Immigration of Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools. Report of the Conference (Bethesda, Maryland, June 23-24, 1975).

Results of two projects concerned with pre-immigration screening procedures for foreign nurse graduates are included in this conference report along with summaries of conference discussion and conclusions. (Participants were representatives of organizations and agencies concerned with immigration of nurses and other health professionals.) The first report is of an investigation by the Division of Nursing on the possibility of establishing a pre-immigration examination for nurses in their home countries through a mechanism similar to that now in effect for foreign medical graduates. It includes findings of a survey of State Boards of Nursing on numbers, characteristics, and results of licensure applications of foreign nurse graduates. Information on provisions of the state nurse practice acts and on relevent immigration laws and regulations is also included. The second report is of a project contract with Pace University Foreign Nurse Center to develop a plan for establishment of a pre-immigration screening examination for foreign nurse graduates. The conference summary reports that there was concensus clearly expressed by the participants that an organization should be established as a central agency for all matters relating to immigration of graduates of foreign nursing schools and that pre-immigration/prelicensing examination would reduce the burden of individual evaluations now carried by State Boards of Nursing. Notes on a postconference meeting on formation of the organization is appended. (JT)