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:
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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... . "
R U kidding me? I didn't see this on the news but if it is true then I want a refund of the $12,000 a year I am paying Drexel university to further my lack of skill!! Because if I am unskilled then I certainly don't need to further my education to become an APN since they are "just nurses" too!! I have to say that I am quite infuriated at the thought of being considered unskilled, we deal with peoples lives here and if we make a serious mistake then someone gets very hurt or dies. Give me a brake!!
From reading that statement, "if you can call nurses unskilled".. I don't think they were actually referring to nurses as unskilled, but more of an ironic statement, that makes nurses unique to have this type of visa. I guess they are doing this because of the dire need (in mass numbers) of nurses that need to be sent in to help the shortage of the already existing local work force. I am quite surprised by the reactions of nurses that perhaps the gov't should have worded that statement differently.
But then it is unfair to pay them lower since they do get a matching nursing education + skills from the countries they come from. The background checks are extensive! Otherwise, they cannot be eligible to work in the u.s..
Foreign nurses on work visas still need to take the NCLEX as that's a huge factor in determining whether or not they can give safe and effective care to patients.. You don't want your patients to be cared for by some foreigner who can't even speak english correctly, and gives lousy care, having the same title as you. Come on, we all know that.
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.
I strongly agree with you. ALL foreign nurses (fortunately I'm one of them!) pass through a lengthy process just to be an RN in the US, and that includes the NCLEX exam. Ang mind all those who would think otherwise, foreign nurses are very much qualified to work in the US or any other country for that matter. though the US government would classify us as unskilled, that I cannot take. Ofcourse we know that nurses are professionals, heck we have our licenses right?!
You are right Brent! ;)every registered foreign nurses who wants to pass nclex and obtain a license in u.s. needs to apply for the exam. first, they need to have that certificate of eligibility and then that's the time that they can apply for att and take the exam. we are all nurses here. it is very sad to hear something bad from your colleagues. who says foreign nurses are not that "well educated" ?. All licensed nurses are well educated and competitive regardless of school, university or country you came from. that's why we have licenses right?
We're all in this profession to serve people. to do what's best for them, to promote health, prevent illnesses and to provide care. It's very difficult to deal with something that is truly irreplacable and that is to save lives. Is that what you called Unskilled workers?
before i was an rn (bsn), i was a flight attendant for a now-defunct company. i was based out of london, but almost all my trips were back to the usa because foreign-nationals could run the european and eastern routes much less inexpensively. of course, this was post-airline deregulation era. this thread reminds me of that experience, and makes me think that nurses need to have a say about this whole situation in a place where a voice can make a difference. right now it's a question of "skilled vs. unskilled", but if we're not careful it could become "jobs lost due to cheaper labor". personally, i spent a lot of time and money for this career, not to mention sacrifices of time away from my family. i did those things for many reasons, including upward mobility financially. i do not want to see my income topped-out or reduced because of cheaper labor being available!
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,
I take offence at being called an unskilled worker after being at university for 4 years to get where i am. AND I did have to sit the CGFNS exam AND the NCLEX to get to work in the States thanks.
I personally think half the nurses are a darn sight more skilled than some of the doctors i have worked with!!
But most American Nurses only have either a Diploma in Nursing, or a two year Associates Degree, while LPN/LVNs, have one year of post high school education. PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSISTANTS HAVE AN ASSOCIATES DEGREE as entry into practice.
Does anyone connect the dots yet? I would think that this is where the idea comes from. Folks, we have brought this on ourselves. Think out side the box.
Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN
Spokane, Washington
:angryfire
Im sorry, but I am an LVN and it was a hell of a lot more work than a year of post high school study. I would be happy to put my education up against yours any day!!!! I have walked circles around RNs that thought they were all high and mighty with thier degrees.....and yet they still lacked common sense much like you with your comments. AND NONE OF US ARE UNSKILLED!!! The government has classified us as unskilled so that they could give out visas and have us replaced with cheaper work forces like from India....no one remembers that a few years ago. All the hospitals hired foreigners until they realized they may be cheaper but had no bedside manner and patients refused them...mostly because they couldn't understand them. AND, that isn't me being biased..that is the facts. A good ol boy farmer from Texas gets offended when a texan doesn't walk in the door.
So I really believe it was just in an effort by the government to expedite a way for corporations to lower their budgets out of some back room deal we may not know about.
I think the real issue we should be focusing on here is the MISPERCEPTION of nursing as an unskilled profession. WE ALL KNOW THAT IT TAKES A LOT OF SKILL!!!! Surely we all have days where we feel like we're being treated like waitresses rather than skilled, competent professionals. We need to change the perception that the general public has of nurses. Then we will be able to get better pay and respect that I think most nurses feel is lacking!
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
I take offence at being called an unskilled worker after being at university for 4 years to get where i am. AND I did have to sit the CGFNS exam AND the NCLEX to get to work in the States thanks.
I personally think half the nurses are a darn sight more skilled than some of the doctors i have worked with!!
Have a great day!
The CGFNS exam is only required by a handful of states now but the process for a foreign trained nurse is not an easy one.
But most American Nurses only have either a Diploma in Nursing, or a two year Associates Degree, while LPN/LVNs, have one year of post high school education. PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSISTANTS HAVE AN ASSOCIATES DEGREE as entry into practice.
Does anyone connect the dots yet? I would think that this is where the idea comes from. Folks, we have brought this on ourselves. Think out side the box.
Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN
Spokane, Washington
I'm sorry, but after reading some of your posts, I find your attitude toward your fellow nurses (yes, whether you like it or not, they are RN's just like you) to be condescending, to say the least.
But most American Nurses only have either a Diploma in Nursing, or a two year Associates Degree, while LPN/LVNs, have one year of post high school education. PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSISTANTS HAVE AN ASSOCIATES DEGREE as entry into practice.
Does anyone connect the dots yet? I would think that this is where the idea comes from. Folks, we have brought this on ourselves. Think out side the box.
Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN
Spokane, Washington
Physical Therapists have minimum of a Master's degee to practice.
You are mixing apples and oranges here.
And I am thinking outside the box. Many nurses have other degrees besides nursing. Me included.
:nono:
who says foreign nurses are not that "well educated" ?. All licensed nurses are well educated and competitive regardless of school, university or country you came from. that's why we have licenses right? 
nurseynurse36
4 Posts
R U kidding me? I didn't see this on the news but if it is true then I want a refund of the $12,000 a year I am paying Drexel university to further my lack of skill!! Because if I am unskilled then I certainly don't need to further my education to become an APN since they are "just nurses" too!! I have to say that I am quite infuriated at the thought of being considered unskilled, we deal with peoples lives here and if we make a serious mistake then someone gets very hurt or dies. Give me a brake!!