SIENNA Position Statement on Ethical Collaboration and Protection of Internationally Educated Nurses

Position Statement | July 15, 2026

The Society of Internationally Educated Nurses and Nursing Allies (SIENNA) stands for

the dignity, safety, and fair treatment of internationally educated nurses (IEN).

SIENNA does not promote nor endorse recruitment agencies. However, SIENNA

recognizes that recruitment agencies are important stakeholders in the IEN migration

journey and must be held to high ethical standards.

SIENNA believes that nursing organizations and associations representing IENs have a

responsibility to exercise ethical judgment in their collaborations. These organizations

must not promote, endorse, or collaborate with recruitment agencies or staffing entities

with a history, track record, pending litigation, or credible allegations involving trafficking,

coercion, wage abuse, contract abuse, or exploitation of IENs.

Our call is simple: protect nurses first. SIENNA urges nursing organizations,

associations, leaders, educators, and allies to review their collaborations, strengthen

ethical safeguards, and ensure that no professional nursing platform is used to

legitimize harm against IENs.

This position statement was developed by the Policy and Advocacy Committee and was approved by SIENNA Board of Directors and legal counsel on July 14, 2026.