Foreign MDs becoming US CRNAs

Specialties CRNA

Published

I had a very interesting conversation with an RN the other day. Her sister is a physician in another country and could not get into the US as a practicing physician. Instead, she went to nursing school in her home country (Lansing College), got her BSN and was accepted with open arms into the United States.

She worked in an ICU for 2 years, applied to CRNA school, and is now a CRNA in the US. The school was not aware that she was a physician in another country and that the general "practice" among foreign physicians-turned-RNs is not to announce that they were physicians in another country. I am told that foreign nursing schools are just inundated with former physicians who plan to come to the USA with similiar plans to attend CRNA school in the US in mind. With the salary that US CRNAs have to offer, it must be lucrative compared to a physician's salary outside of the US.

I guess this adds to the fierce competition to CRNA schools, but doesn't this seem deceptive???......

To those who don't know anything better, foreign nurses are payed the same salaries are US nursing graduates. This does not, in any way, keep the salary of nurses down. From what I've heard, the immigration office are no longer offering any immigrant visa as of now (2010) for foreign nurses, only working visas. Still, the number of nurses are still in short supply. Rural hospitals are forced to hire foreign nurses to fill in their slots because no nurses would come work for them, almost all nurses dream of living in a big city. Also, as pointed out early in the comments, it's not THAT easy getting into the US. You have to pass more than just a couple of exams and accreditation.

As for people who are talking about foreign MD's, clearly you don't know a thing about the process. Their medical education is recognized as long as it's accredited by the ECFMG. As for their specialties, they have to redo their residencies. There are also foreign MD's who apply to American residencies on a H1B (working) visa. That will be the only time the government is paying for them, as all medical residents in the country including American medical graduates.

For those FMG (foreign medical graduates) that didn't pass the USMLE, imagine going back to the basic sciences after you've been practicing for many years including the residency period. The USMLE step 1 is the hardest for them since it concentrates on the basic sciences. The second and third USMLE's might be better for them. Try studying for the USMLE while feeding a family without any help. Also, depending on the circumstances like having your wife as a stay at home mom because you have

Do you really think that it's not degrading for them to be called a nurse when they're MD's or that a young doctors orders them around when they're the big-shot surgeons?

The truth is, there are a lot more reasons behind their actions. You're only just scratching the surface. In my opinion, hiding their MD's really means humility. You have to get over yourselves in thinking that only American nursing graduates can do the job perfectly. That's arrogant thinking.

Oh, FYI, I'm also an American nursing graduate. I know these things because I have friends and have been reading a lot in the studentdoctor forums.

Specializes in Anesthesia.
To those who don't know anything better, foreign nurses are payed the same salaries are US nursing graduates. This does not, in any way, keep the salary of nurses down. From what I've heard, the immigration office are no longer offering any immigrant visa as of now (2010) for foreign nurses, only working visas. Still, the number of nurses are still in short supply. Rural hospitals are forced to hire foreign nurses to fill in their slots because no nurses would come work for them, almost all nurses dream of living in a big city. Also, as pointed out early in the comments, it's not THAT easy getting into the US. You have to pass more than just a couple of exams and accreditation.

As for people who are talking about foreign MD's, clearly you don't know a thing about the process. Their medical education is recognized as long as it's accredited by the ECFMG. As for their specialties, they have to redo their residencies. There are also foreign MD's who apply to American residencies on a H1B (working) visa. That will be the only time the government is paying for them, as all medical residents in the country including American medical graduates.

For those FMG (foreign medical graduates) that didn't pass the USMLE, imagine going back to the basic sciences after you've been practicing for many years including the residency period. The USMLE step 1 is the hardest for them since it concentrates on the basic sciences. The second and third USMLE's might be better for them. Try studying for the USMLE while feeding a family without any help. Also, depending on the circumstances like having your wife as a stay at home mom because you have

Do you really think that it's not degrading for them to be called a nurse when they're MD's or that a young doctors orders them around when they're the big-shot surgeons?

The truth is, there are a lot more reasons behind their actions. You're only just scratching the surface. In my opinion, hiding their MD's really means humility. You have to get over yourselves in thinking that only American nursing graduates can do the job perfectly. That's arrogant thinking.

Oh, FYI, I'm also an American nursing graduate. I know these things because I have friends and have been reading a lot in the studentdoctor forums.

You do know this thread is 6 years old?

You do know this thread is 6 years old?

Wow... I just literally laughed out loud... was thinking the same thing. Guess someone was in the mood to argue.

You do know this thread is 6 years old?

LOL! Sorry, didn't realized it.

Yes, RN schools have much lower standards for entering students than do MD schools. This is expected.

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