THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

97

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

  

STATE OF HAWAII

  
   

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

supportING NURSES, INC. in its plan of action that will enable Nurses, Inc. to locate, identify, recruit, educate, acclimate, and in general facilitate the immigration of accredited, professional nurses and nurses aides to Hawaii and other states.

 

WHEREAS, in 2003 the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics stated there were 400,000 vacant nursing positions in the United States, and it is predicted that the shortage will exceed 500,000 by the end of 2006, and recruitment of foreign nurses is considered to be one way to bridge the gap; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii's aging population is on the rise, and the health-care industry is only expected to be strained further; and

WHEREAS, data show that many nursing professionals will retire in the coming years, with nearly eighty per cent of Hawaii's registered nurses expected to retire by 2026, and nursing schools around the country, including the University of Hawaii Manoa, at capacity, many with long waiting lists; and

WHEREAS, while there are more than 14,000 active registered nurses in Hawaii, in 2000 the State experienced a shortage of 1,041 registered nurses, which is expected to grow to 1,518 by 2005 and to 2,267 by 2010; and

WHEREAS, before a nurse can safely enter into the U.S. nursing profession he or she must graduate from a recognized nursing program, meet the specific requirements of a state board of nursing, and pass the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for Registered Nurses or Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses; and

WHEREAS, because passing the NCLEX is usually the final step in the nurse licensure process, the number of people passing the NCLEX is a good indicator of how many nurses are entering the profession in the U.S., and recent data on the NCLEX testing volume shows that the Philippines produces more U.S. qualified nurses than the rest of the world combined, excluding the United States; and

WHEREAS, approximately fifteen per cent of Hawaii's population is of Philippine ancestry, so that acculturation of Philippine immigrants in Hawaii would be quite natural and comfortable for the immigrant, which makes the State the ideal location to initiate recruitment of nurses from the Philippines; and

WHEREAS, Nurses, Inc. is

a charitable, non-profit corporation, organized under the laws of the State of Hawaii, which believes that the critical shortage of nurses in Hawaii and the nation can be substantially alleviated by the recruitment and immigration to America of qualified foreign nurses; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, the House of Representatives concurring, that Nurses, Inc. be supported in its plan of action that will enable Nurses, Inc. to locate, identify, recruit, educate, acclimate, and in general facilitate the immigration of accredited, professional nurses and nurses aides to Hawaii and other states; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Nurses, Inc. is requested to not limit its operations to foreign recruitment and placement, to provide appropriate scholarships and other financial aid to United States citizens engaged in nursing and healthcare, and to seek qualified applicants from the United States Trust Territories and islands of the Pacific; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Nurses, Inc. is requested to fund the costs of its operations including, but not limited to, nurse-candidate's legal and Immigration and Naturalization Service fees, supplemental education as necessary, placement, transportation, and accommodations; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health, the Director of Human Services, and the Director of Nurses, Inc.

 

 
 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Nursing Shortage; Nurses, Inc.