I support the petition for rule-making to amend regulation 18VAC90-19-130 Section D1 to change the requirement for an applicant from another country to use the designation of “foreign graduate nurse” to the designation of “RN Applicant on nametags or when signing official records.

Internationally educated nurses(IENs) who practice nursing as provided in this regulation had completed rigorous screening to provide evidence from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools(CGFNS) that their secondary education and nursing education are comparable to those required for registered nurses in the Commonwealth. There is no justification for internationally educated nurses to use a different designation from other candidates.

The continued use of the term foreign graduate nurse can expose the nurse applicant to undue discriminatory treatment and practice. Consequences of workplace discrimination affect not only the IENs’ physical and psychological well being but also the quality of patient care, and healthcare organizational costs. With the current problem with nursing shortage, minimizing workplace discrimination will not only benefit nurses, but also patients, and healthcare organizations.