Ochsner leaders recently announced the health system would move eight Ukrainian nurses and their families nearly 6,000 miles from their homeland to work in their facilities. They are doing so through the “Passport2Liberty” program run by healthcare certification assessment organization CGFNS International.
“We can move them here to work at Ochsner, and we’ll support their families and help them find their way,” said Tracey Schiro, executive vice president, chief human resources officer and chief administrative officer. schools and housing.
Through its latest effort to bring international staff into the health system, Ochsner will provide the tools to help nurses become fluent in English, pass the National Council Licensing Exam and complete documents necessary for them to stay in the United States.
“Their skill sets have migrated very well to the US, and they are working really hard,” said Lee Youngblood, director of systems nursing strategy at Ochsner, who led the program.
The biggest challenge is the language barrier, she said, but nurses usually have enough English skills within a few months. Since launching the partnership in July, the health system has chosen the first family, those new to New Orleans.
“Like every other health system across the United States, we are all grappling with workforce issues, and this program certainly helps fill that void for us.” Shiro said.
Leaders at both health systems said they hope to see their programs expand over time.
Ochsner has been committed to diversifying its staff through international recruitment in recent years. It employed more than 200 international nurses from Nigeria, Singapore and other countries.
Mercy leadership says the health plan benefits both sides of the partnership.
Betty Jo Rocchio, Mercy’s senior vice president and chief nursing officer, said: “Bookers are giving their point of view, we’re giving our point of view, and that always leads to good results. than.
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