When we look at the skills and abilities of long-term care registered nurses in the US, we usually just consider their years of experience and education. However, a new study from the University of Missouri shows that if we also take into account things like their ability to speak different languages, extra certifications or training, and licenses to work in different states, immigrant nurses often have more valuable skills than American-born nurses.

The authors analyzed the demographic data of around 1,800 nurses working across the United States and found that immigrant nurses often have a significant amount of transferrable skills, while also often being more mobile and adaptable. This is due to their experience in a wide range of different care settings.

“Immigrant nurses are crucial for diversifying the nursing workforce, as they bring a different cultural lens, a different racial lens, and a different linguistic lens,” the authors explain.

Underappreciated

Despite the numerous advantages of hiring immigrant nurses, the study also found that they often end up in entry-level positions and are underpaid relative to their experience.

The ultimate aim of the researchers is to better improve immigration policies, especially as many current policies unduly limit the movement of nurses into the country and also when they have arrived.

“Immigrant nurses are highly qualified, highly skilled, and come to the US with knowledge that the nursing workforce needs to improve health outcomes,” the authors explain. “For example, previous studies have shown that nursing homes with higher proportions of immigrant nurses tend to improve health outcomes such as decreased rates of pain, use of physical restraints, and falls.”