Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

American Samoa to hire Philippine nurses to stem shortage

Posted at 17:45 on 09 February, 2007 UTC

Officials from American Samoa’s LBJ hospital are going to the Philippines in a bid to recruit nurses to alleviate a chronic nursing shortage at the hospital.

The chairman of the hospital board, Charles Warren, says the shortage means many nurses are required to work very long shifts on a continuous basis.

He says the same shortage exists in the United States so many hospitals are recruiting in places like India and the Philippines which are seen as sources of well trained nurses.

The LBJ CEO Kirk Gray and the director of nursing, Toaga Seumalo, will head the privately paid trip to Manila.