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H.R. 5924, The Emergency Nursing Supply Relief Act (668 comments ↓ | 4 wiki edits)
- This item is from the 110th Congress (2007-2008) and is no longer current. Comments, voting, and wiki editing have been disabled, and the cost/savings estimate has been frozen.
H.R. 5924 would provide relief for the shortage of nurses in the United States.
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Visitor Comments 
Jenny
August 19, 2008, 1:53pm (report abuse)Take care of American nurses first by making it better for them by keeping distance learning programs. Every one can not attend traditional schools. To do so, will keep the shortage down. This bill is okay after we take care of home first.
Shawn
August 19, 2008, 5:48pm (report abuse)I would vote no to this bill at this time. There is an amazing school in Albany New York called Excelsior and The state board of nursing in different states are not approving it related to the lack of clinical hours, but you have to be a health professional prior to enrolling. This country needs to take care of the citizens in this country prior to offering employment to immigrants. The nurses of this country need to be able to get ahead prior to offering this to other nurses in other country's
Carol Larcart
August 19, 2008, 7:49pm (report abuse)Hi, I've been an LPN for over twelve years. I've taken classes at collegeS towards my degree as a RN. It is extremely hard to try to fit in work, evening and late night classes at a college. I work full-time and have kids and a husband.
When I found out about Excelsior's curriculum, it was a dream come true to allow nurses to advance their careers without having to spend many hours in a classroom.
During my experience as a nurse, I find that LPN's have more clinical experience than some of the RN's that go to four year colleges. Nurse that are LPN's before earning their RN degree are awesome nurses.
I ask that you please allow us to advance our career and help end the nursing shortage. Please allow graduates from Excelsior the chance to earn a degree and recognize our license in the state of Georgia and other states that refuse to.
Thanks,
Mary
August 20, 2008, 12:50am (report abuse)I agree with Leslie. Seems like people are just blaming it to the foreign nurses with the diff. problems they are blaming. Just pause and try and think of what you guys are posting.
What does the Excelsior program not being accepted by the diff. Boards even related to this Bill we are talking about?? Absolutely nothing.
I hear about some foreign nurses' transcripts being rejected from some countries (mostly from eastern european countries) everytime and the Board cites that it is only equivalent to a US LPN rather than a US RN and that they need to add in more hours to make-up what is lacking.
Are they making comments that they are considered full-fledged nurses on their countries so the Board should recognize that as well ?? No, they attend additional courses to make-up what the Board cites that is lacking and then submit their transcripts again for evaluation and then their trancripts gets approved rather than keep yapping about it.
Another Mary
August 20, 2008, 2:28pm (report abuse)The only thing I seem to have in common with Mary above is the name. I do not see where this bill will be of benefit to anyone but the hospitals.
My vote is NO.
Baby Boomer
August 20, 2008, 9:56pm (report abuse)After reading the comments from top to bottom, not one mentioned what the impact will it have to the public.
Many are forgetting to whom is this bill really for. This bill is not for foreign nurses per se nor is it against domestically trained nurses, this bill is for the general American public's proper health care. This is for the children, the baby boomers, the patients that will benefit from improved healthcare to result from increase supply of nurses, improving their working conditions and retaining them, etc,, that this bill brings.
Foreign nurses, US nurses, the AHA, ANA, and nursing unions will surely have their biases but did they bother to ask what the general American public what they think about this bill? Stop being selfish. This bill is not about YOU. It is about US, the American patients. Who wants to be left in the E.R. un-attended for 12-24 hours while everyone is fighting over this bill and just thinks about themselves.
Melissa
August 20, 2008, 10:11pm (report abuse)I vote NO!!! I am a single mother of 4 in the state of Georgia, and for over 13 years I have been trying to get financial help so that I may become a nurse and still be able to raise my children without living on welfare! Guess what, no help! Now this bill opens the door for foreigners? I think not!! Because I could not pursue my dream of being a nurse, I have worked in a textile mill for the past 10 years and over that time, Americans have become the minority in our own country!
