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No CHC nurses selected in lottery
CHCC to USCIS: Prioritize CW1 health workers
Stung by reports that no nurses or any of its ancillary staff were selected in the CW-1 lottery of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. wishes that USCIS would prioritize CNMI healthcare professional workers who are under the CW1 visa classification.
CHCC made the appeal after receiving word that only 19 employees or 10 petitions that they filed had their checks cleared.
In a statement responding to Saipan Tribune queries yesterday, CHCC public information officer Sami Birmingham-Babauta said their human resources department has been working to transition CW1 nurses to other U.S.-applicable work visas.
“When granting CW-1 permits, [healthcare professional workers] should be prioritized as a critical need to the Commonwealth and the community,” she said.
Birmingham-Babauta added that they are trying to obtain EB-2 visas for CW1 nurses who possess Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools certifications and have five years of experience in specialty areas that they gained working outside of CHCC.
CHCC has filed nine EB2 petitions last year and five where approved while another three where issued request for evidence. The ninth petition that they filed is still awaiting USCIS action.
Birmingham-Babauta said CHCC recognizes the urgent need to build the capacity of local healthcare professional workers and is working to achieve this by improving the nurses’ pay scale, implementing a graduate nursing program, and supporting Senate Bill 20-71 SD1.
SB 20-71, introduced by Senate President Arnold I. Palacios (R-Saipan), would establish a Nursing School Professional Scholarship.
“It is the intent and hope that the [NSPS] will incentivize and encourage students to enter the field and, as a recipient of the scholarship, require time at our sole hospital,” said Birmingham-Babauta.
“The pay scale for nurses has been improved to offer competitive salaries and encourage nursing graduates both locally and abroad to choose employment with CHCC,” she said.
The hospital’s graduate nursing program enables nurses to be hired and gain experience while they are studying for their National Council Licensure Examination.
“This program has been extended to all GN’s with an associate in science in nursing from [the Northern Marianas College], whereas it was originally for GN’s a year or less post-graduation,” said Birmingham-Babauta.
“Additionally, CHCC covers the participating GN’s studying materials and exam fees in exchange for signing a contract with CHCC upon successful completion of the nursing exam.”
Despite these efforts, there’s still limited local capacity. “Any loss to our [healthcare professional workers] will severely hinder CHCC’s ability to provide services. CHCC is pursuing other solutions to avoid disruption of critical health services.”
