New York, NY — March 19, 2026 — As global leaders gather for the Commission on the Status of Women 70th Session to address gender equality and economic opportunity, TruMerit™ and The DAISY Foundation™ will recognize two international nurse recruiters whose work is helping ensure that one of the world’s largest women-led professions can pursue global career opportunities safely and ethically.
Women represent nearly 90 percent of the global nursing workforce, making ethical recruitment a critical issue for women’s economic mobility and leadership in healthcare worldwide. Internationally educated nurses play a vital role in healthcare systems around the world, yet many face risks of unethical recruitment practices, including excessive fees, contract restrictions, and lack of transparency.
As global demand for nurses continues to rise, international recruitment has become an increasingly important strategy for addressing workforce shortages. This third annual Outstanding International Nurse Recruiter Award recognizes individuals who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to ethical recruitment standards, transparency, and embodying the principles of the recruitment code from the TruMerit Alliance for Ethical International Recruitment Practices.
This year’s honorees are:
Donita Ross, MSN, RN, CMSRN, CGNC
ACNO and Vice President | Health Carousel International
“While Donita’s measurable accomplishments are remarkable — 1,500+ deployed healthcare professionals, a 12,000-candidate global pipeline, and a 49% increase in candidate diversity — her impact is rooted in compassion. Donita’s leadership demonstrates that ethical recruitment is not merely compliance, it is compassion in action. She brings hope to nurses in crisis, restores dignity to those facing trauma, and builds pathways that change lives across continents.”
Kelly Mitchell, BSc, MSc
Practice Development Matron, Acute Specialty Medicine | King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
“Kelly recognised that ethical recruitment does not end at the contract, it continues through transition, integration, and professional growth. The tangible impact on nurses’ lives has been profound. Under Kelly’s leadership, the programme achieved 100% retention at six months, compared to historical early attrition. Nurses reported a 40% increase in clinical confidence, a 60% improvement in feeling prepared for NHS practice, a 75% increase in peer support engagement, and a 35% improvement in job satisfaction. These are not abstract metrics, they represent nurses staying, growing, and rebuilding trust in systems that once failed them.”
The awards will be presented during a reception hosted by TruMerit on March 19, 2026, alongside CSW70 events in New York City, bringing together global health leaders, workforce experts, and advocates working to strengthen ethical international recruitment and support the global nursing workforce.
“At a time of unprecedented global migration and deepening health workforce inequities, ethical international recruitment is fundamental to the integrity of health systems worldwide,” said Peter Preziosi, President and CEO of TruMerit. “These honorees model what responsible global workforce mobility must be—protecting nurses through transparency, fairness, and respect while helping countries address critical workforce needs in ways that strengthen the global nursing workforce rather than deepen existing imbalances.”
“Internationally educated nurses strengthen healthcare systems around the world. Ethical recruitment is essential to ensure these nurses can pursue opportunities with confidence, transparency, and respect,” said Deborah A. Zimmerman, Chief Executive Officer of The DAISY Foundation. “We are proud to recognize leaders who are setting the standard for integrity in international nurse recruitment and helping build a more just and sustainable global nursing workforce. Through this award, The DAISY Foundation is honored to shine a light on those who are protecting nurses and advancing ethical practices across the profession.”
Read about current and past DAISY recipients.
About TruMerit
TruMerit is a worldwide leader in healthcare workforce development with nearly 50 years of experience supporting the mobility of nurses and other healthcare workers. Formerly CGFNS International, TruMerit validates the education, training, and professional experience of internationally educated health professionals seeking authorization to practice in the United States and other countries. Through its expanded mission and the Global Health Workforce Development Institute, TruMerit advances research, standards, and certifications that strengthen the global health workforce and promote equitable, sustainable career mobility.
About The DAISY Foundation
The DAISY Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes to recognize and celebrate the extraordinary clinical skill and compassionate care nurses provide every day. DAISY programs honor nurses and nurse leaders around the world and are implemented in thousands of healthcare organizations globally.
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