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IRISH HOSPITALS ARE spending hundreds of thousands on overseas recruitment drives – while hundreds of qualified nurses from the US who have applied to work here have been denied access.
According to HSE annual report figures for 2016, nursing staffing levels have fallen by more than 3,000 since 2007.
The Minister for Health has committed to increasing the nursing workforce by adding 1,209 additional permanent nursing posts this year.
However when the Department of Health was asked how many of these positions have been filled, we were directed to the HSE press office.
The HSE spokesperson couldn’t say how many of the 1,209 positions are now filled since the commitment was made in May – but we were told: “As at the end of August 2017, there are an extra 13 nurses in the system.”
That’s just over 1% of what was promised and leaves 1,196 nursing positions to be filled.
The HSE also pointed out that ”the most positive trend for nurse staffing occurs towards the end of the year”, adding that there was an increase of 636 nurses from September 2016 to September 2017.
However, if Minister Harris plans to keep his commitment, an extra 1,196 nurses would need to be hired in the space of four months – that’s almost double the amount hired in the 12 months from September 2016 to September 2017.
Despite this dearth of staff, TheJournal.ie has heard from a number of nurses trained in the US who described being refused registration to work here.
After being rejected, they were told they didn’t have the correct amount of clinical and theory hours from their studies – even though they have been working as professionals in US hospitals for years.
Meanwhile, Irish hospitals are spending hundreds of thousands on overseas recruitment drives with large fees being paid to agencies.
When TheJournal.ie asked the HSE how much it is spending on overseas recruitment drives, a spokesperson said: “HSE National HR Division has spent €10,000 on overseas recruitment drives and promotion for positions in the Irish Healthcare System. Staff from National HR have travelled to London, Wales, Glasgow and Edinburgh.”
This website then sent Freedom of Information Requests to individual hospital groups asking how much they spent on similar initiatives.
Of the 26 hospitals that disclosed the figures, we can reveal that almost €700,000 has been spent since June of last year.
Refused
The HSE confirmed that it attended a recruitment event in London in April, in Cardiff in May and in Edinburgh and Glasgow in June.
Yet despite receiving 101 applications from the US last year, just nine nurses were registered. The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) – which is responsible for evaluating overseas applications from nurses and midwives who want to work in Ireland – also noted that some of the registrations may be from applications from the previous year.
Of the 247 US applications received since 2013, less than 10% (24) were registered and 77 were refused.
There are currently 65,000 nurses in Ireland: 51,000 are Irish, 4,600 are from India and 4,265 are from the Philippines, but only 270 are from the United States.
The NMBI said “the protection of the public is at the heart of the registration system” and that some American applicants do not meet its standards due to the nursing programmes they undertook and how they compare with Irish standards.
However, Rebecca Love, a professor at the School of Nursing Northeastern University and founder of American nurse recruitment website HireNurses.com, rebuts that claim.
She says that after hours researching, calculating and reviewing the transcripts and documents of American nurses, she has found that nurses with a BSN (bachelor of science in nursing) from the US do have the correct theory and clinical hours needed.
I believe that there has been a severe misunderstanding and miscalculation of American credit hours that may have wrongly denied American nurses access to a nursing license in Ireland.
More than a dozen nurses who reached out to TheJournal.ie said the difference in their clinical and theory hours from their degrees was the reason they were refused or told to take an adaptation course.
Most of these nurses had worked for years in hospitals in the US, one woman we spoke to had worked for more than 30 years, while another was a nursing school professor and a dean for almost 20 years – but they were still denied over these college hours.
The nurses also said that they were never told clinical and theory hours were a concern until after they applied – at a cost of €425 – even though it is, by now, a well-known issue. One Irish nurse who was trained in the US told this website:
Nurses from the US are sending money to an organisation that has no intention of registering them, and this has been going on for years.
She spent €425 ($479) for her first application. She was then told time had run out after a year and then paid another €355 ($400) and a further €133 ($150) to appeal.
