R.I. Hospitals Turn To Foreign Nurses

Associated Press
Published: January 27, 2008
Updated: January 27, 2008

PROVIDENCE - A nationwide shortage of nurses is driving many Rhode Island hospitals to hire nurses from overseas.

There are 20 foreign-educated nurses now working at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence and 31 foreign nurses at Kent Hospital in Warwick.

And although that is still a low percentage of the total number of nurses, it is growing.

The Providence Journal reports that Rhode Island Hospital has offered jobs to 133 additional foreign nurses who are waiting for visas. Kent Hospital has an additional 26 foreign nurses on the way.

Hospital administrators say hiring foreign nurses is their best option in a tough situation.

But nurses advocacy groups say more needs to be done to train and retain American nurses.