Why America's hospitals keep looking to India for nurses
Thousands of Indian nurses aspire to work in the US, navigating yearslong visa backlogs to fill a growing healthcare workforce shortage. Angel Verghese, 25, has
Thousands of Indian nurses aspire to work in the US, navigating yearslong visa backlogs to fill a growing healthcare workforce shortage. Angel Verghese, 25, has a clear plan. The nursing graduate from Welcare College of Nursing in Kochi in southern India's Kerala state has already passed the NCLEX, the US licensing exam for registered nurses. She is now gaining the work experience she needs before taking the IELTS English-language test and, she hopes, moving to New York, where her brother has already settled. "I've always wanted to work in the US," Verghese told DW. "It offers better opportunities to learn, grow professionally and build a future. I know the process takes time, but I'm willing to wait." Waiting for America Nearly 100 kilometers (62 miles) away in Kottayam, 26-year-old Susan Kurian is further along the same journey. Having completed the clinical experience US employers require, she is working with a recruitment agency to complete credential verification and secure a job offer from an American hospital. "The paperwork is long and complicated, but my goal hasn't changed," Kurian told DW. "The US is where I want to build my career. I hope everything falls into place." Germany looks to India to address skilled labor shortage To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video For thousands of young nurses across Kerala, the US remains the ultimate destination. The journey is rarely quick, often involving years of exams, paperwork and waiting, but the promise of better pay, career growth and international experience continues to draw them.
That demand is being fuelled by an American healthcare system struggling to find enough staff. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 189,100 registered nurse openings every year between 2024 and 2034, driven by an aging population and a wave of retirements. Hospitals continue to recruit internationally, and India has become an increasingly important source of trained healthcare professionals. Beginning the immigration process early Because Indian applicants face one of the longest employment-based immigration backlogs, nurses beginning the process today may have to wait more than a decade before receiving a US immigrant visa. Despite that, recruiters across Kerala continue to sign up candidates. "Yes, we continue processing applications," Louie Terence, operations manager at Tiju's Academy, which prepares healthcare professionals for overseas licensing and language exams, told DW. "Kerala nurses are well trained, speak good English and are known for their dedication. Many still see the US as the dream destination because of the salaries, working conditions and long-term career opportunities," said Terence. Rather than waiting idle, many nurses begin the immigration process early. Recruitment agencies help them pass the NCLEX examination, complete credential verification and secure job offers from sponsoring US hospitals. Once an immigrant petition is filed, they receive a priority date, effectively reserving their place in the visa queue. "We're still filing US petitions despite the backlog, and we hope it will be streamlined soon," a senior official from Affniks International, a leading overseas nurses recruitment agency, told DW. Is the US experiencing a vaccine crisis? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Gaining work experience elsewhere Few nurses remain in India while they wait.
The BriefWire