Finding registered nurse jobs in the USA with visa sponsorship isn’t that difficult. You just need to be qualified to work in the healthcare field and you are good to go. Check out this article for everything about diploma validation, salary, job openings, and much more!
Working as a nurse in the United States can be an excellent opportunity for career growth and, of course, a great international experience. However, the path is not simple, especially for foreigners. Therefore, check out more important information on how to find registered Nurse jobs in the USA with visa sponsorship!
Is it worth being a nurse in the USA?
Yes, it’s worthwhile being a nurse in the USA and not just a nurse but a registered nurse in the USA with visa sponsorship attached. Working as a registered nurse guarantees a stable but also growing profession. According to the National Library of Medicine, cited on the WGU (Western Governors University) website, the healthcare sector is projected to grow by 15% by 2029.
This expansion will create more than two million jobs, and of these, at least 222,000 are for nurses in the US. Not to mention that there are many different career paths for a registered nurse, ranging from direct care and nursing research to management.
How to validate a nursing degree in the United States
Before even thinking about looking for nursing jobs in the US, you’ll need to go through some qualification steps. The first step to working as a nurse in the United States is fluency in the language. Professionals from countries around the world need to present an English proficiency test (TOEFL).
The second step to working as a nurse in the United States is to demonstrate the curricular equivalence of your technical or higher education course from your country of residence. In addition, you must take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX exam) and apply for a visa to live in the United States.
Therefore, the first step for anyone wishing to immigrate to the United States is to choose which state they intend to live in. Since the country has 50 states, each has different laws.
The Board of Nursing in each state grants work authorization to professionals. This board will then allow the applicant to take the NCLEX exam – The National Council Licensure Examination.
The National Council Licensure Examination is a test to determine if a nurse can begin their practice as a healthcare professional in the United States (entry-level). The exam has 265 questions, and the candidate needs to answer at least 75 correctly to pass.
To be considered a qualified nurse in the United States, the professional wishing to apply must be equivalent to a Registered Nurse. In most countries, this is equivalent to a nurse with a higher education degree.
In addition to a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, professionals who wish to work and live legally in the United States must have at least two years of experience in the field to be considered a qualified candidate.
Minimum TOEFL score
The required score for the English proficiency test is 86 to 120 overall. In addition, of those 86 points, a minimum score of 26 is required in speaking. This is a fundamental requirement for getting a job in the United States; being able to communicate in English is essential.
Working as a nurse in the United States
In several U.S. states, for example, it is possible to validate your diploma with the CGFNS organization. This is a nonprofit organization that helps foreign healthcare professionals work in the United States.
In this way, the NGO supports foreigners, authenticates and verifies academic and professional credentials, provides certification, and administers exams for professional development. The organization has been operating for over 40 years.
Credentials Evaluation Service (CES) Academic Report
The Academic Report from the Credential Evaluation Service (CES) is a document that provides a detailed analysis of all nursing education received abroad. It is advisory in nature and does not make specific placement recommendations.
Among the required documents, applicants must submit:
- High School Diploma (translated into English);
- Higher education diploma with academic transcript (grades and curriculum)—in English, translated by a certified translator.
Nurse’s salary in the United States
The salary for nurses in the United States ranges from US $48,690 to US $115,950 per year. The amount varies according to the chosen state of work, the nurse’s level of experience, and the area of practice (emergency rooms, clinics, hospitals, health centers, etc.).
The national average salary for a nurse in the United States is $75,510 per year. That is, about $6,290 per month.
Furthermore, the US state that pays its nurses the best is California, with an average annual salary of US$115,950. The state with the lowest salary is South Dakota, with an average salary of US$58,340 per year.
Cost of living in the United States
The cost of living in the United States varies greatly depending on the city and state. Large urban centers have a higher cost of living (such as New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco). Although salaries on the West Coast of the United States may be higher, the cost of living is proportionally higher.
Therefore, to have a comfortable life, one needs to earn at least US$75,000 per year (approximately US$6,250 per month).
Academic training of nurses in the United States
Discover the most common training paths for a nurse in the United States:
- Nursing Diploma Programs: These typically last 3 years, are the lowest entry level, and can help advance your nursing career.
- Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN): a standard undergraduate degree that many people choose and can last up to 3 years, depending on qualifications.
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN): the gold standard. Most BSN programs can last up to 4 years.
- Bridge Program from RN to BSN: This is an accelerated degree program designed for licensed nurses who wish to complete their BSN (Bachelor of Nursing) degree.
Furthermore, there are several areas of specialization for nurses. These can improve career prospects in the United States, as well as salary.
Some areas of specialization include:
- Geriatrics;
- Head nurse;
- Pediatrics;
- Nurse midwife.
Nursing jobs in the United States
If you are determined to work as a nurse in the United States and are diligently studying English, be aware that the demand for nurses is high. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the nursing profession is expected to grow by 5% by 2024-2034, creating 439,300 new jobs in the U.S.
In addition, don’t forget to read on this blog extensively about the types of visas for living in the United States, practice your English daily, and make a plan for your move to the United States.
