BEAUMONT, Texas — Filipino nurses are helping fill the need of healthcare providers in Southeast Texas.
Since 2020, Baptist Hospital has partnered with a healthcare staffing agency to bring dozens of nurses to the U.S.
Baptist officials tell 12news this partnership not only gives nurses working experience, but also offers them the chance to work towards their citizenship.
Janice Miras is one such nurse, and she says that working in the program for the past two years has changed her life forever.
"The dream is to be in America, that's the dream. I think I got my dream already," said Miras.
While Miras isn't quite eligible to apply for her citizenship, she has already bought a house in Beaumont and is living the American dream.
She is one of 45 nurses working at Baptist Hospital who have come from the Philippines.
I'm actually from the providence in the Philippines, but I studied in Manila. I worked there for four years then I moved to Saudi Arabia," said Miras.
Miras then moved to Beaumont in 2022, where she became a nurse treating patients transferred from the ICU.
"What I like here is that the nurses are empowered," said Miras.
Chief Nursing Officer Kathy Gartman says nurses like Miras are part of a partnership between the hospital and Medliant International Healthcare Staffing.
"They come to us from Medliant with their green card already. It takes Medliant about two and a half years to get them out of the country. They already come to us having written the nurses exam and having a Texas license," said Gartman.
Miras says that after two years nurses can apply to work anywhere in the U.S., and after five years they can apply for a citizenship.
"I feel blessed because America is giving that chance to immigrants like me," said Miras.
An uphill battle that her 17-year-old son won't have to endure.
"He was born here so he's a citizen. I feel so blessed because he doesn't need to go through what I went through," said Miras.
Gartman says the nurses have helped create diversity in the community.
"We do have over a hundred Filipino nurses at Baptist because of other programs, for over 30 years Baptist has had Filipino nurses," said Gartman.
A fact that Miras is thankful for.
"I love the community. There is a big Filipino community here, they are very supportive," said Miras.
Gartman says the staffing agency hosts welcome luncheons for all incoming Filipino nurses, where they are introduced to their Unit Director and fellow Filipino nurses.