There are thousands out there just like me...dreaming of this wondrous profession with no help from our government. Then there are those like many of my friends, who have their LPN license, working on their RN, and can't get work!?!?!?!?!
I don't get it! Stand up for your country, for those who have been born and raised here,
VOTE NO!!!!!!
Charlie
August 21, 2008, 1:26am (report abuse)Baby Boomer,
If you read some of these comments closely you will see the concern about training and ability to communicate. As I said before I don't want to have to worry about whether the nurse will understand me, or more importantly, the doctor.
Baby Boomer
August 21, 2008, 3:19am (report abuse)To Charlie,
What makes you think foreign nurses = can't read, write, and speak English ??
I think you should read the one that made a comment about the foreign nurse having to pass an English exam and having to pass the US Licensure exam first and other certifications to even be considered and another one that made a comment about their transcripts being evaluated as well by the Boards just like US graduates are.
Maybe you are confused about illegals that don't bother to learn how to communicate in English at all.
These are not illegals we are talking about.
And I keep reading about patients being left un-attended for 12022 hours or so and dying there w/o anyone seeing them until they're dead.
I don't know about you but I surely don't want that to happen to me.
jane
August 21, 2008, 5:06am (report abuse)Please pass this bill as USgoverment give lots of hope to foreign nurses.
Funny Mortal
August 21, 2008, 6:29am (report abuse)Please Pass this Bill...We are eagerly waiting for this bill to be passed!!!!!!!!!!!
Grace
August 21, 2008, 11:28am (report abuse)There is no doubt that having this bill approved will make the lives of 60,000 PTs and nurses (and their families) a lot better. But think about the help these professionals can bring to the clients, residents, and patients in the health facilities they will be working in.
Filipino and Indian nurses have been exposed to a number of patients in their student life and professional life before seeking employment in the USA. With this experience and the welcome help from their preceptors, they can significantly help the health needs of the people (in health care facilities).
These professionals are not rivals but allies in bringing better attention to our recipients in the health care facilities.
Carolyn
August 21, 2008, 12:20pm (report abuse)There is no need to import help. If the hospitals and other facilities would simply make the pay and working conditions bearable there would be enough home-grown nurses to fill the jobs. This just looks like another corporate idea to enhance their profits. I say vote NO.
Pat
August 21, 2008, 12:56pm (report abuse)Every Nursing School has a quota that they accept into the program. Now I'm upset because I know students who would like to attend Nursing school but have been turned down. Are Americans are competing for placement into nursing programs with foreign students? This is a shame!!!
GEORGE
August 21, 2008, 1:16pm (report abuse)THIS BILL IS VERY GOOD FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THOSE WHO ARE IN NEED
Frank
August 21, 2008, 1:26pm (report abuse)Sorry but I don't believe this bill is the right thing to do. I envoursge a NO vote.
SUZANNE
August 21, 2008, 2:07pm (report abuse)wHY TAKE GOOD NURSES AWAY FROM THEIR OWN COUNTRY TO FIX THE PROBLEM IN THE USA, PAY BETTER AND DROP THE COSTS OF RN PROGRAMS,IT IS FAR TOO EXPENSIVE .
John
August 21, 2008, 2:41pm (report abuse)Vote YES to fix the shortage. Then work on improving working conditions and output from nursing schools
James
August 21, 2008, 2:50pm (report abuse)Nope. If you ever start this you won't be able to fix anything. The hospitals and others will simply find a way to keep the status quo.
VOTE NO!
Amanda
August 21, 2008, 3:08pm (report abuse)Section 833 of the bill discusses Domestic Nursing Enhancemet which is a system for supplying grants to universities to increase their amount of faculty in order for US nursing schools to be able to accept more students. Currently we are experiencing a severe nurse faculty shortage, which is driving the nurse shortage because we cannot accept to educate more than we have capacity for. This bill is a win-win situation for a short-term increase in foreign nurse support and a long-term goal of enhancing the domestic supply of nurses. I know many from Excelsior are upset, and I agree that in a time of shortage we need to increase the quantity of American nurses, but at the same time we have to keep vigilant on the quality of education. All foreign nurses who enter the US to work are required to pass several high-caliber exams, including the CGFNS OR NCLEX exam to assess nursing competency, as well as the TOEFL exam for English competency.
