clock in the morning.

From Cebu, the RCM Health Care Services executives will also go to the cities of Davao and Baguio.