Advice for new grads which state to choose

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jul 5, 2007

hey im a newly grad here in the philippines and immediately took the local board but the result was not released yet- until mid august... id like to seek some advice from you all because id like to take the nclex immediately but i dont know which state to choose... i dont have any relatives from any state that could help me get there... i have california in mind because it does not require a local license..
im currently taking up masterals and applying as a volunteer here while waiting for the result of the exam but i also want to process my requirements for nclex but i dont know which state is the easiest to apply.. advice pls any same situation there?

you really need to research where you want to live. There are a few states that do not require local license but you have taken local boards so if you fail (thinking positively) then you have to declare that you have taken it. Being able to take NCLEX will not be immediate, you will be looking atleast 4 months or more because your nurse training will have to be assessed before allowed to sit it. Also depending on state you may need CES from CGFNS before BON will assess and that too can take several months. I would suggest having a good read on this forum and even use the search facility in this forum. Some states although they are getting less also require CGFNS exam which again delays the process

cutiehotie · Jul 6, 2007

hi silverdragon, thanks for your advice.. i guess i really have to wait for a lil while and decide... :idea:

suzanne4, RN · Jul 6, 2007

You are applying for licensure as an RN, the NCLEX exam is only one of the steps in the process. Please be aware that the MAN degree (Master's degree)in the Philippines is not the same as the MSN in the US, and will not avail of the additional licensing benefits for that degree.

suzanne4, RN · Jul 6, 2007

And please select a state where you wish to work in most cased, not which you think will be the fastest.

cutiehotie · Jul 9, 2007

thanks suzanne... i also read your notes about primer and it is really informational... i love this forum!

i only took up masterals to be used only here in phil.. i taught of applying as a part time clinical instructor as an additional income while im processing and waiting for my papers since i guess it will take 2 to 3 years before i get on the desired state but im still confused which state to go duh...hehehe what state can you recommend for me?

velv · Aug 5, 2007

I know IL doesn;t require SSN# from first time RN applicants.

What other state is also good for newly graduated US educated foreign nurses? perhaps with less paperwork, perhaps has more chance to hire, etc. I'm flexible to relocate. Anyone has experience? keep them coming.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Aug 5, 2007

I know IL doesn;t require SSN# from first time RN applicants.
What other state is also good for newly graduated US educated foreign nurses? perhaps with less paperwork, perhaps has more chance to hire, etc. I'm flexible to relocate. Anyone has experience? keep them coming.

It may be a case of you ringing hospitals and enquiring regarding petitioning but I feel a lot at the moment are waiting for retrogression to be sorted.

suzanne4, RN · Aug 5, 2007

A state should always be chosen or selected by where you actually wish to work, never by who is the fastest. You can end up spending more more in time and money to endorse.

So the time to do the research is before you submit even the first application or document.

And again, the issue for most is there is a retrogression in place, so many facilities will not even start the process now. Earliest that I expect to see anything happening will be when the October Visa Bulletin is released and see which countries will still be under the retrogression. And definitely expect some to remain.

Hoss · Aug 6, 2007

If you are single and flexible about location, you may wish to consider New Orleans Louisianna or Mississippi as they are re building their coastal areas from the Katrina disaster and are in critical need of nurses. These states will offer very low cost housing and living, but you will start at approx. 20.00/hr there as wages are somewhat lower. However, nurses will be very high up in comparable wages to other workers in the states so your rent, food, and other living expenses will be FAR lower than California, New York, or other expensive states to live in. Go where the Nurses are in critical need (the rural south and gulf coast areas) and you will find hospitals willing to work with you to get you properly licensed and trained. The weather in the gulf coast is very much like the Philippines (very warm and humid almost year round) so climate would not be a big adjustment. Also, New Orleans is home to some very fine hospitals (LSU Med School, Oschner Clinic foundation, Charity Hospital New Orleans, etc) that offer excellent training but are desperate for nurses! It would be worth contacting them for more info.

Hoss

Silverdragon102, BSN · Aug 6, 2007

If you are single and flexible about location, you may wish to consider New Orleans Louisianna or Mississippi as they are re building their coastal areas from the Katrina disaster and are in critical need of nurses. These states will offer very low cost housing and living, but you will start at approx. 20.00/hr there as wages are somewhat lower. However, nurses will be very high up in comparable wages to other workers in the states so your rent, food, and other living expenses will be FAR lower than California, New York, or other expensive states to live in. Go where the Nurses are in critical need (the rural south and gulf coast areas) and you will find hospitals willing to work with you to get you properly licensed and trained. The weather in the gulf coast is very much like the Philippines (very warm and humid almost year round) so climate would not be a big adjustment. Also, New Orleans is home to some very fine hospitals (LSU Med School, Oschner Clinic foundation, Charity Hospital New Orleans, etc) that offer excellent training but are desperate for nurses! It would be worth contacting them for more info.
Hoss

even if they are desperate for nurses the problem at the moment is there are no visas and if the hospital is willing to petition a foreign nurse it is going to be a long time before the nurse starts working and hospitals may not be willing to wait that long.

To decide where you want to live you should look at factors you want out of your move to the US. Climate, hobbies/activities, living expenses, schooling if you have children and whether you have relatives over in the US and that where you want to live.

cutiehotie · Aug 7, 2007

hello.. thank you for all your posts, with the retrogression still going, its really hard to decide nowadays. but i'm planning to apply for licensure in NJ and take nclex next year..i just hope when i apply for a visa, the retrogression is over..