Another nurse said, “You have highly trained and experienced American nurses sitting around this country unable to work, while you have Irish nurses drowning looking for more staff.”
Changing assessment
Since TheJournal.ie highlighted this anomaly, the NMBI says that it is changing its assessment process and that post graduate experience will now go towards crediting nurses for lack of clinical and theory hours.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the NMBI said:
To support the significant recent increase in overseas applicants with extensive post-qualifying experience, but clinical and theory hours that fall short of what is required for registration, the NMBI board has changed its standard operating procedure for assessment to now include evaluating an applicant’s post-qualifying experience in full.
“To be relevant, these activities must have included full responsibility for the planning, organisation and administration of nursing care delivered to the patient.
“All such post-qualifying experience must be verified by the employer and be accompanied by a certificate stating that the holders have been effectively and lawfully engaged in the activities in question for at least three consecutive years during the five years preceding the award of the certificate.”
When asked how many nurses trained in the US have been denied access to work here are being reassessed, the NMBI spokesperson said, “It’s not possible to put a figure on re-assessments as it very much depends on each case, how short they are on clinical and theory hours, relevant post-qualifying experience, and other specific issues – it’s all done on a case-by-case basis.”
However, with only 13 extra nurses in the system as of August – since the commitment of 1,209 was made in May – the changing of the assessment process for one group of nurses is a very small step in what is a huge problem for Irish hospitals and ultimately Irish patients.
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Hello, This is Mrs May. I would like to cancel my Sky subscription, but I still want to keep the sports and movies packages. Can you please arrange this for me?
@Jonathan Nolan: @Jonathan Nolan: given the fact that Britain borrowed 120 billion in the 1940′s to clean up Europe’s act’. How about we call it quits?
@Martin Critten: hmmm, I’m afraid we will have to come round and take the Sky box off ya so. Then we might call it quits..after you pay this months bill.
@Jonathan Nolan: yeah I know how dare the British democratically vote for something u don’t agree it and even worse think about there security, they deserve terrorist attacks now
@johnp: I never said anything about anyone deserving terrorist attacks. All terrorist attacks of any nature are uncalled for. For the record, I hope Europe do the right thing and share any information they have on terrorism with the British. I’m all for making the world a better and more peaceful place.
What I don’t like is how the British voters were told lies, fake news, or given no information at all on how leaving the EU would affect their daily lives, never mind their hip pocket. I’m all for fair democratic election, however for the leader of the Brexit campaign to come out the day after the result and say that his sides number one slogan on why the British public should leave the EU was in fact false, kind of proves my point that it was hardly democratic.
@johnp: as the Taoiseach said himself. Every aspect of life in Northern Ireland could be affected by the outcome of the border decision.
Jobs, The economy, The border , The rights of EU citizens, The rights of cross border workers
Research funding, Trade, Agriculture , Energy, Fisheries, Aviation, EU funding, Tourism, Public services.
Not one was outlined in Nigel Farage’s speeches. He never explained how beneficial it will be to leave the EU regarding any of these. Therefore selling a pup to the British public is hardly democratic.
My initial post was simply saying that May is now saying “Brexit means Brexit…except for..(insert list of things it’s great to be part of the EU for here)”
@Jonathan Nolan: so you wanted farage and the other brexiteers to campaign on a how bad brexit will be platform, that would be a novel approach I admit
@Jonathan Nolan: have u thought that maybe a lot of people who voted to leave were worried about these things but that they were more worried about the thousands of Eu migrants flocking to Britain every week and the fact that the EU refused to even discuss any changes
@Martin Critten: clean up Europe’s act???? Where did you learn your history, Britain?!
https://www.secondworldwarhistory.com/world-war-2-statistics.asp
@Jonathan Nolan: what kind of sign up deal do you do for canceled subscriptions?
