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Posts Tagged ‘Foreign Nurses’

NCLEX-RN 2010 Test Plan

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

The NCSBN has posted the 2010 NCLEX-RN Detailed Test Plan Candidate version and Item Writer/Item Reviewer/Nu Educator version on its Website The new test plan goes into effect April 1, 2010.

The NCLEX-RN Test Plan is evaluated every 3 years, and changes are made based on empirical data from a practice analysis, expert judgment and feedback from member boards.  The purpose of the Detailed Test Plan is to provide more in depth information about the content areas listed in the basic NCLEX-RN Test Plan.  Both tests include sample items at the end of each category, which are specific to the Client Needs category being reviewed in that section.  Also, the Item Writer/Item Reviewer/Nurse Educator version includes an item writing tutorial with sample case scenarios to provide nurse educators with hands-on experience in writing NCLEX style test questions.

12,200 H-1B Visas Available!

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

As of October 25, 2009, approximately 52,800 H-1B cap-subject petitions and approximately 20,000 petitions qualifying for the advanced degree cap exemption had been filed. Seven months into this fiscal year and there are still H-1B visas available – but not for long!

Any H1-B petitions filed on behalf of a foreign national with an advanced degree will now count toward the general H1-B cap of 65,000. USCIS will continue to accept both cap-subject petitions and advanced degree petitions until a sufficient number of H-1B petitions have been received to reach the statutory limits, taking into account the fact that some of these petitions may be denied, revoked, or withdrawn.

The H-1B Petition is still a valid option for professionals with degrees in IT, Engineering, those in science and the arts, as well as many healthcare workers including PTs, OTs, Physicians, Pharmacists,  AHPs, and some nurses.

When considering Nurses for H-1B Visas, these are the threshold issues and key questions:

For Nurses:

1. The nurse must hold at least a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (a BSN), and

2. The position must normally require a Bachelors Degree.

For the Employer:

A. The hospital is offering the nurse a position as a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM), a Certified Nurse Practitioner (APRN-certified) or positions in Critical care where the nurse holds certification;

B. If the nurse will be working in an Administrative position ordinarily associated with a Bachelors Degree, such as Charge Nurse or Nurse Manager;

C. If the nurse will be working in one of these specialties: peri-operative, school health, occupational health, rehabilitation nursing, emergency room nursing, critical care, operating room, oncology and pediatrics. And the hospital will attest that these roles are only offered to those with Bachelors Degrees. Some magnet hospitals have the BSN as its standards, and these make great destination hospitals for RN H-1Bs.

Contact Immigration Solutions if you are seeking representation to assist you with your H-1B case filings.  We have a professional team ready to handle your casework with reasonable and fair fees.  We specialize in IT, Engineering and Healthcare immigration, amongst other business sectors – both in the US and Canada.

Foreign Nurse Manual from NCSBN (National Nursing Board)

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

The NCSBN has an excellent Resource Manual available for International Nurses and was developed as a user-friendly resource.

The manual focuses on 3 main topics related to foreign nurses:  Education, English Exam and Immigration.  Very intelligently, each chapter has 4 sections:  Definitions, Issues, FAQs and Resources.

It is important to understand that each state is responsible for the licensure of nurses within the state. Variations exist among the states.  It is very important to be working with a knowledgeable certification and licensure specialist or be in direct contact yourself with the State Board.

Immigration Solutions are specialists in health care immigration – for all occupations.  We have placed hundreds of foreign health care personnel with US hospitals and top medical facilities in the USA.  We have worked with some of the most reputable international staffing professionals in the industry; have attended countless recruitment events abroad and in the USA, and interface one-on-one with the health care professional and their families throughout the entire process.  We continue to advise and consult with some of the top recruiters and medical facilities in the USA.

Contact Immigration Solutions for all of your US and Canadian health care immigration matters.  Here is the link to the NCSBN Manual and here is a link to our healthcare brochure.