The more information you have about a nursing career in the United States, the better your transition abroad will be.
Learn how to apply for a nursing position in the USA.
As a foreign national seeking to practice as a nurse in the U.S., you must first be eligible to work in the country. If you are already a registered nurse in your home country, it is best to contact the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools to determine your eligibility.
Once you know where in the U.S. you want to work, then you can register with the Nursing Board of that state and take the NCLEX-RN, which is a standardized test that will give you a registered nurse license. It’s very important to note that it usually includes an English proficiency test.
After obtaining your registered nurse license, you can look for a job in the U.S. through a nursing recruitment agency or a direct employer. Upon receiving a job offer, you can apply for a U.S. visa.
Nursing job sites in the USA
In fact, the shortage of healthcare professionals in the US is considered a major problem for the sector in the country. Therefore, many websites have specialized in publishing nursing job openings in the United States. Check out some below:
Nurse.com
The nurse.com portal lists nursing job opportunities in the US and categorizes postings by location and specialty. The platform has over 2.8 million registered nursing professionals and offers a range of hiring tools, including employer branding, candidate matching, and distribution of nurse job postings to partner websites.
NursingJobCafe.com
On the NursingJobCafe.com website, you can find job opportunities and vacancies for nurses. In fact, the portal is known for facilitating the hiring of qualified nurses, and many companies search its database for healthcare professionals. It’s more suitable for companies, but it’s important to register to be found.
NurseJobBoard.com
It’s a very popular recruitment website in the US that helps connect healthcare organizations with nursing positions available with qualified professionals in the country. It features a database of resumes, highlighted job postings, and an integrated candidate tracking system. Visit NurseJobBoard to learn more.
Nurse Recruiter
NurseRecruiter is also quite well-known and offers nursing job opportunities in the United States. The portal helps connect employers with qualified nurses , and the platform allows companies to post jobs, search resumes, and get live referrals of top candidates.
Minority Nurse
MinorityNurse.com is frequently accessed by those seeking nursing positions in the USA. Many companies use the portal to find healthcare professionals, and it is also used by nurses to find job offers in the United States .
Create your perfect resume.
Although it’s a promising market with many job opportunities in the United States, don’t think it’s not competitive. After all, getting a nursing job at a good hospital is a challenge, and you need to convince hiring managers that you have more than just the right licenses.
Therefore, knowing how to write a nursing resume that catches the attention of recruiters is essential. Visit the Resume Genius website and see some tips that can help in the process of creating a resume to work in the United States:
Be objective and clear.
It’s well known that recruiters have little time and a lot of work to do. Therefore, having a resume that stands out is the first step to being noticed from the crowd. So, focus on being objective and clear when writing your nursing resume to apply for a position in the USA.
Include your professional history.
Large hospitals receive hundreds of nursing applicants for each open position. Therefore, to immediately attract the attention of employers, your nursing resume needs to begin with a concise yet detailed introduction summarizing your experience, education, and licensing.
List your most recent professional experiences (from most recent to oldest) and highlight, quickly and clearly, your skills, certifications, and experience. Don’t forget to mention your level of education (bachelor’s degree, specialization, master’s degree, or doctorate) and elaborate on your relevant skills and past achievements.
Highlight nursing-related skills.
A good nursing resume includes a section highlighting strong and up-to-date skills. In fact, to qualify for nursing jobs, you need certain technical skills. However, besides needing specific technical skills to perform the job, these aren’t the only skills required.
As a nurse, you also need to interact with patients and colleagues every day, which requires a strong set of interpersonal skills. So, highlight your professional skills, but don’t forget to mention nursing interpersonal skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and empathy, for example.
Include specific information.
Try to put yourself in the shoes of the person hiring you. Hiring managers want to make sure your experience is directly relevant to the hospital and the position you’re applying for, so you need to put extra effort into the work experience section.
To make your qualifications as clear as possible, include facility- and unit-specific information in your resume, as well as the total number of beds available at your previous hospital and the types of units you worked in.
List your extracurricular activities and highlight your qualifications.
As a nurse, especially as a foreign national in the U.S., your licenses are essential to your ability to practice the profession legally. Therefore, your licenses are one of the first things hiring managers will look for on your resume.
Make sure they can find exactly what they’re looking for on your resume by listing your licenses clearly and completely. If you have multiple licenses, list them in a section called “Licenses” on your resume. Otherwise, just list them in the education section of your resume if you only have a few.
To practice as a nurse in the USA, you need to be licensed and authorized to practice in the country. Please specify the type of license, the issuing state and agency, your license number, and whether your license is included in the NLC (Nurse Licensure Compact), which allows you to work in multiple states. Also, don’t forget to state the month and year your license expires.
Review before submitting.
Finally, thoroughly review your application before submitting it. Ask a professional who is fluent in English to do a thorough proofreading of the document. Don’t forget to check if you are applying for the right position with the right resume, because sending resumes to multiple employers can be disqualifying.
