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Overview – What is Possible?
There are two categories to consider in organizing possible endeavors with Russian nurse colleagues: collaboration and exchanges. Collaboration is the broadest category and refers to any joint work or effort undertaken by at least one US nurse with one Russian nurse. An exchange involves either a Russian nurse coming to the US or an American nurse going to Russia to spend a period of time to complete a project. By virtue of the kinds of activities involved, an exchange may be part of the collaborative effort or may be a focus of the project.
Setting up the Endeavors – What are the Required Practical Steps?
The purpose of the information in this section is to outline the steps required for an exchange – having either a Russian come to the US or a US nurse go to Russia.
Requirements for a US-Russian Exchange include:
1. Letter of Invitation for Visa Application:
There must be an invitation addressed to the Russian so that person can use this letter of invitation to apply for a visa to come to the United States. This letter of invitation needs to be on stationary with the letterhead of the college/university or medical center hosting the Russian for the exchange. Similarly, the Russian desiring to have someone from the US come to Russia must send a letter of invitation so the American is able to obtain a visa to travel to Russia.
The letter of invitation for the visa must include the following information:
- Specific reason/purpose of the visit with list of activities to be undertaken
- Time/dates of the proposed visit
- Confirmation that arrangements for health insurance for the person during the time of the visit have been made. The cost of this kind of insurance is about a $150 and can be obtained from local insurance companies that carry tourist medical insurance.
2. Secure Payment for the Russian Visitor:
For a Russian to come to the US, all expenses of airfare to and from Russia to the city in the US, lodging, meals, local transportation during the visit and health insurance must be paid for and this must be attested to in the letter of invitation.
3. Russian Visit to US:
Suggestions to maximize learning during a visit by a Russian nurse to the US are to get them out to the community to learn about the US way of life by seeing it for themselves. To do this, consider visits to a university, soup kitchen, art museum, nightlife, theater, local/city sites. It is also important for the Russian nurses to talk about the Russian education system, hospitals, health care system as well as the US versions. Also, consider how to introduce them to a variety of foods and allow them to cook a meal for their US host(s).
Note: Should a US nurse visit a colleague in Russia, it is helpful to be aware that Russians remove their shoes when entering someone’s home so planning ahead to bring slippers is useful.
4. Time Requirements for Processing Visas:
Being aware of the time requirements for processing forms and application to meet these requirements is essential. Visa applications take a minimum of two to three weeks after they are submitted. Completing the letter of invitation and securing other information to assure necessary resources are in place must be done prior to applying for the visa.
5. Delivery of Airline Ticket in Russia:
The most secure way to send the airline ticket to the Russian colleague is to make arrangements for the Russian colleague to pick up the ticket at a travel agency, an airline office or the airport in Russia. Airline tickets are to be paid for in the US and then arrangements made for the Russian to pick up the ticket at one of these places. This airline ticket arrangement is necessary because of the unreliability of the Russian mail system.
Please Note
Sean McGivern is more than willing to serve as a resource to assist with setting up exchanges or helping US nurses complete the requirements for an exchange to occur. Sean has been involved in setting up over 50 exchanges between Russians and Americans during the last ten years. One helpful information resource Sean will share is a handout, “Guidelines for Hosting Russians,” which provides additional information on exchange requirements.
To implement the exchange component of your collaborative project, it is advisable to check with Sean once you have come to agreement with your Russian colleague(s) on the focus of your project and a beginning timeline for its implementation. For Sean to be most helpful in serving as a resource for the logistics part of the exchange, checking with Sean early about your plans will give you and him the opportunity to make sure all the requirements are met in a timely way
Please use the following information to contact Sean McGivern
Sean McGivern
119 Water Street Unit 68
Beverly, MA 01915
e-mail: seanmcg140@aol.com
To contact Sean McGivern, either leave a phone message or send E-mail for him to respond to you.
For further information, please contact:
West Coast: Marie Driever at driever.m@ghc.org or mariedriever@comcast.net,206-448-2090
East Coast: Rachel Difazio at Rachel.Difazio@childrens.harvard.edu, (978)927-4452
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