H.R. 5924 Emergency Nursing Supply relief act

Nurses General Nursing

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Emergency Nursing Supply Relief Act - 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.

I dont know whether this bill has already been mentioned in the blogs. I visited http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_5924.html to read the description

Anyone know the status of the bill at present...

regards

Abel

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Why do so many threads on this subject arise as one-time-only postings from brand new forum "members"?

(imo)-

The answer is better pay for nursing educators so that we can develop our pre-existing home-grown talent. In the comments someone said "See Sen. Durbin's moral dilemma with recruiting foreign-educated nurses into our workforce." Sen Dick Durbin appears to be a nursing ally and his idea about hospitals helping to improve pay for nurse educators makes sense. The hospitals will profit in the long run because more RN hopefuls will be admitted to nursing school and become part of their hiring pool.

Just read these forums. Thousands of American students are fighting long waiting lists to get into nursing schools. If there was a bill to better fund US nursing schools and increase pay for instructors, more domestic US RN hopefuls could pursue their dreams of becoming a nurse.

We're also in DIRE need of a bill that will increase pay and employment incentives to retain our current nurses. The solution is not to go outside of the U.S but to correct the problems that exist here.

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First of all I would really want to know why there is a shortage of nurses? Are there no American Nurses who would fulfill the jobs? If there is a shortage, healthcare shortages cannot be left as is and it is critical that it needs to be attended to, either by hiring local resources or foreign.

If the current situation is "students waiting for entry into nursing schools" and assuming that there is an immediate grant for getting all students in, you still would be waiting 3 to 4 years for all of them to come into workstream. Assuming that by 2011 there would be vacancies for 116000 nurses, there still would be shortages even with graduates of the next 3 consecutive years.

so now the question comes is, how do we take care of the current situation?

these are exerpts from 5924

section 2) LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF VISAS- The Secretary of State may not issue more than 20,000 immigrant visa numbers in any one fiscal year (plus any available visa numbers under this paragraph not used during the preceding fiscal year) to principal beneficiaries of petitions pursuant to paragraph (1).

sec 833 Establishment- There is established in the general fund of the Treasury a separate account which shall be known as the `Domestic Nursing Enhancement Account.' Notwithstanding any other provision of law, there shall be deposited as offsetting receipts into the account all fees collected under section 106(f) of the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-first Century Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-313; 8 U.S.C. 1153 note). Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the depositing of other moneys into the account established under this section.

It seems to be a good bargain atleast to me..

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Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.

In an attempt to answer the OP's questions. We have been allowing facilities to import foreign nurses to shore up the almost continuous shortage of nurses. We began losing young people entering nursing programs in the 1970's when more and more fields were finally opened to women. Our best and brights left and went into those fields. In the 1980's we opened up independent nursing practice, allowing those who wished to then engage in independent practice. At the same time, there has been a reduction in funds usually given to nursing, both in terms of grants and research. Also the salaries of nurse educators does not match that of an independent nurse practitioner. Thus fewer are entering the education field. As a result, our educators are now generally in their fifties. And most of the educators I know not only teach but engage in another nursing practice to generate income.

We are losing educators, while we are building up waiting list for programs. This is a very real incident. Unless more money is put into developing nurse educators and expanding programs we will have to continue to import nurses. We will be taking nurses away from their own people. And we will be down grading the income of our own nurses.

Woody:twocents:

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1. The acute nursing shortage in the U.S - need for more nurses :nurse:- more schools and educators.

2. fast track for nursing - Is the American population just looking to produce more number of nurses - what about the quality?

3. Need for good efficient , qualified and dedicated educators that can motivate and challenge the future nurses ......... Where are they?:no:

Getting nurses from outside is just a temporary solution - but one that is needed right now to meet the needs of the increasing acutely ill population

Where do we go from here:banghead:

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