Job ServantsThe United States remains one of the best places to find nursing jobs for a couple of reasons such as job stability, high demand for professional healthcare workers, huge salaries and many more. Every year, most people from China, Phillipine, Nigeria, and other parts of the world look for available nursing jobs in the United States.
Surprisingly, there is still a need for workers in the U.S. healthcare sector and now could be the right time to search and apply for your dream job. In this article, you will learn the duties of a nurse, how to become a nurse, how to find nursing jobs in the United States including why you should work as a nurse and so much more.
Why Work as a Nurse?
There are several reasons why you might choose to work as a nurse, one of which is that nurses provide care for patients in a healthcare environment and is the biggest healthcare occupation in the United States.
On average, the registered nurse salary in the USA is $75,448 per year which equates to $36.27 per hour. Entry level positions usually start at $54,850 per year while most experienced workers can make up to $118,823 per year or more.
Moreover, as a registered nurse, there are so many different specialties that exist for your job role from working in the NICU with the smallest of newborn patients to geriatrics and palliative nursing for those at the end of their lives.
Nursing can be a rather dynamic career choice and is well-suited to someone who is considered a problem-solver. While some nurses work with a great deal of autonomy, others work with very close supervision.
Responsibilities of a Nurse
The responsibilities of a nurse vary depending on the type of nursing position, but some common duties include:
- Assessing and monitoring patients’ health conditions
- Providing direct patient care, such as administering medications and treatments
- Collaborating with other healthcare professionals to develop and implement care plans
- Educating patients and their families about health conditions and treatment options
- Coordinating with other departments within the healthcare facility
- Documenting patient care in electronic health records
- Ensuring compliance with safety and quality standards.
How to Become a Nurse in the United States
Here is a step by step guide on how to become a nurse in the United States following the necessary legal approaches required:
Step 1. Meet the Basic Requirements
One thing for sure is that as a foreign-educated nurse looking forward to working in the United States, you need to ensure that you comply with the U.S. federal immigration law and that you meet the basic educational and/or professional standards required.
Immigration
Here is a full list of requirements you must meet to legally migrate to the United States:
- You will need to have a Registered Nurse Immigrant Visa (“Green Card”) or H-1B visa.
- You will need to complete a screening program as constituted by the U.S. law before you can receive an occupational visa.
- Nurses must complete the CGFNS’ VisaS green as the Visa Credentials Assessment Service will satisfy the screening program requirement.
- You will require a “U.S.-based employer” that will serve as the petitioner for your visa. Your VisaScreen certificate must be included on every visa or green card petition filed on your behalf.
Educational / Professional
In order to seek work as a foreign-educated nurse, you must demonstrate at least some of the following:
- You graduated from a prestigious nursing education program in your country of education
- You are licensed as a Registered Nurse in another country
- You’ve at least two years of experience as a Registered Nurse
Some foreign educated nurses must demonstrate their proficiency with the English language by taking an exam such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic). There are exemptions depending on your country of origin.
Step 2. CGFNS Evaluates your Credentials
The State Boards of Nursing request that you first apply to CGFNS International, Inc. for a thorough evaluation of your academic and professional credentials to ensure that your documents are authentic and that what you’ve learned is comparable to U.S. nursing standards.
However, you may also be required to take the CGFNS Qualifying Exam to meet State Board requirements, to satisfy immigration requirements for obtaining an occupational visa, and to determine your readiness for a licensure exam which follows after this step.
Step 3. Pass a Licensure Exam
To work as a nurse in the United States, you will need to have a professional license from the state in which you want to work. Registered Nurse licenses are regulated by State Boards of Nursing with varying criteria.
You will most likely need to pass a licensure exam to be registered as a nurse by your state board. Before taking the licensure exam, first-level, general nurses educated outside the U.S. may choose to apply to the CGFNS Certification Program, which consists of:
- A credentials evaluation
- The CGFNS Qualifying Exam, and
- An English language proficiency component.
Step 4. Find a Registered Nursing Position
After you meet all federal immigration standards, having your credentials completely evaluated by CGFNS, meeting your State Board of Nursing requirements, and passing the licensure exam, you are ready to begin working as a registered nurse in the United States!
While it’s not mandatory, you may choose to work with a nursing recruiter to help you secure a registered nurse job. These recruiters can also act as your “U.S.-based employer” for your immigrant visa.
How to find Nursing Jobs in the United States
Before you decide which path to follow, it’s important to consider your strengths and lifestyle as well as your desired income, so that you can pick the job that best suits your interest. Many of the coveted nursing jobs require formal education and experience beyond the basics.
An associate degree or bachelor of science in nursing as well as a nursing license and solid transferable skills will do. In many careers, a certification recognizing the specialty is not required by law, but it may be used by employers as a measure of competence.
Meanwhile, back to business here are a few ways to find nursing jobs in the United States:
- Search for job openings on websites like Indeed, Monster, or Glassdoor.
- You can also look for jobs on the websites of hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities.
- Find nursing jobs is to contact staffing agencies that specialize in placing nurses in jobs.
- Reach out to your network of friends, family, and colleagues to see if they know of any open positions.
Benefits of Nursing Jobs in the United States
You will agree with me that the United States is one of the best places to find a job and not only that it is one of the world’s largest labor markets with a strong need for health experts every year to work in its constantly expanding healthcare sector. That said, here are some of the benefits of nursing jobs in the United States:
- Having an appropriate balance between work and life
- High paying salaries/prevailing wages and benefits
- Strong job market and economy
- Opportunity to learn and grow in your job role as a Registered Nurse
- High quality patient care
- Diversity within the medical profession
- Desirable working conditions
- High quality of living
- Access to constantly evolving technology and advancements
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the most popular nursing jobs?
Specialized nursing careers continue to expand, especially for registered nurses (RNs) and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). The most popular nursing jobs provide these specialized nurses with high salaries, good benefits, and opportunities for career advancement. Here is a list of the most popular nursing specialties below:
- Family nurse practitioner
- Neonatal nurse
- Nurse midwife
- Geriatric nurse
- Acute care nurse
Above all other nurses APRNs earn the best salaries. Nurse anesthetists earn a median annual wage of $195,610, according to the BLS. The best-paying nurse anesthetists make a mean annual wage of $254,180 at outpatient care centers. APRNs make between $79,870 and $200,540.
Conclusion
As a respected career, becoming a nurse can be both fulfilling and rewarding. The application process may seem daunting, but it’s worth the effort to pursue your dream of helping others and earning a living from what you love to do.
Remember to be thorough and accurate in your application, and don’t hesitate to ask for help if you need it. You may find that the journey to becoming a nurse is more enjoyable than you anticipated. Wishing you all the best in your career and thank you for reading this far!
Job Servants
Abdul
