National Nurses United

While this helps recipient countries to overcome their staffing shortages, it often deprives source countries of the knowl- edge, skills, and expertise for which large amounts of resources have been ex- pended. While short-term international migra- tion offers the potential for healthcare workers to receive additional training and specialization in order to improve their ability to provide care once they return home, the adverse effects on the quality of the healthcare systems they leave be- hind may outweigh such benefits. While CNA recognizes the rights of in- dividuals to migrate, this Code provides a framework within which international re- cruitment and migration should take place. Purpose The Code provides guidelines for the in- ternational recruitment of nurses in a manner that takes into account the po- tential impacts of recruitment and migra- tion on health services in both the source and recipient countries. The Code seeks to safeguard the rights of nationals, residents, and non-national nurses working in the US. The Code discourages the targeted re- cruitment of nurses from countries which are experiencing shortages and/or where the effectiveness and quality of healthcare systems in source countries is under- mined by recruitment. Guiding Principles and Practices The Code applies the principles of Quali- ty, Equity, Promotion of Nursing, Trans- parency, and Fairness. The following highlights several principles of the code. QUALITY Overseas nurse recruitment processes must encompass the highest professional standards which are evaluated on an on- going basis by employers, state boards of registered nursing, and nurse organiza- tions. Employers must ensure that recruit- ment agencies are properly registered companies that do not charge applicant fees (either in the source country or in the U.S.). Employers must either provide free ac- commodation or charge appropriate and reasonable rents if accommodation is not supplied. C A L I F O R N I A N U R S E N O V V E M B E R 2 0 0 5 21 The California Nurses Association and the National Nurses Organizing Commit- tee developed a Code of Practice for In- ternational Recruitment of Nurses, which was adopted by CNA's 2005 House of Del- egates. The Resolution reads as follows: RESOLUTION 2005–08 Code of Practice for International Recruitment of Nurses WHEREAS: many countries worldwide, including the U.S., are experiencing shortages of registered nurses, and WHEREAS: these shortages, which tend to be more severe in developing coun- tries and rural areas, reduce the capaci- ty of nation-states to provide good quality health services to their populations, and WHEREAS: some countries are respond- ing to the problem of shortages by sys- tematically recruiting nurses from other countries, in particular from developing countries, and WHEREAS: this helps recipient coun- tries to overcome their staffing short- ages, it often deprives source countries of the knowledge, skills, and expertise for which large amounts of resources have been expended, and WHEREAS: short-term international mi- gration offers the potential for health- care workers to receive additional training and specialization in order to improve their ability to provide care once they return home, and WHEREAS: the adverse effects on the quality of the healthcare systems work- ers leave behind are largely unaccount- ed for in official policy these negative effects may outweigh any benefits of health worker migration, and WHEREAS: the number of migrant and immigrant nurses to the State of Califor- nia and to the United States is expected to increase dramatically in the next ten years, and WHEREAS: reports of the unethical and unlawful recruitment of nurses to Cali- fornia have increased in the past sever- al years, and WHEREAS: CNA has been made aware of a particularly egregious case of the in- ternational recruitment of sixty nurses from China to Stockton California char- acterized by illegal employment con- tracts with recruiters, one employment agency subcontracted by one local hos- pital, and WHEREAS: reports of violations of em- ployment legislation and collective bar- gaining agreements applying equally to national and non-national nurses have increased in recent years, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: The California Nurses Association and the National Nurses Organizing Committee Code of Practice for the International Re- cruitment of Nurses be adopted. In keeping with the philosophy, mission statement, and Code for Registered Nurses of the California Nurses Associ- ation (CNA), we will: Assume responsible leadership in our community, in our field, and work to- gether with other organizations to the end that all people have the best possi- ble nursing care and health protection Work actively through our profes- sional organizations—regional, state, na- tional and international—to promote the professional and educational advance- ment and welfare of professional nurses and to foster high standards of nursing practice Promote, advance, and ensure safe, therapeutic, and effective healthcare for all Establish and maintain conditions of employment conducive to high-quality nursing care Collaborate with health professionals, allied health workers, health advocacy organizations, and healthcare consumers in protecting and promoting the ad- vancement of human rights related to the accessibility and quality of care. CNA/NNOC Resolution on the International Recruitment of Nurses Code of Practice for the International Recruitment of Nurses

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