Political Action Letter in Nursing Field, Essay Example

I am an international nursing student from Montgomery College. I have learned about the new immigration law of Rural and Urban Health Care Act of 2005 (H.R. 248) which makes it more difficult for foreign-trained nurses to be certified by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS). As a Montgomery College nursing student envisioning a Nurse Practitioner career path and being a concerned resident of the great state of Maryland, I strongly believe that this act should be altered, or even diminished for the betterment of the nursing community. I am writing in opposition of this act because it will hinder a lot of people from working within the healthcare system, and in turn lower the quality of work provided. I am aware that the issue refers to nurses who are trained in other countries; however this issue still does pertain to me, being an international student, who is not an American Citizen.

After graduating school, I would like to pursue my career in nursing in this country, and I believe that this act would lessen my chances of doing so. I understand that there is a certain procedure in which one could follow to be able to get a certification for nursing; however this may delay my process of working here in the United States. It is stated in the act that nurses from other countries are required to undergo and English Language proficiency test and this process may take a while before they are hired. The act also suggests that there is an over-reliance in foreign educated nurses, and this may hinder the efforts of the United States nursing workforce to directly address other needs. Also, it has been stated that there is an ethical issue in hiring nurses from other countries who may need their services more than the United States, and the United States would like to only give temporary workforce relief to foreign-trained nurses when there is a problem in the United States healthcare industry which requires them more work.

I believe that America has a very multi-cultural characteristic and will need nurses of diverse cultures. Being from Korea, I will be able to communicate and better take care of patients of the same race as me, and this would serve as a great help to the hospital and the system. This bill may make the process of me or any other person who is foreign trained difficult in entering the nursing workforce. Much help is needed from your side to make the act more lax and easier for people to enter the workforce. It is needed in the industry as much as people need jobs. With this bill, many people will not be able to work in the United States, and a number of jobs will be left un-taken care of. Since America is a very multi-cultural country, the health system would greatly benefit from having nurses who have been trained in foreign countries. By allowing foreign trained nurses, communities and social groups of different cultural backgrounds can have no worries in terms of communication within a hospital. Thank you for taking the time in reading my letter.