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International Nurses Alliance (INA) was established in 1988, became a Maine corporation in August of that same year. Darlene Grover, the President, developed the idea for INA as a result of being a traveling nurse in the early 1980’s, when reports circulated that the nursing shortage in the United States would reach 1.2 to 2 million nurses by 1992. Because of this forecasted shortage, it was decided to bring in International nurses to supplement the American nurses. INA recruits most of its nurses from Canada and the British Commonwealth Countries; such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and England. Most recently, our efforts have taken us to Asia; specifically South Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines. INA’s philosophy is one of respect for Health Care Personnel (Applicant), which transcends nationality and results in equal opportunity and pay for each applicant. We are a small company and intend on remaining so as we feel that we can best serve the health care population as well as you, our hospital client, by providing a very personal relationship between all parties. We also believe that applicants should work with nurses, so we have RNs on staff that can assist and assess in all aspects of daily operations. During the first year of INA’s existence, Darlene spent a great deal of time traveling throughout the world meeting with nursing school directors and familiarizing herself with their education requirements and standards for nursing school graduates. She also visited many of the local hospitals to see what their hospital training, standards and equipment was like so we would know that the applicant would be able adjust to a US hospital. Because of this first hand experience, INA recognizes the training of these applicants as excellent and hence, we actively recruit from the US, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and England. This formula has proven to be successful as our applicants have been well received and continue to be much in demand. We do employ applicants from other countries, but their skill level and nursing abilities are highly scrutinized before they are accepted. INA is particularly selective in regards to the recruitment process for our applicants. We personally interview 90% or more of all prospective international applicants, usually meeting with them two or three times during the application process. We have an applicant coordinator that primarily deals with all new applicant correspondence. Once all the necessary documents have been received, a Review Board evaluates the complete file. If approved, an recruiter from the Review Board conducts a personal telephone interview with the prospective applicant. At this point, when the applicant has been accepted, the office obtains the proper visa. An immigrant visa (green card) is now the visa that must be obtained for the applicant (other than a Canadian applicant) to be able to work in the US. Our company sponsors the applicant for the visa, or in some cases, the hospital may wish to have the sponsorship in their name. Either way, our office files and handles all aspects of dealing with the US Immigration Service and with obtaining the proper work authorization. |
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