Reluctance to Embrace Foreign Nurses Wounds the US Healthcare System

Tuesday, September 1st, 2009

Social Science Research Network:  Understaffing of nurses in US hospitals is severely impacting the quality of healthcare and is predicted to worsen in future years.  By the year 2020, the nursing workforce is projected to be nearly a million nurses short.  The current nurse pool is retiring and the number of new nurses entering the profession is inadequate.  At the same time an aging baby boomer population will need to be cared for as they reach old age.

We link to the Abstract

Nurse Immigration – More Nurses are Needed

Tuesday, September 1st, 2009

BusinessWeek:  For more than a decade, the US has faced a shortage of nurses to staff hospitals and nursing homes.  While the current recession has encourages some who had left the profession to return, about 100,000 positions remain unfilled.  That alot!

Experts say that if more is not done to entice people to enter the field – and to expand the US’ nurse training capacity, that number could triple or quadruple by 2025.  President Obama’s goal of expanding health coverage to millions of the uninsured could also face additional hurdles if the supply of nurses can’t meet the demand.

For more on this article, we link here.

H.R. 2536 – American Staffing Assoc Supports Bill

Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

The Emergency Nurse Supply Relief Act (H.R. 2536) that was introduced by Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL) and Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) are urging support of the Bill.  “This is not just about nurse staffing, it is about quality healthcare.”  The ASA references stats from  federal health authorities:  56% of the US nurse work force is 45 years of age or older and there are 3 Mil new and replacement nurses needed by 2020 to meet the shortage.

The Bill would provide up to 20,000 visas per year over a 3-year period for nurses and Physical Therapists and includes a $1,500 filing fee per application which is to fund US nursing schools.

Contact your local and state representatives to support this Bill.  We link to more on this.

Are Foreign Nurses Needed?

Monday, June 22nd, 2009

BusinessWeek‘s 4th article in its Immigration in the Recession series concerns the extreme shortage of nurses in the USA.  The article addresses that proponents of foreign nurse recruiting feel that the nurse shortage is negatively affecting patient health; that expanding into government-funded healthcare will escalate the situation. Other points of view assert that domestic nurses should be utilized and trained to put US workers back on the job; however, there is no such system in place for educating and training nurses on a mass scale in the USA to make a dent in the shortage that will only continue to increase with time.  This debate must culminate in nurse legislation being passed by Congress.

“Retrogression in 2009” Worldwide Live Web Chat with NurseTogether.com

Friday, January 16th, 2009

January 15, 2009 – We are very pleased to announce that Immigration Solutions will be co-moderating the 1/21/2009 “Retrogression in 2009” Worldwide Live Web Chat with NurseTogether.com for Employers, Foreign Nurses and Staffing Professionals.

Immigration Solutions Healthcare Supervising Attorney, Thomas Joy, will be available to answer your questions and address your concerns online. Please follow the registration instructions provided below by NurseTogether.com and submit the questions that you’d like answered by 1/19/09 to jennys@nursetogether.com

Details:
When: January 21, 2009
Time:  9am – 11am EST
Where: Register at www.NurseTogether.com
Topic: “Retrogression in 2009”

Is lifting of retrogression on the horizon for 2009?

We know all of you are as anxious about this as we are.  We are more hopeful than in recent past years that lifting of retrogression will occur during 2009, for the following reasons:

  • In recent years very positive bi-partisan legislation has been proposed in Congress.  Unfortunately, we have been saddled with an enforcement oriented environment, totally absorbed with the presidential election that distracted the issue, coupled with the economic downturn.  We anticipate similar legislation to be re-introduced in the new Congress with less interference from outside factors this time around
  • Because healthcare, like national security, is a critical issue.  Without adequate, qualified healthcare workers the entire system is adversely affected; and
  • Historically, Congress has addressed the shortage of healthcare workers periodically in the past

So, please participate in the upcoming web-chat where we will focus on Retrogression and address, amongst other issues,

  • When will retrogression lift?
  • When it does lift, how much longer will it takes to get the nurses to the USA?
  • If you’re an employer, you’re probably wondering, how can I deal with retrogression now?

…Looking forward to meeting up with you.

Leslie Davis, Managing Director
IMMIGRATION SOLUTIONS
www.immigrationsolution.net