International visa cap contributes to nursing shortage

Despite the workforce shortage, the United States has filled its green card limit for international nurses this fiscal year. Only nurses’ petitions filed before June 1, 2022 will continue to be processed; it could be 2025 before the U.S. will allow new international nurses to enter the country, according to the American Association of International Healthcare Recruitment. International nurses compete for a limited number of employment-based visas within a large applicant pool that includes sought-after IT workers. A recent Health Affairs paper identifies challenges international nurses face when working in the U.S., including collegiality, burnout, racism, job restrictions and structural barriers to employment. The authors suggest six strategies to create a more sustainable and equitable nursing workforce, including improving organizational culture to retain U.S. nurses. (Medscape article, 5/10/23)