Chinese Nurses?

Beginning this month, the University of North Alabama and the Shoals area will see an increase in Chinese faces. Is this a good thing? Absolutely. International students increase local sales tax revenue as well as UNA's prestige. Unfortunately, at least in one area, the increase in Chinese students has its drawbacks.

Approximately two years ago, the United States eased restrictions on student visas for the Chinese. International students usually pay a higher tuition than US citizens and bring needed dollars to the local economy, making their recruitment a shrewd investment. On September 2, 2008, the University of North Alabama signed an agreement to partner with the American Education Institution, paving the way for a large delegation of Chinese students to arrive in Florence this January.

Both Dr. Evan Ward, Director of the Center for International Students, and Jacque Segars Behrens, Director of International Student Recruiting, have worked diligently to bring about this partnership. UNA press releases have stated that these Chinese students will, for the most part, major in Business, Arts & Sciences, and Nursing.

Whether all of these Chinese students will return home after graduation is unknown, but obviously this is the plan at the outset of their studies. In other words, the University of North Alabama will now be training nurses to return to China, nurses that will not become part of the health system in this country.

Dr. Birdie Baily, Dean of the College of Nursing, has stated that admission into the nursing program is highly competitive. In other words, not all who apply are admitted. According to statistics on UNA's website, the College of Nursing has averaged graduating 37 nurses a year since its inception. Those familiar with the various nursing programs at UNA realize that many of these 37 were already Registered Nurses who were attending UNA in order to obtain a coveted BSN. While these international students will not supplant the Registered Nurses in the Bridge Program, they will obviously edge out some of the traditional students.

This begs the question: Is the role of our local nursing school to make money, or is it to train our citizens for a productive life of service in US health care?


Thanks to JLC for suggesting this topic.