Amanda
August 21, 2008, 3:09pm (report abuse)I also agree that the work environment needs to be a top priority in retaining our current American nurses as well as the foreign nurses who are leaving because the environment is so bad. We must be compassionate to the foreign nurses needs, and help them adjust to a new lifestyle and career here in the US.
Amanda
August 21, 2008, 3:10pm (report abuse)I also agree that the work environment needs to be a top priority in retaining our current American nurses as well as the foreign nurses who are leaving because the environment is so bad. We must be compassionate to the foreign nurses needs, and help them adjust to a new lifestyle and career here in the US.
James
August 21, 2008, 3:49pm (report abuse)If the education system is at capacity WHY are we accepting foreign students instead of Americans? Because of poor planning you now advocate hirong the foreign graduates?
NO.
Christy
August 21, 2008, 5:28pm (report abuse)No- Licensing foreign nurses should not be a priority. Granted the foreign nurses I have worked with are wonderful we have LPN's getting their RN education from programs like Excelsior (which IS highly endorsed by the NLN)and are not being able to practice in Georgia. Georgia is hurting for nurses! Duh! Think about it people. LPN's with 25 years of experience receiving their ADN from Excelsior are not being recognized and should be. We have nurses here...use some common sense!
James
August 21, 2008, 5:52pm (report abuse)Arc
If by that you mean only America gains, that is so transparent as to be ridiculous.
JIM
August 21, 2008, 7:44pm (report abuse)Please approve the Bill faster! Life is too short! you need nurses to care for you.Look at your relatives Americans, Do you think they will take care of you?
Jim 2
August 21, 2008, 8:40pm (report abuse)Do not pass this bill. It is not what is best for America.
Fatima Quezon
August 21, 2008, 9:33pm (report abuse)Please support the bill. The nursing shortage is real.
Kim
August 21, 2008, 10:24pm (report abuse)Please don't vote thinking of personal gains only. The bill is to augment acute shortage of RN in the US and to strengthen the educational system for the Nurses in the US. The consequence of a nursing shortage is DEATH. And let us be aware that the US is a country of immigrants. A great country would know how to utilize its resources and strength to further its interests. So pls, if you don't have a job, pls don't blame the foreign nurses for this. Educate yourself! Strive for excellence and you'll get your dream job. your Blame yourself for your shortcomings. Cmon find a job, bum!
LH
August 21, 2008, 10:48pm (report abuse)Vote no. Those of you that are not nurses or not striving to be nurses cannot understand why some of us who are American born and bred nurses take this bill personally. The help has to come from within and that comes from revamping the nursing education programs, recruiting qualified educators in order to shorten the wait time to get into a program, institute online learning or night/weekend programs for individuals that work full time. This will help to decrease the nursing shortage tremendously. There is truly no need to recruit nurses from other countries. We must take care of our own first. After all, I don't know of any foreign countries pushing to recruit American nurses. That's just a thought.
tabaching_dj
August 21, 2008, 11:00pm (report abuse)yes, we support it. I think nursing schools can't take in that many applicants, which contributes to the shortage. The reason is schools are lacking instructors and teachers. This bill would be a temporary fix. Don't believe people saying that it would take nurses away from countries like the Philippines and will cripple their healthcare industry. The philippines has now, infact, an oversupply of nurses, and many many are unemployed. This is what the phil.nurses.association said last month
Lalitha
August 21, 2008, 11:56pm (report abuse)I support it in fact it should be an urgent and a top priority bill. I feel until one falls sick and is hospitalized one does not realize the importance of good and competent nurse. Please do not let the needy people who seek medical attention suffer, no matter they are young or old, they deserve the best and need to be taken care of. AMWRICA the people and the politicians please wake up and support this bill and pass it ASAP. The foreign nurses are not a threat to the country, they are only helping hands. Please do remember they are going to help and not make war. Sick people need good care and do not deny them their basic rights, otherwise we are not human beings.
