What is the work situation like in Florida at this time?

holisticlady09 · Feb 18, 2009

From personal experience, I've just relocated to Orlando, FL from Maryland as of 12/31/08. Been applying to jobs since Nov '08 (although my nsg license was finally issued as of 1/8/09!). I've been waiting to hear from employers ever since! Not sure which area (inpatient or outpatient) is now more challenging for finding work at this stage in my career (with over 17 years of nsg experience in various fields). I will say, however, that my job hunt focus is in the outpatient setting. If anyone can provide recommendations on a great employer to work for, please do tell! :smiletea2:

suzanne4, RN · Feb 18, 2009

Curious to see what the job market has been like there since there are a couple of large nursing groups there that have brought over a large number of nurses from the Philippines under the H1-B visa and they were not specialists and never met the requirements for being one. And as a new grad, one is never considered a specialist and therefore does not meet the most important step in the application process for the H1-B visa either. When there are Americans that are having issues finding work, this is something that should not be done. I am hearing that they have stopped this practice very recently, but they still have a large number of temporary visa holders working there.

It also permits one to be paid less than the rate that green card holders or US citizens are paid.

This would not be permitted in most other states that are under union contracts.

FLmomof5 · Feb 18, 2009

Suzanne.....

As an IT person (currently) we have had fits with H1-Bs taking over our jobs. The problem in IT (I don't know about nursing) is that foreign placement firms have literally advised the US companies how to GET AROUND THE LAW! And here's how....

(1) The law states that no H1-B candidate can be hired to fill a position that can be filled by a qualified US candidate.

(2) No H1-B candidate can be paid less than a US candidate would be paid for the same position.

....SOOOO.....

They actually posted a video on Dice.com of a session teaching how to get around this....

(1) You add requirements to the opening that sets it up so there are NO qualifed US candidates. ie: for a mainframe position you actually need COBOL CICS and DB2 skills. Add C#, C++, .NET, .ASP, HTML and MQ series, etc. These are SERVER based technologies. Server programmers wont have the mainframe skills and mainframe programmers wont have the server based skills. You can HONESTLY tell the US Govt that you found NO qualified US candidates. They are then taught that the law does NOT require that the H1-B candidate *have* all those skills.

(2) You pay the H1-B candidate the same, but don't forget to deduct placement fees, visa fees, transporation reimbursment, housing costs...etc. So, in the end, the H1-B is costing less, but on paper it LOOKS like you are paying them the same.

It possible that they may try the same tactics in nursing, I dont know nor would I have proof of that. I posted this because there are requirements that were intended to protect US jobs, but where there is a will, someone will find a way. :angryfire

suzanne4, RN · Feb 18, 2009

But one of the key points is that the person is supposed to be considered a specialist; those that you see coming here for IT positions are not brand new grads that have never worked a day as well in that field. Have been receiving anecdotal notes as well as seeing them about what has been happening in some of the Florida hospitals.

My new thought on this is that the executives that think that it is such a smart idea, be forced to be cared for by one that does not have the experience nor training or have their immediate family members be required to as well. Suspect that you would see things change and rapidly.

And another caveat for the H1-B visa, it is actually required that not one penny be taken from the employees pay and that all expenses be paid 100% by the employer. This is actually grounds to get the visa cancelled.

Next is the best part: Out of the top 25 companies that hire H1-B employees, 8 or so are actually Indian companies that export the employees to the US; but to top it off, one of the biggest is now under a scandal in India, very similar to the Enron problems here of a few years ago. The majorly overstated their earnings by ten-fold. Expect those visas not to be renewed as well, if they are not cancelled out first.

It is one thing if there are not Americans for the job, but completely another when they are trying to do things illegally to get around the rules that are in place here. And when there is more than a 10% unemployment rate in many areas in the US, it is most hard to justify that they were unable to hire an American for the job.

Sorry, but as you can tell, I despise the H1-B visa and for many reasons. It does not help anyone, but usually just causes someone to try to bend the rules; especially with nursing. And sorry that there is not something being done about it in your state. You most definitely do not see the H1-B being used in CA, the unions do not permit it.

