Historical Analysis of Filipino Nurse Migration to the United States

Purpose: The exodus of nurses from the Philippines began when the United States (US) Congress enacted the US Information and Education Exchange Act which formed the basis for the Exchange Visa Program in 1948. Since that time Filipino nurses have become a favored solution to the cyclical nursing shortages in the US. This research study examined the major influences of Filipino nurses migration to the US. 

Methods: Qualitative design using historical method including archival research and telephonic interviews of key informants who had first-hand experience of Filipino nurse migration. The researcher examined primary and secondary sources. 

Results: Research findings revealed that emigration of Filipino nurses has been institutionalized by the Philippine government by being actively involved in the promotion of labor exportation, encouraging overproduction of nurses despite its inability to employ most of its graduates, and celebrating its migrant nurses as ambassadors of good will to legitimize their contributions to the Philippine economy. On the other hand, US played a significant role in encouraging Filipino nurses’ migration to solve its cyclical and critical shortages by being flexible with policy changes in immigration to ease entry of Filipino nurses. This immigration policy changes allowed recruitment agencies to come to the Philippines in droves at different time periods offering sign-on bonuses and lucrative benefits as incentives for Filipino nurses to come to the US. Filipino nurses migration to the US was even seen by some US nurses and US professional organizations as counterproductive to their fight for better wages and working conditions in the US. Because of their visibility as the largest foreign educated nurses in the US, Filipino nurses confronted backlash from American professional nurses and organizations and at the same time received recognition of their significant contribution to ease nursing shortages and in providing quality and compassionate care in the US. 

Conclusion: The emigration of Filipino nurses to the US is primarily driven by macrosocial, economic, and manpower trends. Although the Philippine government played a role in encouraging Filipino nurse migration, aggressive US international recruitment and the easing of immigration policies each time there was a nursing shortage have been the major influences of Filipino nurses migration to the US.