Oppose HR 1358
We will cover this post topic in more detail at a later time. But we feel the need to get this out there for those who may think that the open borders crowd is sleeping. HR 1358 called the Nursing Relief Act of 2007 is sponsored by four Congressman from Arizona. One of them is Rep Jeff Flake, whom this blog gave some credit for opposing earmarks and going against established bad politics. But now his reputation, with us at least, is in question. The following is an excerpt from the Basta Pinoy News, the leading news source for Filipino Americans. (If you are an American, why is it necessary to add your race or ethnicity to the description?)
The bill proposes a numerical cap of 50,000 W-1 visas per year, but this limit can rise based on the demand for foreign nurses. The W-1 is good for three (3) years at a time, not more than six (6) years maximum. The nurses, however, may apply for a 7th year extension to protect them from lengthy green card processing times.
This is just another way to increase visas, job market pressures and the like. It is claimed to be a solution for nursing shortages when many nursing schools limit their enrollment. And they wonder why a shortage exists. That would be due to artificial limitations on the number of graduates per year.
For now, without an organized effort that we know of, it would be helpful if readers would contact their representatives in Washington to opppose this legislation. It was introduced this month and is in committee as of this writing. We’ll provide more information later. Here’s the bill link at Thomas LOC.
H.R.1358
Title: To create a new nonimmigrant visa category for registered nurses, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Shadegg, John B. [AZ-3] (introduced 3/6/2007) Cosponsors (3)
Latest Major Action: 3/6/2007 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
C. Harris
MoreWhat.com
Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, The Virtuous Republic, Perri Nelson’s Website, The Random Yak, Wake Up America, basil’s blog, Shadowscope, DragonLady’s World, Leaning Straight Up, The Amboy Times, The Bullwinkle Blog, Conservative Cat, Conservative Thoughts, LaTogaStrappata®, Pet’s Garden Blog, third world county, Allie Is Wired, stikNstein… has no mercy, The World According to Carl, Blue Star Chronicles, Overtaken by Events, Pirate’s Cove, The Pink Flamingo, Dumb Ox Daily News, High Desert Wanderer, Right Voices, and Gone Hollywood, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.
April 5th, 2007 at 2:57 am
This is not a simple issue. The limits on nursing grads in this country are not “artificial” but are a function of several things: because nursing schools require much more instensive teacher student ratios than say English or History classes, they are MUCH more expensive to run. Nursing students also require clinical experience in hospitals, which can absorb only a limited number. Finally, there is a serious and worsening shortage of qualified faculty. This is exacerbated by the fact that market forces have pushed nursing salaries uphigh enough that a staff nurse can usually make more (here in California much more) than a beginning college professor. So where is the incentive to go back for an advanced degree so you can teach? It would be a better thing for all if we trained enough nurses to meet our own needs, but it will take big tax dollars to do it.
April 5th, 2007 at 3:57 am
First of all, thank you for your time to post a thoughtful opinion.
Second, surprisingly enough, I would like to challenge your belief that the shortage is artificial. In the eighties a trend to eliminate aides and orderlies and upgrade LPN’s to RN’s began the real shortage of staff. From that point, the nursing workload increased. Then the trend to have RN’s complete a four year as opposed to 2 year program caused a need to attend a four year campus at a college or university rather than 2 year vocational institutions.
That served two purposes. Propping up enrollment at universities rather than vocational schools and an artificial pay raise for nurses at the expense of lower paid aides, orderlies and LPN’s. The advent of ‘work when you want’ agencies like Upjohn responded to the declining numbers of nurse’s who had decided to start a family, etc. Again, raising pay to lure nurses back to a reduced work force.
By the data available on things like careless errors giving meds and the out of control fatal infection rates at hospitals AND the false claim that malpractice suits are primarily frivolous indicate any increase in the quality of instruction has not been realized in the real world.
But hey, I’m all for steppin’ up a notch, providing documents and references to support my opinion if you would like to continue this discussion. And I don’t believe I am unfairly biased against the medical community. My daughter is a practicing R.N. who is finishing her post grad and will be teaching her craft. Her mother is an R.N. with over 30 years experience and I have a long list of acquaintances in the profession as well as a long personal history and family history of atrocious health care experiences. I have to take a breath now.
Thanks again for stoppin’