@Martin Critten: __ The loans to Britain were made so that the American’s could clean up Europe’s act. The UK was on its last legs. Not only did Churchill sign up to the huge loans, he also gave away the UK’s family silver to the US, not to mention the gold reserves. The bonus gift was agreeing to have the US Dollar replace Sterling as the World trading currency.
@Jonathan Nolan: spot on i think she’s beginning to realise that brexit isn’t such a good idea after. When she made her bed she can now lie in it now.
@Shane Carroll: And the point of your statement is what ?
Simply do nothing ?
@Jonathan Nolan: Had Brussels offered Cameron more at the initial summit in Brussels before the referendum perhaps we wouldn’t be where we are now. Sky would at least try and compromise for a long standing customer who contributes 8 to 9 billion net, annually. Guess your monthly payment is going up to compensate for that insignificant shortfall.
@Finbarr Lucey: She was a remainer, she made that fairly clear from the beginning
@wattsed: my point is that Britain didn’t “clean up Europe’s act”. In fact if the Germans didn’t turn on the Russians then Britain would have been destroyed. It is estimated that up to 70% of the German forces were deployed on the Eastern front fighting the Russians when the D-day landings began.
@Jonathan Nolan: That really summarises what Brexit is about. Excellent.
@johnp: Brexiters couldn’t obviously campaign on any of that stuff..the important stuff that affects the voters hip pocket, because they would have been hammered in the polls. Why? Because the truth hurts. Basing your campaign on lies and deceit and telling the public that it was such a day after the vote (big red bus) isn’t, in my book, democracy. Democracy is based on the people getting true information up front, making an informed decision, and then voting whether they want this or not. This simply didn’t happen, and Farrage, a day after the brexiters won the majority admitted this himself. Is this really the way you would like your country to be run? By lies and deceit?! It’s more akin to a dictatorship than democracy. Promise the world when the complete opposite is in fact the truth
@johnp: EU migrants to Britain. Every EU country sets it’s own rules on who they let into their country. Considering these migrants were/are non EU citizens, it is up to Britain to decide who it let’s in, as it is up to Spain, Ireland, Germany etc to decide how many migrants they want to take. Britain do not have to leave the EU to solve this. This was just another lie by the Brexiters. Look into it if you are so concerned about it, and if you don’t believe me.
What leaving the EU does however mean for the people of Britain is it will now control how many EU citizens it allows in, and also prevents free travel for its own citizens to other EU countries meaning they will need work and travel visas to go as far as France or Ireland. This wasn’t explained before voting through, was it?
@kevinhunt101: new sign up deals. I think what you are after is something along the lines of the customs union package. But you can’t have that, as you wanted to leave it, so you want it in all but name. So how about we offer you today at a special offer, the “Union or Customs” package. I bet you are missing the Single Market package too. You can’t have that back either, but you still want that too in all but name. How about we give you the “Market of Singularity” package instead? Better still how about we give you the nothing package? Nothing… NOTHING!!!, YOU GET NOOOOTTTHHHHIIIIIINNNGGGG!! !!. Lol
@wattsed: they will just have to do with watching RTE and catching the highlights of the Premiership on BBC match of the day.
United are the people of Europe by our common non-Islamic fundamentalist values.
@Georgio Zizek: “terrorists dont care who they kill”. Is she talking about herself, tosspot blair or barack obambush?
@Georgio Zizek: we’re united against people who insist people only live as we do. We are united against people who tell other people how to live.
@Deborah Behan: Yeah like feminists making ring girls unemployed…..
If the UK population were concerned that Brexit might impact on their ability to fight terrorism why did they vote for Brexit?
@Mary Murphy: They were not concerned about this before the vote, as it was not written on any bus. It’s like the Irish border, customs union etc etc. All afterthoughts that were not explained in any detail by the leave campaign
@Mary Murphy: And nearly all UK terrorist incidents in recent years had nothing to do with the EU. Most were born in Britain or had come to live there under their own immigration laws.
