Discussion- Urge Congress to Support HR 5924: Legislation to Address Nursing Shortage

Amends the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-first Century Act of 2000 to lift the numerical limitations for employment based immigrants (and accompanying family members) for nurses and physical therapists until September 30, 2011, subject to a cap.

Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security: (1) to impose a fee upon each petitioning employer who uses such a visa to provide employment for an alien as a professional nurse;
and (2) acting through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), to award a grant each fiscal year to each eligible nursing school that applies and meets specified requirements.

• $1,800 for each full-time or part-time student who is enrolled at the school in a graduate program in nursing for nurse educators
• $1,405 for each full-time or part-time student enrolled in BSN or generic MSN program
• 966 for each full-time or part-time student in ADN program

Establishes in the Treasury's general fund a Domestic Nursing Enhancement Account. (will fund above grant program)

Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to: (1) direct the Secretary to allow an eligible alien (and spouse or child) to reside in a candidate country (defined to include a lower middle income country or one experiencing a natural disaster) during the period the alien is working there as a health care worker; and (2) make inadmissible an alien seeking entry into the United States to perform labor as a health care worker unless the alien attests that he or she does not have an outstanding obligation to the alien's government or country of residence, subject to a waiver.

Directs the Secretary of Labor to establish a partnership program to award grants to eligible entities to carry out comprehensive programs to provide education to nurses and create a pipeline to nursing for incumbent ancillary health care workers who wish to advance their careers.

I read the nursing bill 100 times but did not get answer for one answer.

If visas will be available can we apply, get EAD and wait for GC.?
i am not saying international students has any priority, but can we apply or do we have to leave the country and wait for backlog clearance.

Most nursing schools have waiting lists.
Professors of nursing are generally paid less than they could earn at direct care. (I think "publish or perish" contributes to this)

I kno nurses who left due to poor conditions (unsafe staffing etcetera) or to raise a family. They cannot get a job. Hospitals would rather hire new grads.