Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — LBJ hospital HR director Rowena Reid says the hospital, which remains short of nurses and physicians, is turning to Thailand to look for RN qualified nurses.

Only three of the more than 20 recruits from Fiji who arrived in November 2022 have passed the US Standard Nursing test while the others are working on it and a few of them are very close to passing.

 Reid, in an exclusive interview with Samoa News, says: “We’ve had hiccups, but we’re working on it. There are three that passed, others are working on it, and few of them are very close to passing so we’re hoping to work with [others].”

Reid says they also have a program going with the Chaminade University, and “if they don’t pass, by the end of this year, then the deal is off.”

In the meantime, LBJ HR is still looking for people who are Registered Nurses (RN) by the US standard or who can pass the test. 

She also mentioned the need for physicians at LBJ.  “Anybody interested, but we don’t want our friends in Upolu to get mad at us by taking their people.”

Asked about the American Samoa Community College School of Nursing, she said they cannot wait for the college, as they have issues, they have to move on and do what they have to do.

“In a couple of weeks we are going to have some nurses from Thailand, they’re already licensed to be RNs. We have to get the nurses whatever way we can.

“Their Salaries are based on their degrees as there’s Certified Nursing Assistant  CNA 1, CNA, 2 and CNA 3 now in place, as well as Licensed Practical Nurse LPN 1, LPN 2, LPN 3 in place as well.”

Furthermore, LBJ is hoping soon they’d be able to match everybody’s wage. In addition, they have a lot of things in mind that they are planning to do, according to the HR head.