Do you think bringing foreign nurses to work in Japan is a good idea?

I'm a little undecided in my case, as I'm no medical expert. The only thing that would worry me is the level of communication between the nurse and doctor/patients.

i think it is a wonderful idea. most countries have healthcare workers from other countries. with the shortage of japanese people who want to do this kind of work it can`t be helped but just think of the wonderful things that the people can LEARN from EACH OTHER. especially the elderly who will receive care from these nurses and careworkers. it will really work their brains to learn new songs, stories from other lands and receive the care from the warm hearts of people from other lands. after all, these nurses and care workers are human beings after all - just like the japanese.

Absolutely. It raises the standard of living and education/training of these foreign nurses, which can only better the families of those back home. It also alleviates any labor shortage in Japan for nurses.

A win win situation for all involved, naysayers regardless.

It will work only if the Japanese employers treat these people with the professional and personal respect they deserve, pay them equally, work them fairly, and help them learn the customs of Japan in an environment free from discrimination.

Let hope ...

Yeah it's a good idea if there's a shortage of nurses.

Yes.

I've got to agree with NuckenFutz. Unfortunately, I fear their popularity will be due to their willingness to work unpaid overtime and without sufficient holidays. Possibly also because they will not report on the improper procedures of many hospitals like, reusing blood collection devices . I hope I am wrong!

Not a good idea. The government should work on making nursing more attractive job for their own population.

Many hospitals were dissapointed with the program since there is a requirement that they had for fork out 600,000 yen per person for their Japanese language education/training

Well I agree with nigel. If there's a shortage of nurses then instead of spending money on foreigners who can't speak the language, up the salaries of japanese nurses so that people are attracted to the profession. But what japan wants are cheap, easily exploited labor that they can use, abuse, suck dry and then discard. And japan is taking nurses out of the Phillipines where they are no doubt sorely needed.

I can just imagine the "fun" there's going to be when these non-japanese nurses have to interact with grumpy old oyajis and obachans.

This will be another angle on slave labor for these nurses. Has JT interviewed the new workers and will JT continue to follow this story?

Yeah it wont be long until we hear about them being turned out into the street or the corner snack.

If there aren't enough recruits locally, then it is a good idea. Especially if it helps open up the labour market a little more for everyone's benefit. If the nurses are not looked after, as skilled workers they can go elswhere.

My concern is the drain on resources in the nurses home countries. They can ill afford to be training nurses and then have them poached by richer countries. A more equitable arrangement on a national level would be if Japan (and the other nations that import medical staff) can pay something toward training the nurses replacements back home, then it will help mitigate the effects of a skills drain.

Taiwan imports care workers, mainly from Thailand and the Phillipines. As a result, they are generally looked down upon as lower class citizens to do the work that nobody else wants to do. They feel this, and as a result, they do their jobs (caring for the old and infirm) accordingly. This is what seems to be awaiting Japan's fast growing elderly: Care provided by underpaid, underrespected second class citizens.

Better than nothing, I guess.

Japan can't offer foreign nurses the futures which they dream. As a result this idea will increase Japan hater.

Not a good idea.

Oh well, there are always some who think the presence of any furriners in Japan is a bad thing, regardless of the situation.

Why not? Japan needs nurses, and they need jobs. Win-win.

how this possibly not be a good idea? should the gov't encourage people not to get sick? should the govt encouage homeless people in the park to become nurses? there is a problem, and this solves it done deal

Unemployment is on the rise and foreign workers are allowed in?

Backlash on the way.

only if they are cute and Asian