Let me be clear there is NO nursing shortage!!!!!!!!! and now THIS????

Nurses General Nursing

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Let me be clear: THERE IS NO NURSING SHORTAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so ****** OFF right now. There are literally thousands of new grads, like myself, who are struggling ALL OVER THE U.S. who can't find jobs for the life of them. This is absurd!!

I have applied to over 30 jobs and cannot get a single call back. I have spent numerous nights sobbing in my bed because I can't afford my loans starting in December and might have to consider filing bankruptcy. :crying2::bluecry1::crying2::bluecry1:

And now, to hear that a Florida congressman wants to "import" foreign nursing to "combat the current nursing shortage" is more than I can take (http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2536.html). Are you serious? Pleas tell me you're JOKING!!!

Why did I foolishly even consider becoming a nurse in the first place (besides it being my childhood dream)? What a waste of time. :banghead:

I just can't take this anymore.................

I think you are reading something that isn't there. I'm sorry if I'm not making myself clear. All I'm trying to find out is, have they factored in the number of nurses coming over because of family? I understand the difference between that and a work visa. I'm not using real numbers here but say you have 10,000 people immigrating (yes, I used the incorrect term here:imbar) coming from a country and 1000 of those are nurses and will naturally be working as a nurse here, do they take that into consideration when they decide on granting an additional 5000 work visas for nurses?

The bill has not passed, I doubt it will since there are Americans out of work therefore no additional nurses.

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Specializes in Gerontology, nursing education.
The bill has not passed, I doubt it will since there are Americans out of work therefore no additional nurses.

From your lips to Congress' ears.

I'm not as confident as you because it doesn't seem that our lawmakers care how many Americans are out of work as long as the lobbyists are happy. The immigration lawyers, agencies and health care facilities that import nurses have deep pockets and are willing to spend their money on cheaper labor---even if it means American nursing graduates are, as the original poster, jobless.

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

Immigration visas are for people who want to move to the USA and begin the process of naturalization. You are permitted to work on specific immigration visas at a certain stage but that is a by-product.

Those attempting to use immigration visas only to get employment are usually caught during the interview process. Our Embassies are well equipped to detect those who are trying to abuse the immigration system.

You should trust the immigration officials and your state boards of nursing more.. immigration isn't a floodgate like some people are claiming it is.

Those organizations have proven themselves biased towards big business. Especially known to many of us who worked during that last 15 years was the abuse of H1 visas in recent past - the large number of specialist visas that were issued to nonspecialist nurses. Thus they have demonstrated that theyy are not trustworthy.

Those of us WHO ARE NURSES are well aware from our diverse experiences that there is NO NURSING SHORTAGE, and yet some hospitals that have difficulty keeping staff because of their poor policies and treatment of staff, still claim that there is one. This also demonstrated their untrustworthiness.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
I think you are reading something that isn't there. I'm sorry if I'm not making myself clear. All I'm trying to find out is, have they factored in the number of nurses coming over because of family? I understand the difference between that and a work visa. I'm not using real numbers here but say you have 10,000 people immigrating (yes, I used the incorrect term here:imbar) coming from a country and 1000 of those are nurses and will naturally be working as a nurse here, do they take that into consideration when they decide on granting an additional 5000 work visas for nurses?

Why should they factor nurses in the equation. When family based it means just that family occupation is not taken into consideration

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Are you referring to the H1B?

There is no class of nursing called MD/RN. If a doctor chooses to return to nursing school in the nursing world their credential is only RN-ASN or RN-BSN. They are not allowed to use the MD title in their nursing practice. If a Nurse is referred to as Doctor it is because they have Phd or ND in nursing.

No, I'm referring to the EB2 class visa; but thank you for playing our game.

An MD/RN is (obviously) someone who has a degree as both a Physician and a Nurse.

Alex49, I don't know why you seem to make a mission of undermining anything and everything I post but it's really getting old. You can change your username but your attitude is exactly the same.

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Specializes in CTICU.
say you have 10,000 people immigrating (yes, I used the incorrect term here:imbar) coming from a country and 1000 of those are nurses and will naturally be working as a nurse here, do they take that into consideration when they decide on granting an additional 5000 work visas for nurses?

Of course not - they don't check with family-based immigration candidates what work they will do, nor should they. They have no way of knowing which career people will choose once they get to the US.

Hushdawg, I also don't know what you're talking about with the MD/RN thing. There is no such provision in the EB2 rules as far as I can tell. The requirement is only for "advanced degree professionals" - going into a position which requires a masters degree as a minimum. In addition, this is not a "fast track" to anything - it's just a category for GC application which doesn't have as long a wait as the EB3 category because there are less applicants.

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Yes, MD/RN candidates for immigration do qualify for the EB2 visa; I know several in the last 6+ months that have been able to go through via an immigration attorney I know. Immigration professionals are better suited to explain the hows and whys but it does work.

OK, fair enough that it isn't a "fast track" when all things are equal; but compared to the retrogressed visa situation it is definitely much faster.

