Why are so many Phillipinos nurses?

I work in a bookstore and the vast majority of people who buy anything related to nursing study guides are Phillipino. I never really noticed the phenomenon until I went to the hospital for a sinus infection and realized that almost all of the nurses in the hospital were also Phillipino. Why is this?

The Philippines produces the best medical/health practitioners, especially nurses, that's why they're in demand everywhere in the world. Filipino nurses are in the US, in Canada, in England, in Italy, in Saudi Arabia. And yes, the first person who answered is correct that students take up nursing with the intention of going abroad someday. The limited employment and career advancement opportunities, not to mention the starvation wages, of nurses in the Philippines are the main reasons.

thats what they study to come over here to america. I dont know how to explain it but most philipinos can only come over if they study to become a doctor. its the only way they can afford it.

Guess it depends on your location- here in south eastern Fla, many lower level health care providers (LPN"S and Aides, compared to RN"S) are from the Caribbean.

mucho dinero, bonny lad!

It really depends on the location. They might come here to study, for that particular career. I live in New Jersey, and I don't see that many phillipinos nurses.