Ireland may struggle to retain the service of hundreds of foreign nurses currently working here.
Around twenty exhibitors from around the world have gathered in Dublin to attempt to attract nurses working in Ireland to consider moving elsewhere. There are currently around 38,000 nurses working in Ireland and around 5,000 of them are foreign nationals. Other English speaking countries are now actively seeking to recruit them.
The goal of the exhibition is,
To entice nurses working in Ireland to consider a different life.
Nurses employed in Ireland may be attracted by a better quality of life and improved working conditions in places like Canada, New Zealand and Australia. Lori Zaparniuk from Canada outlines some of the attractions of living and working in Alberta. She says these include a great quality of life, a low cost of living, a clean and safe environment, and a great education system. Jenny Humphries, Otago and Southland Health Boards are pitching the picturesque nature of New Zealand as a key attraction for anyone considering relocating.
Most of the nurses at the exhibition are originally from India and The Philippines. The current economic downturn has led them to investigate if they can find a better quality of life elsewhere.
Nurse Venus Alesna Centino does not have a permanent contract in Ireland and wants better security of employment.
Nurse Ofelia Aduana, has been working in Ireland for four years and is now looking for opportunities that will afford her more quality time with her family.
The Irish Nurses Organisation expects hundreds of foreign nurses currently working in Ireland will leave the country in the next 12 months to seek better pay and conditions elsewhere.
The exiting foreign nurses will bring with them a significant degree of experience.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 29 October 2008. The reporter is Barry Cummins.