Charlie
August 22, 2008, 12:08am (report abuse)tabaching_dj,
So you think that because the PI has too many nurses the US should take them in? Bull fritters!
The nursing schools in the US have far more applicants from Americans that there are spaces. Part of the reason is the influx of foreign students who thought they would then have an open gate for entry to the US.
As far as I am concerned you can all go home.
VOTE NO!
prasad
August 22, 2008, 12:27am (report abuse)Pass the bill, so many people are waiting to happen this
tabaching_dj
August 22, 2008, 12:45am (report abuse)charlie,
What I'm saying is that some people argue that it's unethical,like what some organizations say, to take nurses from other countries like the philippines because there's a shortage there. I just would like to correct them, that there is infact, an oversupply now.
So what if the US takes in qualified foreign nurses? It's really not up to you.
VOTE YES!
Charlie
August 22, 2008, 12:47am (report abuse)Much has been made of the requirement to pass the TOEFL. Can someone explain to me how a test that can be taken on a computer over the internet or with paper and pencil can evaluate a person's ability to speak english?
Charlie
August 22, 2008, 12:49am (report abuse)tabaching_dj,
As a voter and citizen of this country it is very much up to me. I have already told my congressmen and senators how I feel and I will continue to push for a NO vote on the bill.
Langga
August 22, 2008, 1:04am (report abuse)Please pass this bill. Think about our parents in the nursing home. Would you rather have them fall from their beds because there are less nurses to check on them. Many nurses are stressed out from doing extended hours in work because of understaffing.
This will answer an immediate need and make a difference to a lot of our older folks.
Have a heart!!!
David
August 22, 2008, 1:23am (report abuse)All of your fear mongering won't work. While the care is stretched people will not be dying because you are not allowed to work.
And I have already seen some of the care provided by foreign nurses in nursing homes. That is one of the primary reasons I won't ever be going to one of those places.
This bill must not be passed. Vote NO.
Naga
August 22, 2008, 1:45am (report abuse)This Bill will help US citizens to their lives and their loved ones.
Think of the +ve and _ve. This bill is +ve and will create Win-Win situation,.
This Bill should be passed ASAP.
Anu
August 22, 2008, 1:55am (report abuse)There are Some destructive elements in this society who does not support this Bill, Just because they want to earn more at the cost Nursing shortage/retrogression. One should not get carried away by these comments of anti social elements. It is a threat for a common US citizens. BEWARE of these ........ and pass the BILL.
I say YES to this Bill and should be passed without fail. Eaeliest is the better.
Raj
August 22, 2008, 2:02am (report abuse)This is an Excellent Bill to save the lives of People in US. If something bad happens or a disaster in US like Katrina, there will not be anyone to save the lives.
I vote YES to this bill.
tabaching_dj
August 22, 2008, 2:50am (report abuse)Charlie, do what you have to do and we will do the same.
sadeep john
August 22, 2008, 4:00am (report abuse)please pass this bill soon,otherwise nurses who passed all required exams for America wil move to other countries and it will cause severe shortage again in America
Mandy
August 22, 2008, 4:51am (report abuse)YES.
Pls pass this bill.
The ethical dilemma does not exist in all countries.
It is a very ethnocentric thing to say that foreign nurses worsens the working conditions of American RNs because of language barriers. It is clearly discrimination. Everyone in this country are all immigrants after all.
I dare you to take out every single one of the nurses that immigrated in the US and let us see if the US HealthCare system will still function.
John
August 22, 2008, 4:52am (report abuse)Yes
Don't forget that this bill was made of America, not for the foreign nurses.
Please be open-minded. Don't vote yes/no just because of personal gain. Think of everyone around you who are in dire need of care in the hospitals/nursing homes and the like.
You will not understand the impact of this bill until you have a family member who had been a patient or is currently a patient, or you have been a patient yourself. Try waiting in the ER for hours until someone checks up on you because they don't have enough people to attend to the patient's needs.
This is a win-win situation for everyone.
Ben
August 22, 2008, 8:14am (report abuse)Very good bill. One should see it in a sensible way. It benefits more to the US than the foreign nurses in long run.
Please pass the bill.
