F or hospitals struggling with vacant nursing positions and no candidates to fill them the option of hiring international nurses may provide the cure. However the immigration process is long and work visas have limitations. The
Emergency Nursing Supply Relief Act -
H.R. 5924 may help speed the immigration process along.
Introduced by
Rep. Robert Wexler [D-FL] at the end of April this year
H.R. 5924 if passed and signed will expedite immigration visas for international nurses and physical therapists. Applications that are filed now are taking anywhere from 8 to 12 months for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to review. If H.R. 5924 hits the books as law, applications will have to be reviewed within 30 days of submission.
While it may take some time for H.R. 5924 to make its way through the legislative process it does provide hope for healthcare facilities that are in urgent need of nurses and other allied health personnel. The bill in question could provide upwards of 20,000 additional nurses and physical therapists each year to help offset the current shortages. The bill's last action on Jun 3, 2008 by the House Judiciary was referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law. The bill still has to be scheduled for debate, then voted on in the House and Senate, and then move on for signature by the President before it becomes law. At the end of the day H.R. 5924 may bring some badly needed help to U.S. healthcare but it is going to take awhile before healthcare organizations to see any tangible results.
Full story in
Market Watch.
Introduced by Rep. Robert Wexler [D-FL] at the end of April this year H.R. 5924 if passed and signed will expedite immigration visas for international nurses and physical therapists. Applications that are filed now are taking anywhere from 8 to 12 months for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to review. If H.R. 5924 hits the books as law, applications will have to be reviewed within 30 days of submission.
While it may take some time for H.R. 5924 to make its way through the legislative process it does provide hope for healthcare facilities that are in urgent need of nurses and other allied health personnel. The bill in question could provide upwards of 20,000 additional nurses and physical therapists each year to help offset the current shortages. The bill's last action on Jun 3, 2008 by the House Judiciary was referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law. The bill still has to be scheduled for debate, then voted on in the House and Senate, and then move on for signature by the President before it becomes law. At the end of the day H.R. 5924 may bring some badly needed help to U.S. healthcare but it is going to take awhile before healthcare organizations to see any tangible results.
Full story in Market Watch.