Please keep me posted as to what you hear about nursing as well.

holisticlady09 · Feb 18, 2009

Sounds like the H1-B nurses impact both the new grad AND the experienced nurses because they could be offered less salary (take home, that is!) than for the other counterpart. I think that nurses (and all affected by H1-B's) should persistently share their views with their local state boards of nursing and the ANA regarding this concern because it, undoubtedly, affects the national unemployment rate's accuracy not to mention individual lifestyles.

suzanne4, RN · Feb 18, 2009

This should be addressed in your state as well as with the Florida Nursing Association.

Not sure why nothing has been done about it in the first place.

What bothers me is the skill set of some of the new grad nurses being brought over as specialists when they have never worked one day even in their own country.

How many of you consider yourself a specialist even after several months of working as an RN here?

holisticlady09 · Feb 18, 2009

If the US is accepting of H1-B visas as a way to "help" the so-called nursing shortage in hospitals, then I would have to agree that it CAN serve for the greater good ONLY if the nurses are approved to practice through the state board's approval for practice competency. This would mean that they could be given an exam and practicum skills test through local participating educational institutions. However, it has saddened me to see that healthcare (in general) has come to focus only on the bottom-line. And the consumers are always the ones to "pay" for what administrative executives deal the public. The only (seemingly) way to create change in this country is by voice (spoken or written). Words are energy (yes, I'm getting on the holistic train) and energy is constantly in motion. Nurses (and Americans, for that matter) have more power than they actually think or realize.

Nips · Feb 18, 2009

Hello Suzanne,

I am a new grad (Dec 2008) and from what I've heard, the job market for new grads is not looking too good. I have met several people that are even considering leaving the state just to find jobs.

I went to a review course in January that inlcuded people from both south and central Florida. Out of the 26 students present, only 3 of us had jobs. There was some talk about there being a hiring freeze for new grads in the Orlando area. Similarly this month I went to another review course here in south Florida, and of the 50-60 people present, only about 10-15 of us had jobs. Many of the job postings in the Fort Lauderdale/Miami area have no openings for new grads.

It seems as though new grads that have jobs have them because we have either worked for the company prior to graduation or because we accepted scholarships from them and now have to pay the loan back by working for the hospital.

FLmomof5 · Feb 18, 2009

Suzanne....

I agree with your points totally!

swedenjenny · Feb 18, 2009

I am interested to hear what you got to say about the H1-B visa. I have started to applying for my ATT with Florida board of Nursing. I asked the agency I have contacted regarding employment in USA wether we able to get a green card or not as I heard its been stopped for the time being and then when issued again it will take years to clear backlog. I was told it wont be a problem as I can get in on a HB-1 visa. This will obviously restrict my husband but I can still work til we get greencards. I only hold a diploma in nursing but got 3 years post grad experience, last two in ICU, first in CCU and HDU. What is happening over there with the foreign nurses whom do have experience but wish to come legally on a green card. Is it still a possibility or should I just forget about my dreams to relocate legally to USA?

Jenny

suzanne4, RN · Feb 19, 2009

If the US is accepting of H1-B visas as a way to "help" the so-called nursing shortage in hospitals, then I would have to agree that it CAN serve for the greater good ONLY if the nurses are approved to practice through the state board's approval for practice competency. This would mean that they could be given an exam and practicum skills test through local participating educational institutions. However, it has saddened me to see that healthcare (in general) has come to focus only on the bottom-line. And the consumers are always the ones to "pay" for what administrative executives deal the public. The only (seemingly) way to create change in this country is by voice (spoken or written). Words are energy (yes, I'm getting on the holistic train) and energy is constantly in motion. Nurses (and Americans, for that matter) have more power than they actually think or realize.

The US actually has very specific requirements as to who should be getting the H1-B visa in the first place. And we see that being broken all of the time and particularly in Florida. A new grad is most definitely not a specialist and if the nurse is being brought to the US for any type of training program, then they are not a specialist either.

In CA, you do not see any nurses under the H1-B visas in hospitals, the unions do not permit it. But in Florida, it is an entire different story. So that is why I am asking. Especially since I have been hearing about some lack of skills from quite a few people that are working down there and that worries me.