Growing tech-savvy global nursing pipeline rooted in India offers support to US healthcare

In a high-fidelity simulation lab in India, a nurse steadies her hands as she monitors a patient mannequin showing signs of cardiac arrest. Her tools are digital. Her judgment is sharp. Her training is global. And her goal? To care for patients across the world — in a U.S. hospital where her skills and compassion are urgently needed.

The compassionate, skilled hands of an internationally educated nurse are often at the heart of care in the United States. These professionals are not just filling vacancies; they bring a critical blend of diverse clinical experience, cultural competence, and unwavering dedication. As the U.S. grapples with a persistent and growing nursing shortage, ensuring a steady flow of “U.S.-ready” international talent is more vital than ever. This demands pioneering global training in cutting-edge technology, meticulous adherence to U.S. educational and professional standards, and crucial support in navigating complex immigration challenges.

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At the forefront of this transformative effort stands Apollo Hospitals in India. Their story began with a profound humanitarian vision: Dr. Prathap Reddy, after training and working as a cardiologist in the U.S., returned to India and in 1983 established Apollo Hospitals, anchored “in compassion and a mission to expand care access.” Today, Apollo brings innovative healthcare to more than 300 million people, matching the U.S. population, in primarily underserved regions of India. This spirit of innovation and expansive care now extends to preparing nurses for global practice, serving as an inspirational model for how international institutions can bolster the American healthcare lifeline.

Pioneering global training with technology

Apollo Hospitals is a testament to the proactive approach international institutions are taking to address the global demand for skilled nurses. With 14 schools of nursing and a comprehensive digital learning management system shared with more than 50 partner nursing colleges and schools, Apollo is deeply invested in cultivating a workforce trained to international standards.

“Technology is embedded into Apollo’s nursing education from day one,” said Rahul Reddy, Senior VP of Strategic Relations and New Initiatives. “From patient registration to medication administration, our nurses use home-grown digital systems as a routine part of care delivery.”

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High-fidelity simulation labs replicate Western healthcare environments, building confidence in technology-enabled, coordinated care needed in markets like the U.S. and Europe. Apollo’s enhanced connected care strategy uses automated continuous vital signs monitoring to enable early intervention and timely clinical decisions without the need for ICU admission.

“Today, our nurses man the e-ICU and remote monitoring facilities, supporting connected care delivery across the system,” Reddy added. “Their exposure to advanced Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems gives them real-time communication and interoperability experience, which is critical for U.S. practice.”

Apollo’s commitment to global digital health extends to collaborations like its partnership with Monash University to develop AI-driven healthcare solutions, Including AI algorithms to identify and diagnose diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. They also work with Germany’s Certif-ID International GmbH to streamline global recruitment using digital credentials and interview platforms.

Meeting U.S. standards and addressing demand

Foreign-trained nurses seeking to practice in the U.S. must meet rigorous requirements: an accredited degree, RN license in their home country, two years of experience, CGFNS credential verification, and NCLEX-RN passage. Apollo anticipates these needs.

“Our upskilling programs include clinical competencies, English language training (e.g. IELTS, OET, PTE or TOEFL preparation), and technology readiness,” Reddy said. “Since we operate in English, it’s quite easy for our nurses to get high scores on the proficiency exams required for the U.S. and UK.”

He emphasized the immense value these nurses bring to the U.S. and other global markets: “These nurses are often at the top of the class. The pathway to immigration requires serious motivation, expertise, excellent communication skills, high scores, and clinical acumen.”

International nurses are particularly vital in high-demand specialties like geriatrics, critical care, and long-term care. “Trained to global standards, Apollo nurses bring strong clinical skills, cultural competence, and technological readiness — qualities that align with the evolving needs of American healthcare,” Reddy emphasized.

Related Content: CompassionIT – Starting with a May 20 virtual summit (available now on demand) on embracing innovation with empathy, DHI’s special focus on the evolving relationship between compassion and technology in healthcare includes articles and special events.

Overcoming immigration barriers

Despite readiness and demand, thousands of qualified nurses remain caught in bureaucratic limbo due to outdated U.S. immigration policies — nurses must compete with other industries like big tech for limited foreign worker visas. Reddy noted that many Apollo-trained nurses who pass U.S. board exams must wait multiple years for visa approval. In the interim, Apollo offers these nurses as virtual resources.

This isn’t about foreigners taking American jobs; it’s about helping the U.S. and other countries address growing workforce shortages that have few other short-term solutions.

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“We would welcome a streamlined, healthcare-specific visa,” Reddy said. “It would bring clarity and efficiency to the process. Right now, it takes years. With a proper visa, we could assist U.S. health systems in weeks.”

A streamlined visa would also stabilize staffing in rural hospitals and nursing homes, reduce reliance on high-cost travel nurses, and enrich care in multicultural communities. With a projected shortage of up to 450,000 nurses by 2025, cutting off this pipeline would be premature.

Reddy drew a compelling analogy: “Just as aviation has improved safety through optimizing processes, healthcare does this as well. Airlines operate with global crews; doctors and nurses also can do this. Ultimately, patients are the same everywhere, looking for relief from pain and suffering with the empathetic care that only a nurse can give.”

Eyes forward for global nursing

Organizations like Apollo Hospitals are preparing a sophisticated and “U.S.-ready” global pipeline of nurses through advanced technology, simulation, and digital learning. But unless U.S. policy evolves, the potential of these tech-ready global professionals may remain untapped.

As Apollo’s Dr. Sangita Reddy shared at the recent CHIME Fall Forum, “Lowering costs is critical, and digital tools are among our best resources for efficiency.” Forum Host and CHIME President Russ Branzell added, “I’ve never seen an organization move faster when it comes to technology.”

Apollo’s ambition is clear: to extend its transformative model worldwide, one region — and one highly trained nurse — at a time.

Check out DHI’s May 2025 Nursing Workforce Special Content Series: Immigration and the U.S. Healthcare workforce: A system in crisis