Personally I prefer the immigration option as opposed to the working visa option; it indicates a long-term investment in the USA as a home and residence rather than just a place to earn income.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Tele, DOU.
sure, i can completely understand why they don't do it. but, if it came to you filing bankruptcy or going somewhere for a year, what would you do?

not sure i get the "walk on me" statement.....i certainly would not be doing this out of spite or on purpose. i am doing it out of survival.

hi,

the point is that you indeed would be "walking out" on an actual investment of the company and an offered commitment of the staff that would be training you and then working with you. :twocents:

it takes a heck of alot of patience to train new staff members. it is an investment of time, energy, and emotion that i honestly don't want to make with anyone knowing that they won't be staying around for more than a few months.

:redpinkhe we are all trying to survive, right now, and it is difficult. :redpinkhe even i have considered a few employment options for making money that wouldn't have normally been the first on my list.

i am responding to your posts of frustration with as much understanding and compassion as i can. i apologize if my response sounds harsh or uncaring as that is not my intent by any means. :icon_hug:

:idea: is it possible that your family could consider relocating for 2 years? this would give you the experience that you need in your chosen field. and then return to california after the state economy is a bit more stable. in the meantime, perhaps you could rent out your home. i am trying to offer ideas, as you are correct: unfortunately, there isn't a nursing shortage.

i don't know that there was ever a true shortage, more of a prediction based upon the needs of an aging population. throw in all the bad decisions of some very greedy people and our nations economy closely resembles the titanic as it sinks into the icey ocean. nursing became the "life-boats" for many families needing financial stability. not enough boats (jobs), too many people.

even those of us with employment, we are holding onto our jobs with the skin of our teeth and fingernails. :stone it might not be verbally said, but it is understood.

wood floats, joblessrn. enough planks together might be large enough for your family to safely pass from a bad sinking situation to safety for the time being. this is why i am suggesting that you relocate for the time being. people may be more willing to help you if they know that you aren't interested solely in the safety of yourself; but are also interested in giving back into their communities by sticking around and working in their organizations for longer than 1 year. who knows, your wooden raft may be used by others or you may make a few friends and help others along the way.

i truly wish you well. :icon_hug:

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Yes, MD/RN candidates for immigration do qualify for the EB2 visa; I know several in the last 6+ months that have been able to go through via an immigration attorney I know. Immigration professionals are better suited to explain the hows and whys but it does work.

OK, fair enough that it isn't a "fast track" when all things are equal; but compared to the retrogressed visa situation it is definitely much faster.

Personally I prefer the immigration option as opposed to the working visa option; it indicates a long-term investment in the USA as a home and residence rather than just a place to earn income.

I was unclear, there is no position I have ever seen MD/Rn. I have seen MDs who instead of choosing to practice their profession choose nursing since it was easier to come to the USA. My observation is that their heart is in medicine not nursing.

And often they struggle to practice nursing instead of medicine which they are not licensed to do.

There is no license for a MD/RN the doctor is only a nurse As far as getting work permits they must have many years of nursing experience to come over and I agree best left to lawyers.

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i wrote all of my local news channels about all of this and still haven't heard back. haven't heard from my congresswoman, either.:angryfire

even the news doesn't care about new grads! *tongue in cheek* :banghead: :(

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Really? May I ask what state is that? I guess it depends on what state on resides in. I know nurses who told me they worked as nursing assistants until they found a nursing position, instead of remaining unemployed. I'm curious, though: what if a LTC facility, for instance, needs a nursing assistant due to a call out, and a nurse takes the opening. Would that be illegal in that state? :confused:

In NYS you must be certified as a CNA in order to take a CNA position. My facility does use nurses to do patient care assignments at times, but you are still held to the standard of your license (i.e. LPN/RN). I suppose if things got tough and CNAs were hard to come by, a facility could hire nurses for CNA positions. It doesn't seem too cost effective, but possible. Many students here will test out for CNA cerification after a certain number of semesters of nursing school, work as a CNA and then move up at the facility once they finish nursing school.

I forgot to add that most facilities will allow you to still work as a CNA even if you have passed your boards. Most don't since they are still hiring in this area.

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1) Don't give up

2) Get an extension of your student loans

3) Get a job working as a CNA for now

4) Job market will open up, it always has and will

5) When you get the call, don't be picky and take anything to get the experience

I second this opinion and don't give up. Even before the economy went flat, as a nursing manager I would only hire 1 new grad at a time. I believe that we (the facility and older nurses) owe the new grad the best orientation possible. However, in LTC you usually don't get enough time to truly orient the new nurse properly so I ensure that they are always paired with a more experienced nurse. And this is not always easy. A new grad takes a lot of time and patients by the more experienced nurse, and burnout is always a problem that has to be prevented.

If a new grad really wanted to work for our facility and I had a recent new grad hire, I would offer them a position as a CNA. I would encourage this cna/nurse the ability to go to all nursing in-serviced, thus giving her an 'in' to the facility. When I felt that the other 'new grad' was sufficiently ready to be on her own, I would then bring that cna in as a nurse and give him/her the training to be a staff nurse. While it may feel like a 'let-down' in taking a position as a cna, it shows the prospective employer that you are loyal and willing to learn and take direction.

Don't worry so much about bringing in foreign nurses, that takes time and money. Also, if that is truly a concern you and your fellow student nurses that cannot find jobs here in America should start writing letters to end this. As should we all. Not a very 'popular' point of view and I'm sure there will be backlash for expressing myself, but my heart goes out to all of the new nursing students that are seeing there dreams take such a long hold!

Best of luck to you!

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