Charlie
August 22, 2008, 9:22am (report abuse)Mandy
Your argument is specious. The old saw that everyone is an immigrant is ignorant. At one time that may have been true but not today. If you wish to use an argument it should at least nave some truth as a basis.
By the way, I still haven't heard how the TOEFL can test spoken language abilities. No one care to respond?
Vote NO.
maxine
August 22, 2008, 10:25am (report abuse)i vote yes for this bill.others are so greedy,they dont want foreign nurses to come and work to US because they are afraid that they will have competition and they use the argument of foreign nurses are not good in english because knowledge wise it is far better from them.i have read from an article that waiting time for the patient for them to see by the nurses in emergency room, it would take an average of 15-20 hrs.there are patient dying without even seen by the nurse.this is the effect of nursing shortage.pass this bill ASAP!
jeny
August 22, 2008, 10:34am (report abuse)This bill will not destroy any job oppurtunities for american nurses
please pass this bill
Charlie
August 22, 2008, 11:09am (report abuse)jeny,
Any job filled by a foreign nurse is a job not available to an American nurse.
chepita
August 22, 2008, 11:10am (report abuse)This is a gret bill for both sides, the patients and the US health system. It will fulfill the needs now, provide $$ for US citizens pursuing a nursing career and promote LEGAL immigration to educated individuals. PASS IT !!!
VOTE YES!!!!
Kay
August 22, 2008, 11:11am (report abuse)To all of you obviously foreign nurses,
It does not matter one bit how you "vote" here.
And I say "obviously foreign" because of the way you try to use the language.
HLL
August 22, 2008, 11:35am (report abuse)This is good bill for american people as well. Vote YES for this please
Alan
August 22, 2008, 12:38pm (report abuse)So we'v outsourced everything else, now we are going to outsource nursing as well.
Give me a break. Vote no on this ridiculous bill.
Raj
August 22, 2008, 12:44pm (report abuse)I am trying to figure out some things about HR 5924.
First there is a huge number of RN already waiting to get a GC. Now if HR 5924 pass then will it allow all the people waiting reapply under schedule A or just new applicants only. Because if they do let them apply again then the 20,000 quota will be filled in like hours.
Please comment on this if you know the answer.
Thanks in advance
40 years a Real Nurse
August 22, 2008, 12:58pm (report abuse)Our geriatric pop. is exploding often they are hard of hearing, then to boot, trying to understand broken english! Often if more than one foreign nurse is in the room they speak loudly in their language and none of us AMERICANS know what is being said, they are a disaster in a Code Blue.
As Lynn, said above pay us enough for our education and sacrifices in our personal life, to care for the American masses and we will stay in nursing. There are enough American nurses , we are opting out due to pay issues, pay nurse educators and you will fill the schools. Nurse educators with lots of credintials and education are paid the least??
Yes the bill has options for American nurses, schools ect but as someone that has observed for the last 40= years political talk amounts to nothing. Like the school nurse - the law meant for it to be a RN instead there is one RN supervising LPN's in schools. The intent of the law rarely comes to fruition.
Shawn
August 22, 2008, 2:44pm (report abuse)Greenspan said that influx of LEGAL immigrants could help our economy. Immigrants could save the crisis that our country is experiencing at the moment. They will come here to work, pay taxes, consume US goods and buy houses and will help stimulate our economy.
This is a great idea. We will be able to ease our nursing shortage, and it will help our economy. Don't be selfish and think for the greater good of the country.
Lisa, RN
August 22, 2008, 2:58pm (report abuse)There are plenty of people who want to be nurses in the United States, but not enough nurse educators to teach them! We need to focus on creating nurses from the pool of willing Americans by opening our minds to non-traditional/distance learning programs that meet various Board of Nursing standards, not by outsourcing every last ounce of EVERYTHING in this country. Please vote NO. Thank you.
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From the Blog
Global Nurse Shortage Facts
H.R. 5924, The Emergency Nursing Supply Relief Act, is one of our often-visited and much-commented-upon bills. Its intent is to “provide relief for the shortage of nurses in the United States.” It would take various steps toward that end,...