Nebraska, as well as most other states, is experiencing a registered nurse shortage . These shortages are only expected to intensify over the coming years. There are no singular solutions to remedy this issue and no healthcare facility is immune from the struggle to keep positions filled with qualified candidates.
Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals has taken a strategic long-term step to assist with current and future registered nurse shortages by partnering with international recruitment programs. These partnerships aid as an alternative to short-term contract labor and increase our network of qualified registered nurses. The international recruitment programs provide a pool of registered nurses that meet or exceed United States education standards and have qualified work experience. These programs also provide dedicated support teams to assist with each individual registered nurse’s transition to the United States and life in Nebraska.
This strategy has assisted us in on-boarding some compassionate and qualified registered nurses to our care teams. We sat down with Maria Achonwa and Pattanan Wongdee, Madonna RNs who participated in an international recruitment program to ask them about their experience.
Q. How long have you been a nurse?
Maria: “I’ve been a nurse for about 20 years.”
Pattanan: “I’ve also been a nurse for about 20 years.”
Q. What country did you come to the US from?
Maria: “I came from Nigeria. I came for so many reasons. Firstly, to fulfill my dreams to have job satisfaction, where I can practice in the right environment with the availability of needed resources. Secondly, to offer my skills to those who need it and will appreciate it and to learn and improve my career. I also came here to build a better life and future for me and my family, especially my two sons.”
Pattanan: “I am originally from Thailand, but I live in Tasmania, Australia, so I was recruited from there. I wanted to come be a nurse in the U.S. because I like travelling. I always dreamed about visiting the United States. My husband’s family lives in California, so we have some connections.”
Q. What was the process like to get your job at Madonna?
Maria: “It was a lengthy process which I started by signing a contract with Passport USA in February 2018, underwent a training period to write my NCLEX exam, which I did in December 2019 and passed in my first attempt. All in all, it took me 4 years to process everything.”
Pattanan: “The first step was to pass an English exam called IELTS then sit for the NCELX exam. After I passed everything, I contacted Passport USA, who assisted with obtaining my green card and throughout the recruiting process. The process is not complicated. The hard part is the long wait on a green card, which took three years. I was interviewed with a few hospitals and I got accepted at Madonna, which I think is very fortunate as this place is great.”
Q. What is your favorite part about being a rehabilitation nurse at Madonna?
Maria: “My favorite part is the amount of bedside nursing, which I was not doing so much back at home, even though I loved it. I also appreciate the high standard of practice and the zeal to maintain it and make it be better, along with the spirit of teamwork and collaboration. I appreciate everyone at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital for the part they play in getting our patients back to their lives.”
Pattanan: “My favorite part is definitely when I see patients achieve their rehab goal and go back home. I am impressed with how dedicated staff is to help patients get better and achieve those goals.”