| There are several hospitals in the United States that | | | | employment based visas in each of the next three |
| are experiencing immense shortages of registered | | | | years for foreign trained registered nurses and |
| nurses, emergency nurses and other health care | | | | physical therapists. |
| professionals. There is approximately a whooping 80 | | | | This bill will also provide funds to help U.S. nursing |
| to 85 percent of American hospitals mention | | | | schools expand the domestic supply of nurses by |
| shortage while 15 percent expresses concern about | | | | coming from the $1,500 fee for those who would be |
| the severe shortage they are experiencing. | | | | applying for the visa. This would also establish a |
| According to the United States Department of Health | | | | three-year pilot program aimed in keeping U.S. nurses |
| and Human Services, United States will need 2.8 | | | | in the workforce. |
| million nurses. This estimated demand will be a million | | | | Immigrant visa applicants will need to attest that |
| more than the projected supply of nurses. U.S. is not | | | | they do not owe their country of residence a |
| quickly replacing nurses at the same phase they are | | | | financial obligation that was incurred for their |
| leaving the profession. | | | | education so that they would remain in that country. |
| Currently, the average age of nurses working in | | | | Both the American Hospitals Association (AHA) and |
| America is 45 years old. By year 2010, and estimated | | | | the American Society for Healthcare Human |
| 40 percent of all the working registered nurses will | | | | Resources Administration support expressed their |
| be more than 50 years old. Between 2010 and 2020, | | | | support for the bill. |
| the largest group of registered nurses in the United | | | | Due to visa retrogression, a lot of foreign |
| States labor force will be between 50 to 60 years | | | | professionals who are interested in working in the |
| old. By this time, the nursing shortage would be | | | | United States are turned down. The U.S. government |
| exceeding 36 percent. | | | | makes only a certain number of immigrant visas |
| What's happening to United Case is not an isolated | | | | (green card) available each year and these are |
| case. Several countries are already reporting similar | | | | allocated among the various immigrant visa |
| problem. In Ontario, Canada (Toronto Star) lost | | | | categories. |
| 14,000 of its 81,000 nurses due to retirement last | | | | Recently, there are more immigrants approved for |
| 2004. While as early as December 2000, the World | | | | employment-based immigrant visas and has run out |
| Health Organization already reported that Poland was | | | | of visa numbers causing temporary backlog or |
| graduating more than 10,000 nurses annually. But the | | | | retrogression. The U.S. has a waiting list for |
| figure dropped to 3,000. In Chile, out of 18,000 | | | | employment-based visas for nurses, and its nurse |
| nurses in the country, only 8,000 are working in the | | | | education programs turned away more than 150,000 |
| field. | | | | qualified applicants last year due to lack of faculty |
| So what are the steps being done by the United | | | | and clinical space. |
| States government to address this problem? | | | | With the H.R 5924., it aims that the nursing shortages |
| In April 2008 a bill was proposed in the United States | | | | will be resolved. With this bill, the visa retrogression |
| House of Representatives by Congressman Robert | | | | could be lift for nurses and physical therapists who |
| Wexler from Florida and co-sponsored by | | | | have applied prior to September 30, 2011. Hopefully, |
| Representative James Sensenbrenner (R-WI). This bill | | | | we'll see more therapists, nurses, E.R. attendants and |
| is called F.R. 5924 of The Emergency Nursing Supply | | | | nurses, and other health professionals taking care of |
| Relief Act. As of the day, this bill has currently 11 | | | | the nation. |
| co-sponsors. | | | | Find tips about forehead pain, ginger health benefits |
| Basically, this bill will allow additional visas to be set- | | | | and other information at the Health And Nutrition Tips |
| aside for foreign trained nurses and physical | | | | website. |
| therapists. The H.R. 5924 would save 20,000 | | | | |