Media Getting It? 12/09/07
Recently the media has begun to pick up news items highlighting the importance of high skilled workers in the American economy; a development that is likely being driven by academic research. This bodes well for healthcare visa applicants in both the long and short run.
Academics and think tanks have long understood the connection between high skilled workers and its benefits on the US economy. The independent National Foundation for American Policy latest Policy Brief (December 2007) brings the point home:
“U.S. technology companies, research labs and companies serving clients in a range of fields are being driven by Congress to pursue offshore alternatives due to current and proposed restrictions on high-skill immigration. The burgeoning demand for skilled labor throughout the U.S. economy and an increasing need to compete globally has created a demand for scientists, engineers and professionals in the United States that cannot be filled by Americans alone.”
This follows several other studies released by NFAP that specifically addressed America’s struggle with visas for nurses and other healthcare workers:
- NFAP Policy Brief: Foreign-Educated Nurses – A Small But Important Part of the U.S. Health Workforce, October 2007 Press Release
- NFAP Study: Deadly Consequences: The Hidden Impact of America’s Nursing Shortage, September 2007 Press Release
Recently CQ Daily, an influential insider DC news source highlighted the struggle to procure visas for healthcare workers.
The other main insider news source, The Hill, also explains the need for healthcare visa reform.
This week Congress is back. Congress may elect to tack on the long-considered Bridge legislation this term when it looks to conclude its Omnibus budget bill this week. Congress may also push off the budget bill and decide to pass a temporary Continuing Resolution, which will fund the government for a short period of time while details are dickered behind closed doors. Theoretically any of theses bill are opportunities for Congress to pass the Bridge. The odds are long on the Bridge passing this year, but not impossible.
This week the Coailtion to Improve Healthcare Staffing will be having its annual meeting in Washington DC. On the agenda is how to improve the odds for Healthcare visa reform in 2008.
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21 Responses to this article
God bless us!
God light us the right path. Amen
Let us hope for the best
still hoping here, doesnt surrender the fight…
superb…fantastic…gorgeous…stupendous…adipoli…thakarpan…
gud job..hlc way 2 go…
lets hope dat retrogression vil be lifted dis year n 2008 vil dawn with gud news 4 us…
Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report
Capitol Hill Watch | Nurses Lobbying Congress To Continue Funding Education
[Dec 07, 2007]
Hospital and nurse advocacy groups are lobbying lawmakers to maintain increased funding levels for nursing education in the fiscal year 2008 Labor-HHS-Education (HR 3043) appropriations bill, CQ Today reports. American Hospital Association data shows that in December 2006 there were an estimated 116,000 vacant positions for registered nurses nationwide. According to an HHS report, the U.S. will need more than 2.8 million registered nurses in 2020 but could have as few as 1.8 million as more nurses retire while demand increases.
The appropriations bill that President Bush vetoed last month would have provided $168 million to the Nursing Workforce Development program, a 12% increase from the $150 million allotted in recent years. The program pays for nurses to earn advanced degrees and provides aid to some lower-income students planning on entering the profession.
Bush’s proposal allocated $105.3 million to the program, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. According to AACN and the National League for Nursing, nursing schools in the U.S. last year rejected more than 40,000 qualified applicants because of a lack of teachers, classrooms and training spaces, as well as budgetary constraints (Young, CQ Today, 12/5).
To HLG,
Thank you for your undying efforts. If possible kindly publish the inferences reached at the Coailtion to Improve Healthcare Staffing annual meeting. Especially realistic chances of brigde in 2008 and strategies to achieve this.
Nothing new….. As usual..
Hi HLG,
Thanks very much for the news.There is surely a future hope for you,and your hope will not be cut off.
May God give the wisdom to make wise decision during the congress sesssion
Hi HLG
thanks very much for the wonderful news which gives hope.
There is surely a future hope for you,and your hope will not be cut off.
May God grant wisdom for the congressmen and the policy makers.
Baabu George
Thank you for all the effort HLG. But what we need right now is a clear path for our future.
How long would you predict this retro to last? Is it 4 to 5 years from now? Would you advise us to look for employer from, Middle East,Canada, New Zealand, Ireland or Europe on an employment visa while waiting?Though its not the employers’ or the lawyers’ fault and we are not blaming it on you, this retrogression gives us uncertainties….Its hard to plan life ahead. I hope you understand
Here , God is giving one more chance to us. Let us pray for the sucessfull end. May God bless us. This may be Christmas gift for us.
End “monopoly capitalism”!
What is “monopoly capitalism”?
In “Monopoly capitalism” capital is exported from a nation instead of the finished products of production produced by a nations’ own workers.
What is “capital.” Capital is money, labor, and industry.
