ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the worldwide shortage of registered nurses, its linkage to patient safety, international recruitment of nurses, and the ethical dilemmas it creates. It begins with a definition of globalisation and a brief review of the global shortage of registered nurses related to patient safety, then consider international recruitment of nurses, discuss autonomy and distributive justice, and conclude with an ethical dilemma case study with questions for consideration. International recruitment of nurses has intensified with the global shortage of nurses and is discussed widely in the literature. The steady increase in international recruitment of nurses has lead to the creation of standards to guide the recruiting practice. The global shortage of nurses and the resulting international recruitment of nurses has ethical dilemmas for nurses as well as for countries. There are positive aspects as well as challenges and opportunities related to the migration of nurses.
