As a foreign nurse graduate can I please rant?

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Hello everyone, 

Can I please rant and maybe release some frustrations here to a community who has also gone through what I have gone through, not just as a foreign nurse graduate but also the process of becoming a US RN? I didn't know where to post this, but what I really want to come off from this is maybe to be given advice and maybe to lift my spirits from being depressed if I could hear inspirational nursing stories from others who were also in my shoes. If this post isn't meant to be here, I apologize. I didn't know. I hope my post can be placed in the proper place it should be. 

Let me give you guys a brief introduction about myself. I am a foreign nurse graduate with a BSN in the Philippines. I passed my board exam in the Philippines. I need to add on that my family lives in Nevada. I was just sent to the Philippines to study nursing in my country. Anyways, fast forward it took me a while to pursue my US RN dreams because of personal matters that prevented me from it. You see just as I was about to walk my papers for the requirements for NCLEX-RN, my father became terminally ill with 95% blockage to his heart arteries. I am the only daughter so I took care of him till he passed on. It took a while for me to recover from my dad's death, and when I found the courage to pursue the requirements for NCLEX, my uncle had a stroke. I took care of him as well. It's really good that I took up nursing because I was able to apply what I learned from school to them, but unfortunately, my uncle also passed away.  

When I am able to recover from my Uncle's death who I was very closed too, I was able to walk my papers and even gone to a review center to help me with NCLEX-RN. However, my mom also got sick and she got a mild stroke. I also took care of her and helped her with her rehabilitation. You see, I didn't know much people but thanks to my mom's nurses and research online I found out I could take the NCLEX-RN in a different state. I didn't take the NCLEX-RN in Nevada because it required to have an English exam, I wanted to bypass it. I was able to take it in Montana without needing to take an English exam and passed it. However, I just learned that even if I got my nursing license I still needed to transfer it here to NEVADA.  NEVADA BON required me to take an English exam for the endorsement and of course to work here in Nevada.

Now spending for my CES, the review books and apps like NCLEX-RN mastery and UWorld, and the multiple takes of NCLEX really depleted our budget and add on the inflation, and plus I wasn't able to work because I took care of my dad, my uncle, and now my mom. Family to me is everything. Now, it's just me and my mom.

I feel so useless. I been trying to apply for work. I tried everywhere here in NEVADA such as EVS, Walmart, Starbucks, Target, anything. When I thought I could be hired and accepted to a nursing home, they told me I needed to transfer my license from Montana to Nevada. I know the protocols and requirements for each state. I know I need to have an endorsement, but sadly I just don't have the funds to do so. 😞 I don't even have the funds to take the English exam I need as a requirement.

I feel so close yet so far away from being an RN. Yes, my title says I am a US RN, but it's sad that I can't even practice it in the state of resident I am living in. I don't know should I even continue with this journey? You might suggest maybe try to ask relatives, we don't have any relatives that would be willing to help. I don't have much friends either because I don't go out due to taking care of my mom. It's funny how there are other nurses who I know who are mentally burnt out and have valid excuses to leave nursing. However, there are nurses like me who are financially having a hard time to pursue it. 😞 It's hard not having a support system to help. 😞 

I feel so dejected. I don't know what to do. I wish for someone to just help lift my spirit or tell me of something encouraging or any advice would do. 

Typing this out really helped me release all the pent up depressed emotions I have. I have no one else to talk too about this. I am sorry if I am not good at explaining, I hope I was able to elaborate this all out clearly. It would be nice to have someone to talk to about this. To give me some insight or just motivation. If you managed to read all this I really appreciate it. Sorry for the long rant and for feeling really depressed about my situation. Happy holidays everyone! 

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Specializes in ER.

I'm sorry to say you might not have completed your nursing tests. If/when you leave the country immigration may demand CGFNS certification. I'm working in the USA from Canada, and started working with a TN visa in 1997, then two years later I was told I'd have to go through the CGFNS process AFTER I'd already been working as a nurse for two years. It takes about a year to get all the testing and paperwork done, so wise to start sooner than you need it.

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canoehead said:

I'm sorry to say you might not have completed your nursing tests. If/when you leave the country immigration may demand CGFNS certification. I'm working in the USA from Canada, and started working with a TN visa in 1997, then two years later I was told I'd have to go through the CGFNS process AFTER I'd already been working as a nurse for two years. It takes about a year to get all the testing and paperwork done, so wise to start sooner than you need it.

I am good with the CGFNS. I just need to take an English exam that is required in my state to be able to practice nursing. I am already a US RN in Montana, but because I need to endorse my license the requirements to endorse it as a Foreign Nurse Graduate is to take the English exam too because my state requires it.  It's  easier said then done if you have the means to do so. Thank you for replying. I have completed the NCLEX-RN exam. I just wish I could have means to do so for my English exam. That's the only requirement I am missing. 

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Specializes in ER.

Good! They wanted me to take the English exam too, that was when they first started, but I pointed out my degree had been taught in English. A coworker, who was born in Britain, had a hissy fit when they told her she'd have to take an ENGLISH exam. "That's MY country, MY language!" she said. I had a feeling that if they corrected her grammar she'd go back to the Queen and get a royal decree to declare them wrong.

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Specializes in Critical Care and PACU.

It appears from what you're saying that you want to practice as a RN in Nevada and that in order to do this you need to take an English test. 
 

What is stopping you from doing this? Once you figure this out, it seems logical to make a step by step plan, and then follow it. Is it a financial issue, 
 

What are your specific barriers? Gather all the info, including test preparation, cost, etc. How much does it cost, how many times can you fail, etc.

Is your issue financial or lack of confidence or lack of English language skills, in your opinion? If it is financial, you need to figure this out. Maybe you can get a loan. Is it lack of skill or confidence? Then take an ESL course at a community college, or gather such materials and get busy. Go to your local library and ask a librarian to help you research for scholarships or programs ie: if this applies. 
 

I hope this helps.

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

There are websites that list scholarships you can apply for. You may find one or more that cater to your specific situation. I tried to attach two of the URL that my son used which are "Find Free Scholarships for College (December 2024) | Bold.org" and Find Scholarships for College at www.scholarships.com. But there are a lot of organiztions that give scholarships. 

Good luck to you

Hppy

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