“Monopoly capitalism” tends to destroy true capitalism which is characterized by competiton and free enterprise.
“Monopoly capitalism” tends to concentrate both both political and economic power within a few entities and indivudals.
“Monopoly capitalism” tends to impoverish the general population (nursing work force).
With regard to labor, this export of labor includes both unjust legal immigration ( foreign nurses) and illegal immigration.
According to economic theorists, “monopoly capitalism” is the last stage of capitalism before dramatic socio-political-economic change.
If we wish to preserve true capitalsim and our freedoms we must end the “monopolisitic capitalism” practice of promulgating the immigration into tue USA of foreign born nurses which now represent approximately 20%-40% of all nurses in the USA.
marcus,
I think you’re on the wrong blog here
maybe you should consider “white supremacist” blogs, you’d certainly have good clients to your xenophobic idea…
Here’s another one talking whithout knowing what he’s talking about. Foreign born nurses are 3.7% of USA’s nursing workforce, Marcus (and helping IMPROVE the healthcare situation). You should be blogging on numbersUSA, not here.
Marcus,
Who is ptactising real monopolic capitalism? After collecting huge fees from foreign nurses’ mean salary, in the name of CGFNS, 1-140 , RN etc. and after collecting visa fee bill from us including our family members, there is no visa! Your govet. should have tell all foreign national before colleting these huge amount of money that there is no gurantee that we will give you visa.
In your term what is meaning of these actions????
Dear friends
Please check this site
http://www.prlog.org/10041306-transfers-of-foreign-nurses-into-the-united-states.html
Transfers of Foreign Nurses into the United States
U.S. hospitals are forced to seek nursing professionals from abroad. This gives foreigners the opportunity to enter the US with a good salary. To enter, work, and live legally in the US, the foreigner must abide by U.S. Immigration laws.
Source: Sonia M. Munoz, Esq. Immigration Legal Counsel,LLC
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(PRLog.Org) – Dec 10, 2007 – The United States is currently facing a dramatic scarcity of nursing professionals. There are several reasons for this current scarcity. Nurses have historically been underpaid and overworked. The salaries for nurses have increased greatly in the past few years. Yet, there still exists a scarcity because there are not enough nursing schools in the U.S., the nursing schools that do exist have long waiting lines, and the baby boomers are now in current need of medical care. It is estimated that the current nurse scarcity will continue and will reach its peak around 2010.
As a result of the current scarcity, U.S. hospitals and medical employers are forced to seek nursing professionals from abroad. This gives foreigners the opportunity to enter the United States with a well-paid career waiting for them. However, to be able to enter, work, and live legally in the United States, the foreigner must abide by U.S. Immigration laws and procedures. Anyone who enters the United States illegally, with the wrong visa, or overstays the period allowed on the visa, is subject to deportation from this country. Once the person is deported, the person is not able to return to the United States to live, study, visit, or work for 10 years. Even after the 10 years, it is very likely that the person will not be allowed a return to this country. Immigration penalties in the United States are extremely strict. This is why it is so absolutely important to begin your journey of migrating to the United States correctly and follow all requirements set out by United States immigration laws.
According to the Immigration laws of the United States, a foreign nurse is eligible to become a staff nurse, a nurse who provides nursing care directly to patients, once he/she satisfies the three pre-requirements. The three pre-requirements are as follows:
1. The alien must have obtained a full and unrestricted license to practice nursing in the country where the alien obtained nursing education or have received nursing education in the United States. An evaluation of credentials is conducted to determine the equivalency of the alien’s educational background.
2. The alien must have passed the examination given by the Commission on Graduation for Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) or have obtained a full and unrestricted (permanent) license to practice as a registered nurse in the state of intended employment, or have obtained a full and unrestricted (permanent) license in any state or territory of the US and received temporary authorization to practice as a registered nurse in the State of intended employment, and
3. Be fully qualified and eligible under the laws (including such temporary or interim licensing requirements which authorize the nurse to be employed) governing the place of intended employment to practice as a registered nurse immediately upon admission to the US and be authorized under such laws to be employed by the employer. The temporary or interim licensing may be obtained immediately after the alien enters the U.S. and registers to take the first available examination for the permanent license.
Do keep in mind that there are other employment visa options for individuals that do not satisfy the above requirements. These employment visas allow the individual to enter and work legally in this country and may even result in lawful permanent residency (Green Card) for the foreigner
ANU,
this is just an advertisement for an immigration lawyer, there is absolutely no news in this “article”.
Dot foreign trained nurses have to pass the TOEFL ???
learn English, that will be a good step towards living in the US.
hi all,january visa bulletin out.
not much change but that’s still a step to bring us closer
the bulletin:
http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_3897.html