Newswise — COLUMBIA, Mo. -- When studying the abilities and qualifications of long-term care registered nurses in the United States, researchers often look at their years of experience and regular education. However, a nurse scientist from the University of Missouri conducted a new study and found that including other factors, like knowing multiple languages, having additional certificates or training, and being licensed to work in different states, immigrant nurses often possess greater human capital compared to American-born nurses.
Roy Thompson, a postdoctoral fellow at the MU Sinclair School of Nursing, originally from Jamaica, studied more than 1,800 nurses working in nursing homes or long-term care rehabilitation centers in the U.S. He used additional criteria to compare immigrant nurses to American-born nurses. The study revealed that immigrant nurses were more likely to know multiple languages, have extra certificates, more years of experience, and hold licenses to work in multiple states compared to American-born nurses.
Roy Thompson explained that including the extra criteria improved the comparison between nurses. He found that immigrant nurses have valuable skills that can be used in various settings, as they are more adaptable due to their experience in different long-term care environments. Thompson emphasized that immigrant nurses play a vital role in diversifying the nursing workforce, bringing unique cultural, racial, and linguistic perspectives.
According to Thompson, many immigrant nurses from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds come to the U.S. from places like the Philippines, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the English Caribbean. Despite their considerable skills and qualifications, they often face challenges like being hired for low-paying, entry-level roles and have to work their way up the career ladder after arriving in the U.S.
Thompson highlighted that previous studies have shown that immigrant nurses face discrimination, racism, low pay, and unfair treatment at work. He wanted to explore the impact of immigrant nurses on long-term care. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was evidence that immigrant nurses were often assigned to COVID-19 units in long-term care, and a significant number of nurses who died from COVID-19 were from the Philippines. While most nursing research focuses on hospitals and patient outcomes, nursing homes and long-term care facilities are not studied as much, despite being heavily regulated. Thompson aimed to delve deeper into the workforce in nursing homes to better understand the situation.
The long-term goal of Thompson’s research is to eventually improve immigration policies that currently typically restrict nurse migration to the US.
Thompson stated that immigrant nurses are very qualified and skilled, bringing valuable knowledge that can help enhance health outcomes in the U.S. For instance, research has indicated that nursing homes with a higher number of immigrant nurses tend to have better health outcomes, including reduced rates of pain, use of physical restraints, and falls among residents. Their expertise and contributions positively impact patient care in these settings.
Thompson made history by becoming the first Black male to earn a doctoral degree in nursing from Duke University. Looking ahead, he envisions a future with more highly skilled immigrant nurses working in nursing homes, contributing to the improvement of healthcare services in these settings.
Thompson pointed out that as the average age of Americans increases, nursing homes are caring for a more diverse group of patients. Therefore, it is crucial to have a diverse workforce that can better reflect and cater to the needs of these patients.
“Examining Human Capital Among Foreign and United States Educated Nurses in Long-Term Care” was published in the Journal of Nursing Regulation.
Note: The study was conducted while Thompson was a doctoral student at Duke University.
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