Demographic characteristics of Rhode Island immigrants.

The United States (US) is a nation of immigrants. The number of people who were born outside of the US has risen during the past 30 years. Eleven percent [33 million people] of the US population are foreign born.1 Rhode Island (RI) is both a home and a destination for immigrants from all over the world. Refugees and other immigrants present to the practitioner with clinical problems as varied as their experiences. Clinical presentations may range from unusual infectious diseases to problems with transition. Understanding the demographic characteristics of Rhode Island immigrants and the challenges they face after resettlement provides the practitioner with a crucial foundation for serving this population.