Hello Nurse! - Is the U.S. stealing health care workers from abroad?

Reason ^ | May 30, 2006 | Kerry Howley

[Mogollon]

I would prefer immigrants from Philipines, India, or Jamaica, Bahamas, British West Indies to those who are proximal to our southern border. They can think read and blend into the melting pot easily as they speak english; some better than native US Citizens.

What's wrong with immigrant nurses from Scotland, Ireland, Australia, Germany, Sweden, Norway, that speak english?

[Old_Mil]

Just what we need, higher health care costs.

There are days when I wonder why complaining about costs seems to be restricted to energy prices, health care, and airline tickets. When it comes to these three areas, it seems as if everyone wants the world for free. There seems to be no complaint on the part of the powers that be about "higher housing costs", "higher energy costs", or "higher CEO costs."

If you're interested in paying for health care at a 1950s-1960s level, expect to receive health care at a 1950s-1960s level. If you want free health care, expect the same. As they say, you get what you pay for.

Personally I think many American women and gay men are just too lazy to complete the studies to become nurses. I'm all for importing hard-working legal immigrants.

There's something called the law of unintended consequences...Let's take our nursing crisis for example. In a more civilized age in America, an intelligent & talented woman who wanted to work in health care was guided into nursing based on social expectations. This ensured an adequate supply of intelligent, talented, well trained nurses.

Enter feminism, and add 40 years to the toxic receipe. Suddenly, you're faced with a situation where slightly over half the students in American medical schools are female.

Has this increased the "quality" of our doctors? No it hasn't; medical school admissions have always been insanely competitive and many talented individuals were not accepted even before this shift.

Has this decreased the "quality" (and numbers) of our nurses? Absolutely. Nursing isn't a profession that appeals to the male psyche, so the rise in female physicians has not been matched by a rise in male nurses.

The result is a nursing shortage and now we are faced with importing foreign trained nurses.

[RipSawyer]

Well, I think your gratuitous remark could indicate that you need psychological help.

[politicalwit]

"I have no great love of the nursing profession as it has a large union agenda."

The majority of registered nurses are not union. The unions have an appearence primarily in NY, NJ and California. In fly-over country nursing unions are the exception, not the rule.

[Osage Orange]

Most DOCTORS are complete A**holes

I can honestly attest...that MOST doctors are not.

Some are.....just as some RN's / LPN's are complete morons.

FWIW-

[politicalwit]

"Personally I think many American women and gay men are just too lazy to complete the studies to become nurses"

"GAY MEN"??? Are you saying only "gay men" go into nursing? If so, your ignorance is showing. Any more stupid statements?

[axes_of_weezles]

Nothing at all. The point I was trying to make was anti-illegal aliens from Mexico.

[JohnnyZ]

Are you saying only "gay men" go into nursing? If so, your ignorance is showing.

I thought that would rile a few sensitive Sallies, but I didn't know there were this many on FR.

[DLfromthedesert]

I'm a female nurse; know a lot of male nurses that are not gay; but I took your comment as a joke; just being flip... big deal; I sort of got a chuckle out of it.

[Melas]

That's purely a California thing. Unionized nurses are unheard of in flyover country.

[freeangel]

OOOh! The starting salary is $24. And after 30 years, I'm all the way up to $29--diploma, BS, and certification in my field. The problem isn't the starting salary, but why stay in this field for any length of time, when the real world has so much more potential.

[Babu]

No one said or implied that in America, you or anyone else has to stay in the field (nursing or any other) one starts ones career in.

One can move up to higher salaries in administration in the same field, or move into many other diverse fields, as many Americans have and will continue to do so ...

[politicalwit]

I certainly hope your nursing skills are keener than your wit.