Nursing Shortage: Foreign Nurses Face Uncertainty Amid Visa Freeze

A Growing Concern

A skilled nurse looks at monitors in a cardiac catheterization lab. Photo by Irwan on UnSplash.

Background

Vivian Barbosa, a registered nurse from Sao Paulo, Brazil, has worked in the profession for over 20 years. She is applying for a visa to work in the United States as a nurse. Barbosa told VOA that there are many reasons why she wants to leave Brazil, but the main one is the lack of professional recognition and undervaluation of nursing professionals in her country.

The US Nursing Shortage

The United States is facing a growing shortage of registered nurses as the baby boomer generation ages, increasing the demand for healthcare. The freeze on employment-based visas, known as EB-3, has raised concerns among healthcare professionals, as foreign nurses constitute about 15% of the U.S. nursing workforce.

Consequences of the Visa Freeze

Many hospitals and nursing homes have recruited nurses from outside the U.S. to help fill vacancies estimated at nearly 200,000 a year. However, the State Department stopped taking applications for EB-3 visas for the remainder of the fiscal year that ended in September. The annual visa limits on EB-3 will reset with the fiscal year that began October 1, allowing embassies and consulates to resume taking applications.

Impact on Foreign Nurses

For Barbosa, the visa freeze means she does not know how long it will take to receive authorization to work in the U.S. as a nurse. Patty Jeffrey, president of the American Association of International Healthcare, said that freezing visa applications is exacerbating staffing shortages across the U.S. health care system.

Global Recruitment Concerns

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has raised the alarm over countries losing their nursing workforce due to low pay and poor working conditions. Howard Catton, CEO of ICN, called for a global recruitment code to stop predatory recruitment and emphasized the need for long-term investments in nursing education, improved working conditions, and better pay.

Conclusion

Barbosa’s situation highlights a broader challenge faced by healthcare systems worldwide. The nursing shortage is a complex issue that requires a comprehensive approach to address the root causes of nurse shortages and improve working conditions.

FAQs

Q: Why are foreign nurses facing uncertainty amid the visa freeze?
A: The visa freeze has raised concerns among healthcare professionals, as foreign nurses constitute about 15% of the U.S. nursing workforce.

Q: What is the cause of the nursing shortage in the US?
A: The growing shortage of registered nurses is due to the aging baby boomer generation, increasing the demand for healthcare.

Q: What is the impact of the visa freeze on foreign nurses?
A: The visa freeze means that foreign nurses, such as Barbosa, do not know how long it will take to receive authorization to work in the U.S.

Q: What is the solution to address the nursing shortage?
A: A comprehensive approach is needed to address the root causes of nurse shortages and improve working conditions, including long-term investments in nursing education, improved working conditions, and better pay.