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 Health & Beauty | May 2007 
El Paso Doctor Helps Mexican Nurses Obtain US Certification
 kvia.com
| | Local healthcare professionals say that El Paso is experiencing a shortage of certified nurses; similar to the rest of the nation. |
El Paso, TX - A Sun City doctor has created a course that helps Mexican nurses obtain certification to work in the United States.
Local healthcare professionals say that El Paso is experiencing a shortage of certified nurses; similar to the rest of the nation.
Dr. Pedro Serrato found a way to help Mexican nurses fill vacant positions in El Paso.
Although training for nurses is different in both countries, Serrato tells ABC-7 Mexican nurses actually get more "hands on" training than their American counterparts.
However, they do face a number a hurdles that make it difficult for them to obtain nursing certification in the United States.
First, most are not well versed in American psychiatric nursing concepts and need to understand the duties required of them by local and state laws.
Second, the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) also proves to be a major hurdle. Serrato states that many of these nurses graduate with a Registered Nurse Degree in Mexico but they cannot practice in the U.S. until they pass the NCLEX-RN.
This is the reason Serrato established a NCLEX-RN course for these nurses. "There is a big shortage of nurses and I got tired of waiting for someone to do something about it...I saw Mexico as a big opportunity," he stated.
Patricia Chaparro, a Mexican native, is now a registered nurse in El Paso. She tells ABC-7 she could not have done it without the help of Dr. Serrato.
Chaparro struggled with the examination for ten years; failing the test three times. She believes passing the examination is a major milestone in her life. "I was very happy, I cried all day with my friends and family," she stated.
Chaparro has just received her temporary nursing license and employees in Del Sol Medical Center's Labor and Delivery Unit recently held a party to celebrate her achievement.
She will now be an OR Tech; the nurse responsible for handing a Doctor his medical tools during surgeries.
Dr. Serrato tells ABC-7 it feels good to help people like Chaparro build a better life. He even pays for a lot of the course supplies out of his own pocket.
"I came from a single parent family and we struggled economically when I was small...but I did make into medical school through hard work...I feel that if you are given an opportunity to guide somebody they can reach their potential," he stated.
Dr. Serrato believes Mexican nurses benefit El Paso because the majority of the city is Hispanic and most patients prefer to speak to a healthcare professional in Spanish.
Since he started the program five years ago, Serrato has helped 25 Mexican nurses obtain American certification.
"It is a way for me to give back to the community," he stated.
Dr. Pedro Serrato can be contacted at 915-533-4646 |
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