Committee OKs legislation that would increase number of foreign-educated nurses in nursing homes

Nursing-home providers this week expressed approval for legislation recently approved by a House committee that would increase the number of foreign-educated nurses in the U.S.

The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law on Friday voted through the Emergency Nursing Supply Relief Act (H.R. 5924). The legislation would set aside 20,000 employment-based visas per year over the next three years for foreign nurses and physical therapists.

The American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging told McKnight’s that the legislation represents a temporary solution to the challenging issue of immigration reform. Currently, work visas are not available for qualified nurses, AAHSA said. Many of its members are waiting for nurses they are sponsoring to enter the U.S.

Proponents of the legislation hope that an increased influx of foreign-educated nurses will ease some of the pressure on hospitals and nursing facilities. Also included in the bill are funds to expand U.S. nursing schools. According to the American Hospital Association, nurse education programs turned down more than 150,000 potential new students due to a nationwide faculty shortage last year.