@Jonathan Nolan: leave was simple. Do you want to be run by an unelected cabal, bringing in an agenda by the back door; or put your country’s sovereignty at risk being hooked into a flawed currency model; or protect your welfare budgets by at least having some control over boarders ? Today’s EU is far different than the expectations of the EEC.
@Reg: everything to do with the EU’s policies of the last 30 years accepting free movement of cash and people, radicalising the disenchanted just like here now in Clondalkin.
@Martin Critten: don’t forget to bend those bananas. Oh, and the blue passport (pants like a dog) yeah, yeah, the blue passports
@Martin Critten: Nonsense, more to do with the US, UK and others trying to bring ‘freedom’ to the middle east and north Africa.
@Mary Murphy: the same reason that Americans voted for Trump, or Clinton for that matter. Certain hardcore conservatives and eurosceptics and a bunch of impressionable red top rag readers rallied by nationalists, racists and liars.
Lets hope western Europe does not end up like NI in the seventies or even worse.
lest we all forget that Britain is singularly the most durable terrorising nation on the planet. How about protecting the people in Palestine for Zionist terror. That’s your mess Theresa. or the nationalists in Northern Ireland from DUP political terror. Thats’s your mess Theresa. Or the people of Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan and so many other places where you stand hand in hand with America to bring freedom and democracy to all in exchange for their countries resources.
Theresa May needs to leave our field of view. She exemplifies the reasons why Cromwell, Churchill or Thatcher’s legacy is one of hatred filled millions everywhere you go. I never use certain words but there is one word that is so applicable to this Callous Untrustworthy Nasty Tyrant but I won’t use it.
@Living The Laws: i like how ya used the word. clever
Does the likes of May, ever research their own country’s history?
@Paul Culligan: Why would she need to ?, And if she did, how far would you wish her to go back and read ? _ the point of the exercise being what ?
@Paul Culligan: So what are you saying, the UK gov should let terrorists murder innocent children at a concert, or decapitate people in the street or blow up a packed train as a collective punishment for the crimes of history? Britain certainly is responsible historically for injustices on a large scale but it also gave the world the concept of individual liberty, the rule of law, liberal democracy, freedom of the press etc. History is a complicated thing.
Because the british have always shown compassion whilst invading countries and butchering their citizens
And you don’t care about reigniting the troubles.
Your comment is way below the belt. The UK provides a great deal of security intelligence to all in the EU, so much so that the heads of security for both France and Germany have lobbied to maintain that close relationship with their respective heads of Govt as early as last month. You’re welcome to assuming the role of GCHQ here in Ireland if you wish and help protect millions across Europe, indeed globally. With your own international outlook and intellectually stimulating thoughts, you should polish up your CV to run it. Reminder. ..”Leaving the EU, not Europe”
What terrorist ever cared about who they murder. The way they can justify the killing of innocent people kids women men constantly saying someone else done it so it’s ok for us to do it! 1 question: What innocent deserves their life being taken in the name of someone’s ideals?
Most terrorist atrocities in these parts were carried out by IRAs.
@Adam Reid:
You must have been born yesterday.
Most terrorist atrocities in these parts were carried out by the Brits Adam.
She says there won’t be a second referendum. Despite the first being built on lies & misinformation. It’s not about the EU. It’s a crazed Tory Power grab. They are planning to use this to destroy various worker’s rights. They have already abused disabled people breaching United Nation protections whilst doing it. Brexit is a chance for the “Nasty Party” to shine. (Can anyone get me an Irish Passport!)
The echo of suspicion and fear…
@miss kelight raymond: there’s a typo
it should say
C. E. O. Mr Noonan
More people murdered in Britain yearly by britons than terriosts maybe sort your house out before scare mongering
What’s she about.
@Paul Coughlan: May or miss kelight raymond ? not sure who is more reliable.
Well judging by the sheer inaccuracy of UK “smart bombs” and the supply of cluster weapons to Saudi Arabia I don’t think the Brits give a damn who they kill either. ignorant, hypocritical and immoral sums up the west they are no worse than those they fight.
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