Government classifies nurses as 'unskilled workers'

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I could not believe my ears the other night on the news. Evidently, our government has placed nurses in the 'unskilled' category for visas to bring in cheaper, less-educated nurses from other countries.

What a slap in the face. :nono::nono::nono::nono:

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On Lou Dobbs, CNN - 06/27/07

". . . According to the State Department, the biggest of these programs is the H visa program. More than 300,000 H visas, in fact, were issued last year, including H-1B visas that allow American companies to replace American workers with cheaper paid foreigners. H visas are also used for nurses, farm workers and other so-called unskilled workers, if you can call a nurse unskilled... . "

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0706/27/ldt.01.html

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.
less-educated nurses from other countries.
Since it is well known that foreign nurses don't have to take the NCLEX and don't need to have a license in the US to work; we can justifiably come to that conclusion.

cheers,

EDIT: It's been many weeks since I posted this post - but I think I ought to clarify my intents since it still seems to arouse consternation amongst casual readers.

If I may borrow the words of one of our board members:

Roy was just being facetious (teasing)! Point is, of course, that since they DO have to pass our national licensing exam AND have to have a professional license issued by the State in which they plan to work, the idea of foreign nurses being "unskilled" is beyond ridiculous.

Sometimes I forget that humor is difficult to transmit across a passive, non-evocative medium such as a bulletin board.

Thank you!

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Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.
I could not believe my ears the other night on the news. Evidently, our government has placed nurses in the 'unskilled' category for visas to bring in cheaper, less-educated nurses from other countries.

What a slap in the face. :nono::nono::nono::nono:

_________________________________

On Lou Dobbs, CNN - 06/27/07

". . . According to the State Department, the biggest of these programs is the H visa program. More than 300,000 H visas, in fact, were issued last year, including H-1B visas that allow American companies to replace American workers with cheaper paid foreigners. H visas are also used for nurses, farm workers and other so-called unskilled workers, if you can call a nurse unskilled... . "

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0706/27/ldt.01.html

You know what gets my goat? The NLRB broadly classifies us as "supervisors," and now the state dept. calls us "unskilled." When are we as nurses going to get fed up with this?

I'd like to invite these policy makers to my unit after open heart surgery and see if they still think I'm "unskilled".

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Specializes in SICU, EMS, Home Health, School Nursing.
You know what gets my goat? The NLRB broadly classifies us as "supervisors," and now the state dept. calls us "unskilled." When are we as nurses going to get fed up with this?

I'd like to invite these policy makers to my unit after open heart surgery and see if they still think I'm "unskilled".

Or bring them to my unit while we work a trauma or a code... better yet, let the code be them or their family member and see what they think after that!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, IV therapy, Emerg, Peds.
Since it is well known that foreign nurses don't have to take the NCLEX and don't need to have a license in the US to work; we can justifiably come to that conclusion.

cheers,

Is this really true? All I can say is that I am a "foreign nurse" (educated in Canada - BSN) who is now licensed in multiple states - and of course I had to write the NCLEX (as well as undergoing extensive and lengthy credential evaluation) before obtaining my licenses. As far as I am aware - every foreign nurse must undergo this prior to obtaining licensure.

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Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.
Is this really true? All I can say is that I am a "foreign nurse" (educated in Canada - BSN) who is now licensed in multiple states - and of course I had to write the NCLEX (as well as undergoing extensive and lengthy credential evaluation) before obtaining my licenses. As far as I am aware - every foreign nurse must undergo this prior to obtaining licensure.

This is true in my state as well.

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

I have more qualifications than you can shake a stick at!!!! I have studied for 17 years on and off-but hey you wanna call me an unskilled worker then it just shows ignorance.

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.
Since it is well known that foreign nurses don't have to take the NCLEX and don't need to have a license in the US to work; we can justifiably come to that conclusion.

cheers,

lol:lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2:

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Is this really true? All I can say is that I am a "foreign nurse" (educated in Canada - BSN) who is now licensed in multiple states - and of course I had to write the NCLEX (as well as undergoing extensive and lengthy credential evaluation) before obtaining my licenses. As far as I am aware - every foreign nurse must undergo this prior to obtaining licensure.

Roy was just being facetious (teasing)! Point is, of course, that since they DO have to pass our national licensing exam AND have to have a professional license issued by the State in which they plan to work, the idea of foreign nurses being "unskilled" is beyond ridiculous.

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Specializes in ER,OR.
Is this really true? All I can say is that I am a "foreign nurse" (educated in Canada - BSN) who is now licensed in multiple states - and of course I had to write the NCLEX (as well as undergoing extensive and lengthy credential evaluation) before obtaining my licenses. As far as I am aware - every foreign nurse must undergo this prior to obtaining licensure.

This is the response i also got when i was looking for information about working abroad..But anyways, not a nice thing to do from your goverment :(

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.
This is the response i also got when i was looking for information about working abroad..But anyways, not a nice thing to do from your goverment :(

Hate to say it, but there are many things this government does that are not so nice.

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Specializes in midwifery, gen surgical, community.

What does your professional body say about this? What does your union say about this? I am sure if this happened in the UK the Royal College of Nurses would have something to say about it.

Since when has a farmworker have to have a registration/license? Mind you, you don't need a license to be a politician, so who is the real unskilled worker?:trout:

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