[Tweety]

Originally Posted by FlorenceN2005

I agree. Philippine-trained nurses have a good grasp of American nursing practices plus a good sense of TLC which is inherent in their culture. They are made to pass rigoruous tests like the Philippine board licensing test and CGFNS and NCLEX before they can get their licenses. Business-wise, they are equal to American nurses. What makes them different is their willingness to treat patients like their own relatives.

It's one thing to compliment Filipino nurses, but plenty of American nurses treat their patients well. My personal philosphy is that I treat my patients like I would expect a family member treated and so do a lot of my colleques. I don't think that's what makes Filipino nurses better than Americans.

Filipinos are excellent nurses, with great attitudes and do their country proud. There's a strong work ethic and they are loathe to complain. However, part of the reason is not because they are superior nurses, but that conditions in their own country are so dismal they are willing to accept American conditions so readily.

I also found, that despite their grasp of the American nursing practices, they come here much like new grads, needing lots of orientation and training, despite the number of years they were nursing in the Phillipines.

All that aside, our hospital would be in dire straights were in not for Fillipino nurses. There's a group that came over 25 years ago and are still there. I wouldn't advocate closing the door, or making it more difficult for them to nurse here.

Like Larry from the UK, whom I rarely agree with, (), I'm skeptical of the motives behind this movement.

[SmilingBluEyes]

Generalizations will serve no one, including Philippino nurses or American ones... I know PLENTY of American nurses (including myself) who treat patients like family members. I also know plenty of horrible ones from all walks of life. Let's avoid making generalized statements about ANY group, ok? It just does not fly.

[lyceeboo]

"Nurses in the United States said they hope the new limits will help refocus attention on training and recruitment of nurses within the country.

"If the industry has ready access to nurses from whatever, then they ease their shortage and never address why we don't have a sufficient domestic nursing work force," said Cheryl Peterson, senior policy analyst for the American Nurses Association."

PRECISELY!!!!

[Larry]

Originally Posted by lyceeboo

"Nurses in the United States said they hope the new limits will help refocus attention on training and recruitment of nurses within the country.

"If the industry has ready access to nurses from whatever, then they ease their shortage and never address why we don't have a sufficient domestic nursing work force," said Cheryl Peterson, senior policy analyst for the American Nurses Association."

PRECISELY!!!!

This happens all over and has to do with planning. The cost of ecucating the nurses and the drop out rates are high. The cheap option in democratic capatalistic societes is buy overseas and pay less. This policy stinks but it is the bottom line!

[Tweety]

Originally Posted by SmilingBluEyes

Generalizations will serve no one, including Philippino nurses or American ones... I know PLENTY of American nurses (including myself) who treat patients like family members. I also know plenty of horrible ones from all walks of life. Let's avoid making generalized statements about ANY group, ok? It just does not fly.

BINGO! :hatparty:

[Tweety]

Originally Posted by Larry

This happens all over and has to do with planning. The cost of ecucating the nurses and the drop out rates are high. The cheap option in democratic capatalistic societes is buy overseas and pay less. This policy stinks but it is the bottom line!

BINGO!

I think basically that's it. Not only is it costly for the university systems to pay instructors, hire instructors, and open up more classes for the multitudes on the waiting lists, it's too costly for the hospital systems to address the needs of why nurses are leaving the hospital setting in droves.

I agree it stinks, but that's the bottom line.

[Rep]

Originally Posted by FlorenceN2005

Actually, what determines the overage or shortage in the supply of nurses are the patients. They would rather be served by foreign nurses and live than not to be served by American nurses and die. The more nurses there are, foreign or local, the happier and the more-well-cared-for the patients will be. Christopher Reeve's personal nurse was a foreigner and I am sure she was chosen not because she demanded higher pay. This ban for foreign nurses will surely increase the hardships of the needy patients and those who cannot afford the high cost of health care in America. And what about the ideal or legal patient-to-nurse ratio? Can it wait until the country's youth shall have been encouraged to become nurses?

And Christopher Reeve's private nurse is a FILIPINO. In case every body doesn't know.

[Rep]

Originally Posted by SmilingBluEyes

Generalizations will serve no one, including Philippino nurses or American ones... I know PLENTY of American nurses (including myself) who treat patients like family members. I also know plenty of horrible ones from all walks of life. Let's avoid making generalized statements about ANY group, ok? It just does not fly.

I agree with you!

[mattsmom81]

I work with some lovely Filipina nurses who have told me they have muslim extremists back in their home country too. It is not unreasonable to worry that they may try to sneak into America as nurses....remember our 9/11 terrorists were here on student visas, etc...terrorists do tend to find immigration loopholes.

I don't feel Muslim extremists operate from poverty as much as hatred: hatred of Americans, Christians and Jews. They are being encouraged to kill us for rewards in heaven.

So I'm glad we are addressing these loopholes from a secuirity standpoint.


From a nurse activist POV, if the flux of foreign nurses slows the American healthcare system will be forced to 'deal' with its American nurses instead of just looking for bodies to fill their dismal staffing ratios on paper.

American nurses want staffing ratios and work conditions improved and the foreign nurses (in most cases) seem so happy to get out of their own dismal situation back in their country of origin, they are content with whatever the facility dishes out.

When US nurses are activists 'on the same page'; working together, lobbying, representing a unified force we will be recognized as such and have a chance to achieve our goals as professionals in this country. As long as healthcare companies can import warm bodies, we don't stand a chance...so I agree with those who are glad this practice is being amended by Homeland Security.

[Rep]

I will say my piece here with regards to the new visa rules affecting foreign nurses.

I will dwell mostly on the Employment-Based Immigrant Visas for EB3 category this is where I am familiar.

The Employment-Based Visas are divided into 5 categories, EB1, EB2, EB3, EB4,and EB5.

Nurses and Physical Therapists belong to EB3 category.

Since 1999 up to 2004, BCIS( Bureau of Citizenships and Immigration Services) has been approving employment-based petitions for EB3 left and right with out any regards to the number of visas available.

EB3 category is allocated 28% of the 140,000 visas to be given worldwide plus the "unused visas" from EB1 and EB2. Each country also has its own limit of how many visas were to be given each year.

The demand for EB3 visas in the Philippines, India and China is high and these countries are "oversubcribed" meaning the numbers of EB3 visas issued exceed the limit for each country.

What the new visa rule will do is to stick to the limit per country. As of December, these countries are still "current" for EB3 visas, that means there are visas available.

The US Dept of State has just released the Visa Bulletin for January 2005, and the Philippines, China and India has retrogress to January 2002. This means visas are not available for those visa petitions filed after January 2002.

In my case, my priority date ( the date when my petition was filed at BCIS ) is November 2003. This means I have to wait at least a year or at most two years before a visa can be given to me.

Usually, approval time for visa petitions is 4 months to 1 year. With the new rule in placed to ease the backlog then the approval time will be from two to three years.

Foreign nurses can usually immigrate to the US between 15 to 18 months from the date their visa petiton were filed. Not so with the new rule, foreign nurses will have to wait at least three to four years from the date of application before they can see themselves working in an American hospitals.

This new rule to be in placed by January will address tha backlog created by the BCIS themselves. Once this is addressed, then its back to business.

As I said in a previous post, this is not a setback in our plans to immigrate but a setback in waiting time.

The only countries affected by this Visa Rule are the Philippines, India and China. Other countries like the UK, Australia. etc are not affected by this. Their nurses have only to wait a year or two before their visas are given.

For nurses from the UK, Australia and others, you won't have problems in waiting for your visas.