ADVICE PLEASE!!

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Mar 6, 2013

I cannot speak for all organizations, only my own. We categorize all newly arrived foreign graduates as "New Graduate" until they have at least 12 months of full time RN experience in the US. Nursing practice is very different in the US, so previous experience in another country is not equivalent to US experience. Overall, there is very little wage differential for BSN nurses in staff positions, as salaries are primarily associated with the job that is performed and BSN nurses perform the same bedside role as their ADN & Diploma colleagues.

If you are seeking career advancement in nursing, you would need to obtain an MSN, as this is the recognized graduate degree for our profession. It is the minimum requirement for nurse leadership positions in most US health care organizations.

At this point, new grads are grateful for obtaining ANY job so the chances of obtaining the 'perfect' job are very small. Nursing jobs can be stressful. In the US, nurses carry the burden of compliance with extensive legal and regulatory requirements, so the the administrative burden (documentation & paperwork) is much greater than other nations. Salaries can vary dramatically across the US.

If you are looking at other graduate degrees that are valuable in US health career, an MHA (from a top rated school) is #1, followed by MBA with a focus on Healthcare finance. Healthcare finance & operations in the US is very different from other US industries, therefore dramatically different than other nations. Therefore, I would say it is very unlikely that a foreign grad to gain entry into healthcare leadership without first gaining many years of US experience.

My advice? Focus on passing NCLEX first. Then, once you are licensed to practice in the US, begin your job search. It may be a very lengthy process. If you are determined to become a physician, you will need to enroll in medical school and pursue that educational pathway.

angel dust · Mar 15, 2014

Thank you Hou tx guide...