Is hiring workers from other countries a good short-term solution to America's healthcare worker shortage?

“Absolutely not. It depletes the workers from those countries. If the working conditions for nurses here were better, we would have more nurses staying at the bedside. We need staffing ratios and no mandatory overtime. Let’s fix the problems rather than putting a Band-Aid on them.”
MARIE HANNA, Faculty Association of Suffolk County (N.Y.) Community College

“If the workers receive the training that is required to perform the job, it would be a good idea to hire to assist with the healthcare shortage that is going to get worse as the years go by.”
MELBA RICHMOND, AFT Local 212, Milwaukee Area Technical College

“At this time, I don’t see us as having any other choice. Our patients’ needs are immediate! However, I have long thought that strong unions such as ours should be more involved on a national level with emphasizing the importance of education and training of local people.”
SHIRLEY OKI, Health Professionals and Allied Employees, Local 5094 (N.J.)

“Hiring healthcare workers from other countries does not address the real problem. We need to look at why the shortage exists. Salaries for nurses need to be increased, but even more importantly, the ratio of nurses to patients needs to be looked at. We are burning out our nurses. I am a former RN. I left due to understaffing and poor pay.”
DEBRA WILSON, AFT Washington

“It is not a matter of good or bad ideas, it is what’s needed. A strategic 10-year plan should be developed to address the shortage of qualified workers here.” 
NICOLE SWAIN, Health Professionals and Allied Employees, University of Dentistry and Medicine (N.J.)

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