Filipino nurses play a significant role in global health

The theme for this year’s Filipino Nursing Diaspora Day, marked last May 12, was “Filipino Nurses Together: Strength in Caring for Global Health.” This theme emphasizes the importance of collaboration and solidarity in improving global health, highlighting the vital contributions of Filipino nurses across 20 countries around the world.

Health-care systems worldwide value Filipino nurses’ dedication, hard work, and compassion, recognizing them as a crucial part of the global health workforce. Over 300,000 Filipino nurses are working in North America, the Middle East, the United Kingdom, the Nordic region, and Oceania. These nurses are known for their professionalism, clinical skills, and ability to provide high-quality care to patients in different settings.

The strengths of Filipino nurses include their adaptability and flexibility. They are known for their ability to work in different health-care settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, and community health centers. Health-care systems were stretched to their limits during the COVID-19 pandemic and required nurses to provide care in new and challenging contexts.

Filipino nurses are highly skilled in critical care, emergency medicine, and mental health. They bring a wealth of experience and knowledge, highly valued in health-care systems worldwide. In addition, they are known for their cultural sensitivity and ability to work with diverse patient populations, making them highly sought after in many countries.

Despite their many strengths, Filipino nurses face significant challenges in the diaspora. These challenges include language and cultural differences, discrimination, and limited opportunities for career advancement. Many nurses also experience homesickness and social isolation, which can harm their mental health and well-being.

Filipino nurses and health-care systems worldwide need to collaborate and show solidarity to address these challenges. Providing support and resources for Filipino nurses, including access to education and training, career advancement opportunities, and mental health and well-being support, requires working together.

One example of collaboration and solidarity among Filipino nurses is the establishment of support networks and professional organizations. These organizations, such as the various chapters of the Philippine Nurses Association abroad, provide a platform for Filipino nurses to connect, share knowledge and resources, and advocate for their rights and interests.

Another example is the development of programs and initiatives to address the needs of Filipino nurses in the diaspora. For example, some health-care systems may have explored the development of cultural competency training programs to help health-care providers better understand Filipino patients’ and nurses’ needs and experiences. Others have developed programs to support nurses’ mental health and well-being, including counseling and peer support.

Collaboration and solidarity among health-care systems can also address the broader social determinants of health, which can significantly impact the health and well-being of nurses and patients alike. Addressing issues such as poverty, inequality, and access to health care is crucial because they are often significant drivers of poor health outcomes.

In conclusion, this year’s theme highlights the vital contributions of Filipino nurses to the global health workforce. It emphasizes the importance of collaboration and solidarity in improving global health and the need for more significant support and resources for Filipino nurses in the diaspora.

Jerome Babate, RN, MBA,

Jayson Catiwa, RN, MN,

Jed Montayre, RN, PhD