Any updates on Nursing Retrogression?

Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN · Jan 18, 2010

http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_4611.html

Very little movement, depending where you are from 2001-2002. In the mean time the US is pumping out many many new graduates who can not find jobs and the US economy is not healthy.

If the health care passes ( which it may not know since there is a Senatorial Election Tomorrow in MA and the Democrats MAY loose their majority) don't count on numerous RN positions since the bill is funded on cuts in Medicare and Medicaid. If you are a Doctor or A NP you will be in demand, if you are a RN the government is looking to cut hospital admissions. The focus will be preventive care which MDs, NPs, PAs, and LPNs are the major players.

As far as aging population, most nursing homes are staffed by LPNS.

So either way, health care passes, no major need for RNs, if it doesn't pass the economy is bad and there are thousands of US nurses graduating and many more in the pipeline, before a IEN is hired they have to show that all qualified US nurses are employed.

I am very sorry to tell you this,

LiverpoolJane · Jan 18, 2010

The only other faint glimmer that many are looking at is the CIR (comprehensive immigration reform). It is intended to address the illegal immigration, but has another points one of which is hoped will include recapture of unused visas going back several years and / or making all nurses exempt from capping. I'm not an expert on this by any means, but apparently Sen Schumer (NY) is supposed to be one of the key people on trying to get this approved.

This is supposed to be addressed after the healthcare reform but I don't know if that will be dealt with any time soon.

I'm of the opinion that I may never get to the US so am carrying on with my life, education and advancing my carreer as normal.

Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN · Jan 18, 2010

Liverpool Jane,

I had read that too, but now with so many US nurse unemployed, I don't see how that bill would ever make it.

Politicians are looking for supporters, foreign nurses have never been a big voting block, where as Hispanics tend to vote and that seems to be the target areas to gain votes.

Sounds like you have a plan. As the economy changes the immigration may change to.

NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN · Jan 18, 2010

Slow movement and it will continue to slow as long as you have people applying for green cards and therefore priority dates will continue to take longer for those new who are applying.

Obama stated in one of his speeches awhile back he wanted to pump money to the employers to train Americans and legal residents for jobs. He's looking at taking care of the citizens and legal residents first. Right now the US economy and unemployment should take a priority over retrogression.

MomenTs · Jan 18, 2010

Thank you

Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN · Jan 23, 2010

I have more bad news for nurses who are waiting on CIR, there was an election this week, Senator Kennedy who was a big supporter of CIR, was replaced by Senator Elect Brown who in not in favor of CIR. His election has left the Democrats without a super majority.

Why is that important? It stops the back door deals and the Republicans can filibuster. Many Democrats who are up for re election are now re thinking there positions ( In MA - only 10% of the citizens are republicans and Mr Brown was voted in by independents. Also MA is one of the most liberal states in the USA, some feel this left a clear message,

LiverpoolJane · Jan 23, 2010

I have read that even though Sen Brown has been elected - possibly a protest vote - that the Reps will not want to be upsetting the Irish and Latino voters? If the Reps block the CIR bill they may well alienate themselves and risk losing their seats in future.

Anyway time will tell, I'm not particularly optomistic and I think if the bill does go through the Visa recapture and nurse reform bill that have been incorporated may well look a lot different or dropped completely.

Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN · Jan 23, 2010

I have read that even though Sen Brown has been elected - possibly a protest vote - that the Reps will not want to be upsetting the Irish and Latino voters? If the Reps block the CIR bill they may well alienate themselves and risk losing their seats in future.
Anyway time will tell, I'm not particularly optomistic and I think if the bill does go through the Visa recapture and nurse reform bill that have been incorporated may well look a lot different or dropped completely.

The first item on the Congressional Agenda is healthcare reform, and it looks like that will go back to square one. The economy is not improving, and many people are out of jobs, I believe these will be the these issues will be congress will address. And as far as the "Irish" vote MA has a high population of Irish Americans.

NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN · Jan 23, 2010

Republicans care about what's happening now, anything in the future they will deal with later that's how they do it. Having a republican in office is a scary thing, I should know we had Governors Wilson & Schwartzenager (didn't spell it right) and they didn't do a darn thing for California. Now we're in the hole and everyone is losing jobs. MA doesn't look like it's going to be doing any better with Brown in there. This nation has been in trouble for many years now, and it doesn't look like it's going to be getting better anytime soon. Good Luck to the US and the world.