Re: Foreign nurses watch this...
There *ARE* Jobs.
USA DOES HAVE JOBS. Since you are a BSN holder instead of an ASN (like most nurse grads in USA) you qualify for the mid-level positions where the shortage is rather than the entry level positions where there are a surplus.
Retrogression does not mean that NO visas are being issued, it means that visas are DELAYED in issue. So go ahead, get your license, apply for your visa and wait through the retrogression delay... in the mean time get a job in any of the dozens of other countries that need nurses to increase your levels of experience. You can do this in Canada, in US-founded hospitals in the Mid-east, in northern Africa; all over the place.
Additionally, to get your initial 6 months of experience you can look into the NARS program. The second batch is closing on Sept. 26th but there will hopefully be a renewal of the program (according to DOLE Undersecretary) for 2010 for another 2 batches of 5000+ nurses per batch. The 6 month assignment will be to Rural clinics and Hospitals where many people have not had access to healthcare for a long time.
If you are discouraged to the USA option then start working on a path to immigration to Canada, New Zealand or Australia. Once You begin the immigration process as a nurse you will enter a training program to acclimate you to the NZ and AUS way of doing things; once you pass this program and are approved to work as a nurse then you can easily find a job.
Canada is no different, for BSN graduate RNs once you immigrate to Canada it is easy to find a job.
Jobs are out there! GO get them!
Additionally, a group of nurses could put together a private care clinic with very little start up money per person. With any luck you can get an MD/RN a DDS/RN an OD/RN and make the most out of all the medical professionals who have second-coursed as RNs. Use all your skills and earn income while providing care to people that may otherwise not have access!
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