VCU Medical Center participates in Global Ambassadors Program to benefit Indian nurses

By Serwa Lee
University News Services

The Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center has teamed up with GlobeMed, a global nursing recruitment firm, in an effort to better prepare foreign nurses for employment and life within the United States.

The focus of the program is currently on nurses making the transition from India to Richmond.

The Global Ambassadors Program provides its nurses coming to Richmond from India with a forum to communicate directly with a hospital staff member who already lives in the Richmond area and works at VCU.

"VCU and the Richmond area offer a tremendous opportunity for Indian-trained nurses,” said Dr. Bela Sood, VCU associate professor in psychiatry and assistant developer of the program. “The ambassador program is a great way to prepare nurses for relocation to the Richmond area while introducing them to the strong Indian community presence.”

Each nurse that GlobeMed has helped find employment at VCU will be assigned to a VCU staff nurse from within his or her own culture who already has made the journey to the United States.

The VCU staff nurse will serve as a mentor to his or her assigned nurse by answering questions, explaining procedures, offering encouragement and giving advice on adjusting to life in the United States.

"The professional staff at VCU, many of whom are Indian, sincerely want to make sure our nurses feel welcome, are well-prepared and have a friend to answer their questions," said Paul Nimitz, president of GlobeMed.

The program will be expanded to include all the GlobeMed clients by December 2004. For more information, e-mail Marilynn Moschel at mmoschel@globemedresources.com.