US Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) wrote this editorial about his co-sponsorship of HR 5924, the Emergency Nursing Supply Relief Act. Do you support the bill?
8/11/2008
A prescription for our nursing shortage
By Jim Sensenbrenner
Nurses have always been the friendly faces providing comfort and rehabilitation while we and our loved ones recover in the hospital or healthcare facility. However, over the past decade, the numbers of nurses in the US have been dwindling. According to the American Hospital Association, there are presently over 116,000 vacancies for registered nurses. By 2014, that number is estimated to be 1.2 million. This shortage not only creates a crunch on hospitals and other facilities trying to administer care, but has also contributed to nearly 24% of hospital deaths and injuries.
Thanks for offering some reasons which counter Rep. Sensenbrenner's plea. I'll follow this proposed legislation with great interest. In the mean time, I'll offer a wonderful quote I just read today. :-)
Alan
“If everyone is thinking alike, then someone isn’t thinking.”
"For every problem, there is a solution that is simple, neat, and wrong."
--H.L. Mencken
What strikes me as "simple" about this proposed legislation is its need to quickly import lots of trained nurses. What strikes me as a longer-term view in this bill is its goal to expand training for American nurses and nursing students so they can fill the anticipated vacancies. If the bill limits the number of years which allow increased immigration, then the stop-gap influx of foreign nurses would eventually be replaced by numbers of qualified domestic graduates. Does that seem like a plan, or am I missing something else? Maybe some of you who have a historical sense of practice and policy around these issues could add some comments here.
The bill can limit the number of years to allow the influx of foreign nurses but it won't solve the problem. When the time period is up and employers have done nothing to fix the problems and get American nurses back in the trenches, another idiot will suggest another bill to let more foreign nurses in AGAIN. It will just keep repeating itself.
The cycle has to be broken! Only when the general public REALLY suffers from the lack of nurses, then they will demand a fix. If there aren't foreign nurses to fall back on, the hospitals will be forced to improve things.
The bill can limit the number of years to allow the influx of foreign nurses but it won't solve the problem. When the time period is up and employers have done nothing to fix the problems and get American nurses back in the trenches, another idiot will suggest another bill to let more foreign nurses in AGAIN. It will just keep repeating itself.
The cycle has to be broken! Only when the general public REALLY suffers from the lack of nurses, then they will demand a fix. If there aren't foreign nurses to fall back on, the hospitals will be forced to improve things.
1989,
So, in the best-case scenario, what would be the main points of your proposed legislation? Or are you not talking about legislation? Are you talking about revamping the economic system?
What strikes me as "simple" about this proposed legislation is its need to quickly import lots of trained nurses. What strikes me as a longer-term view in this bill is its goal to expand training for American nurses and nursing students so they can fill the anticipated vacancies. If the bill limits the number of years which allow increased immigration, then the stop-gap influx of foreign nurses would eventually be replaced by numbers of qualified domestic graduates. Does that seem like a plan, or am I missing something else? Maybe some of you who have a historical sense of practice and policy around these issues could add some comments here.
Thanks I couldn't remember who to attribute it to and was to busy to google it
So, in the best-case scenario, what would be the main points of your proposed legislation? Or are you not talking about legislation? Are you talking about revamping the economic system?
Alan
There are so many legal US residents and citizens that are chomping at the bit to train as nurses and many more that have left due to the conditions. My suggestions for legislation would be a subsidy for nursing instructors so nursing schools can pay them a competitive wage for public schools and tax incentives for private schools to do the same. Heck offer tax benefits to nursing instructors personally but importing nurses is not the answer and I am an immigrant myself ( almost a citizen now yah! can't wait to wave my little flag)
The problem a lot of people have about immigrants workers that I hear alot is the fact that many NOT all come here to seek a higher paying job so they can send money back home (ie out of the economy) or to seek to sponosor the next person in. Again these are all admiral goals but since US legislation in this matter should support current US residents and citizens I don't it should be the focus.
There should also be a provision for more grants for those seeking higher degrees in order to teach.
1989, you raise some very good points. Thanks for explaining. Time for the full-blown citizens on this forum to contact their legislators, I reckon. Good luck clearing the final hurdles to your citizenship!
Pointe, you're welcome for Mencken. I keep telling myself, "Google is our friend!" (Sometimes I wonder if it's really helping us stay in touch, however. I used to ask live human beings all these questions!)
1989, Good luck clearing the final hurdles to your citizenship!
What???? That comment makes no sense. I am not getting my citizenship! I have always been a US citizen - my family came to this country on the Mayflower!
You have obviously missed my numerous postings on the subject of foreign nurses if you think that I am not a citizen.
alan headbloom
74 Posts
Herring, MC, NNH, Pointe, RN, and Elkpark,
Thanks for offering some reasons which counter Rep. Sensenbrenner's plea. I'll follow this proposed legislation with great interest. In the mean time, I'll offer a wonderful quote I just read today. :-)
Alan
“If everyone is thinking alike, then someone isn’t thinking.”
-- Gen. George Patton