Recruiting Immigrants for Long-Term Care Nursing Positions

• Published in: Journal of aging & social policy Vol. 15; no. 4; pp. 1 - 19
• Main Authors: Priester, Reinhard, Reinardy, James R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis Group 2003; Taylor & Francis LLC
• Subjects: Acculturation; Aged; Caregivers; cultural competence; Cultural Diversity; Education, Nursing; Emigration and Immigration - legislation & jurisprudence; Employment; Foreign Professional Personnel - psychology; Foreign Professional Personnel - supply & distribution; Health Services Needs and Demand; Health technology assessment; Humans; Immigrants; Immigration; Labor Supply; Long Term Care; Long term health care; Long-Term Care - manpower; Long-term care of the sick; Medical sector; Nurses; Nursing; nursing assistants; Nursing Homes; Nursing Homes - manpower; Nursing Staff - supply & distribution; Paraprofessional Workers; Personnel Selection - methods; Personnel Turnover; Professional recruitment; Recruitment; Supply and demand; United States; United States of America; Workforce shortage; United States
• ISSN: 0895-9420; 1545-0821
• DOI: 10.1300/J031v15n04_01

Recent immigrants and workers in foreign countries are two groups frequently identified as potential sources of new workers for nursing positions in long-term care (LTC). Recruiting workers directly from other countries, either permanently or temporarily, is difficult because of restrictive visa classifications; is unlikely to impact significantly the worker shortage; and may have risks that outweigh the potential rewards. On the other hand, with targeted recruitment and retention efforts, the nation's rapidly growing immigrant population (the so-called "New Americans") can become an even more important source of labor for frontline LTC workers. To be successful employees in LTC, however, New Americans will have to overcome a variety ofcultural and language barriers. Equally important, the institutions and agencies that comprise the LTC system must exhibit a higher level of sensitivity to cultural differences. Efforts to recruit, train, and retain New Americans for positions in LTC present win-win opportunities and should be expanded.