Reasons behind shortage of nurses (and teachers) in US include: fewer women pursuing careers in nursing because of greater options for women beyond traditional careers in teaching and nursing poor working conditions and pay in preceeding decades retirement of older nurses changing demographics - the aging us population creates greater demand for healthcare workers minimum nurse/patients ratios in states such as CA a shortage of slots in nursing schools due to lack of instructors Instructors make much less then their counterparts working in hospitals. The shortage of nurses has led to tremendous increase in salaries, benefits and improved working conditions. Nurses are courted and enticed. For example, in addition to income up into six figures, "travelling" nurses may get condos, bonuses, moving expenses, shorter hours, etc. In addition to teachers, the Phillipines exports about 13,000 nurses per year to the US. Pillipinos choose careers in nursing because it's a ticket to the us. Indeed, Pillipino doctors go back to nursing school in order to come to US as nurses. In a profession where effective communication is essential, inadequate English language skills would be a handicap. ~ timi sanchai cha bhanne, mo sanchai bhaye hale ~