International Recruitment of Nurses to the U.S.:
Towards a Consensus on Ethical Standards of Practice

With funding from the MacArthur Foundation, AcademyHealth has launched an initiative to examine the growing practice of international nurse recruitment that has emerged in response to the U.S. nurse shortage.  The project seeks to reduce the harm and increase the benefits of international nurse recruitment for source countries and to ensure that the rights of migrants are considered throughout the recruitment process.

The project began in September of 2006 and includes two complementary activities. During Phase I, AcademyHealth worked with U.S. companies and hospitals that are currently recruiting nurses and other professionals from abroad to document current practices and to propose strategies for reducing the harm and maximizing the benefits that their actions may bring about at both the health system level in source countries, or at the level of individuals interested in migration. During Phase II, AcademyHealth will facilitate a consensus-building process with recruiters, hospitals and foreign trained nurses leading to the development of a draft “standards of practice”.  The project will end with a joint proposal by these organizations to disseminate and promote its endorsement.  

• Background
• Phase II Task Force