any advice for a new grad rn?

U.S.A. Washington

Published

Hello. My name is Jong Park. I am an international student from South Korea, and I graduated from Washington State University in May and obtained RN license in July, 11. I have applied for about 100 RN positions so far but haven't had any interview yet. I am under Optional Practice Training (OPT) status which allows me to work in the United States for an year. However, it states that I have to get a job within 3 months once OPT starts (mine has been already started on July 1) or I have to leave the country. I noticed that most of job openings require at least one year experience which I do not have or I have to go though the RN residency program. My problem is that most of RN residency programs starting in Aug or Sep already closed; therefore, I am not able to get through the program. Is there any other opportunities that I can take to get a job in the United States? If you have any advice for my situation, please share it. any advice will be appreciated. Thank you so much for reading my post.

Sincerely,

Jong Park

brightlight168

13 Posts

would you consider nursing home, i think they are still looking for an RN position go there and check it out

PROVIDENCE MOTHER JOSEPH CARE

(360) 493-4900

3333 ENSIGN ROAD NORTHEAST

OLYMPIA, WA 98506

tokmom, BSN, RN

4,568 Posts

Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

I would try a nursing home as well and go from there. I know that Multicare is cutting jobs but I don't know if that includes any nursing freezes. Have you tried Franciscan? They have residencies, but not sure when they start.

Congrats on your graduation...Go COUGS!!

Good luck to you and keep us posted.

iCCRN

7 Posts

Right now, EB2 category is current, meaning if you were an ARNP and have a job offer, you will get visa in 90 days. Best bet for you is to go all the way and be a provider.

dayandnight

330 Posts

Hello. My name is Jong Park. I am an international student from South Korea, and I graduated from Washington State University in May and obtained RN license in July, 11. I have applied for about 100 RN positions so far but haven't had any interview yet. I am under Optional Practice Training (OPT) status which allows me to work in the United States for an year. However, it states that I have to get a job within 3 months once OPT starts (mine has been already started on July 1) or I have to leave the country. I noticed that most of job openings require at least one year experience which I do not have or I have to go though the RN residency program. My problem is that most of RN residency programs starting in Aug or Sep already closed; therefore, I am not able to get through the program. Is there any other opportunities that I can take to get a job in the United States? If you have any advice for my situation, please share it. any advice will be appreciated. Thank you so much for reading my post.

Sincerely,

Jong Park

I'm currently a senior nursing student at a University and I'm also an International student from South Korea. it's really hard for Internationals like us to get jobs right now. there are no visas (H1B mostly qualifies for highly specialized nurses, are given in limited numbers all across the country for all sorts of jobs). I heard that the best way would be is to go to grad school, get a masters (and become Nurse Practitioner, Diabetes or specific specialty nurse, Nurse supervisor etc) and that will at least get you started for getting H1B (not a guarantee though, but allows you to ask hospitals to apply for H1B)

if you look at the Allnurses International Nursing under Regions tons of people have posted this already. Some are even considering Australia, Canada, Europe, New Zealand, and even the Middle East/Dubai to get jobs because the retrogression has strongly impacted the ability for people like us to get jobs here.

I am sorry but I doubt you would have gotten into the RN residency program. As a student I've tried to get Nurse techinician jobs and CNA jobs around the Seattle area but they told me that because of the economy they don't hire International Students for residency or any RN jobs because it's not efficient to train me to become an RN at their hospital. It's because I only have a year with my OPT (they said training takes half a year, which would mean the hospital would lose money for giving training).

Plus most hospitals don't sponsor Internationals anymore (sponsoring = H1B), and that's why they will not hire you for OPT since only having a RN job for a year at a hospital would be not beneficial for the hospital and you can't work there after OPT anyways. I heard that UWMC, and Harborview doesn't hire Internationals and Virginia Mason doesn't do sponsors. Swedish said the chances are limited.. and I bet there will be more refusals I will get once I start looking for jobs prior to my graduation in 1 year.

I did manage to get a job at an Assisted Living facility as a CNA with my CPT after much failed attempts at other hospitals. I am crossing my fingers and hoping that I might be able to work for OPT here when I graduate. I don't even aim for a hospital job anymore. It seems unrealistic now.. I'm already planning on what to do after OPT ends and I can't stay in the States any longer.

Look for Nursing homes, assisted livings, anything and everything. Good luck to you. I still have a year left and I really am not looking forward to graduation, but I hope you'll find a job before your OPT ends. Best of luck.

yoojin257

9 Posts

Hello. My name is Jong Park. I am an international student from South Korea, and I graduated from Washington State University in May and obtained RN license in July, 11. I have applied for about 100 RN positions so far but haven't had any interview yet. I am under Optional Practice Training (OPT) status which allows me to work in the United States for an year. However, it states that I have to get a job within 3 months once OPT starts (mine has been already started on July 1) or I have to leave the country. I noticed that most of job openings require at least one year experience which I do not have or I have to go though the RN residency program. My problem is that most of RN residency programs starting in Aug or Sep already closed; therefore, I am not able to get through the program. Is there any other opportunities that I can take to get a job in the United States? If you have any advice for my situation, please share it. any advice will be appreciated. Thank you so much for reading my post.

Sincerely,

Jong Park

Hi, I am also a new graduate nurse who is from South Korea as well. I am in basically in the same boat as you, and was wondering if you were able to find a job and have any advice for me. Thanks!

dayandnight

330 Posts

Yoojin257, Where do you live? I'm also a Korean F-1 student and I live in Seattle. am also graduating on June. My email is [email protected]. Email me and let's share information amd help each other out!

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