Could Mexican Nurses Solve the U.S. Nursing Shortage?
The national nursing shortage is nothing new. For years, advocates have pushed for new measures to create more available nurses in the U.S., and now one hospital in Southern California could have a solution right next door, in Mexico. Potentially, an unlimited number of Mexican nurses would work in the United States under a special provision of the North American Free Trade Agreement, but few have been successful. Their biggest hurdle, the English language barrier. Mexican nurses could fill a critical need for bilingual and bicultural personnel in regions with a large immigration population, such as Southern California. They could also help alleviate a shortage of nurses in California, where the number of RNs per capita is lowest in the United States. A study shows 622 nurses for every 100,000 residents, compared with the national average of 787. Advocates against bringing in Mexican nurses have said the one factor against the nurses has been their quality of training. One chief nursin
