Australian RN wanting to live and work in the US

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Hi, not sure if anyone will see this but i am graduating from my RN studies in Australia this year and really want to live and work in America some time soon. I am in the process of applying for a Graduate Program (a supported RN job) and in the hopes I get one I plan to see it through and then to move to California! However I am very unsure about how to go about this...

I have researched online about all the nursing agencies in the US that can support you during the NCLEX exam and immigration process but im unsure if they are legit.

If anyone could answer my questions that would be great!

Should I be looking for an nursing agency to guide me in the right direction in order to live and work in the US or is it easier to do it myself?

Besides the NCLEX exam is any other further study required ontop of my Australian RN degree needed to work in America as an RN?

Once passing the NCLEX exam am i guaranteed a nursing job in America?

What is the pay rate for nurses in America?

Could someone please explain the health care system to me?

Once passing the exam I understand a US employer will need to sponsor me in order for me to get a green card? does this mean if i change employers i will have to apply for a new green card?

How long does the green card last?

How long can i stay in America for?

In Australia, graduate nurses undergo a graduate nursing year before commencing work as an RN, meaning I would work as an RN but my job role is more supported and includes 2 rotations within the hospital. Could i work in America starting next year without any paid RN work experience or is experience required?

THANKYOU!!!

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Am a nursing student myself, what I can tell you is that, your questions about green card, wanting to live and work here in the should be directed to USCIS, you can visit their website or contact them through email or phone. And with your NCLEX questions contact the state of California board of Nursing(since you stated that you want to live in California). They can give you the correct information you need. I don't mean to be hash, this is not an immigration forum.

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Specializes in ICU.

Experience is not required to get a nursing job, but from what I hear, California's job market is especially brutal because there are so many new grads and so few spots. It can take months or even a year or more to get a job after graduating and passing the NCLEX in California. I don't know if employers will want to take a chance on you since they don't know what your schooling was like, either. You may have a very tough time getting a job.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Your first barrier is that you must have concurrent clinical and theory in adult med/surg, psych/mental health, geriatrics, pediatrics, and obstetrics/maternity. Most Australian nurses lack in maternity hours and it's extremely difficult to obtain that necessary education. You have the option of an E3 visa if an Australian citizen

It would be wise to complete your grad year plus a few more in addition to securing clinical & theory in obstetrics before considering applying to become a U.S. nurse. In addition the unemployment rate for new & inexperienced nurses in CA is over 40% in some areas as there are simply hundreds of more nurses than jobs. It will be extremely difficult to secure visa sponsorship and subsequent green card sponsorship when a facility has hundreds of US educated citizens & permanent residents applying for a single job. There is no incentive for an employer to go through the time and expense to sponsor an inexperienced new grad internationally educated nurse. Gaining paid nursing experience, especially in a specialty area such as emergency, OR, critical care will increase the odds in your favor but CA is a highly popular state

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

No one is guaranteed a job in America, especially nurses. There are thousands and thousands of unemployed nurses in the states, with the majority of them probably living in California.

A single "pay rate for nurses in America" cannot be quoted. It depends on which state you're in, which city within that state, whether you're actually in a city or a rural area, and what the local supply of available nurses looks like.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Moved to Nurse Registration

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Pay rate for new inexperienced registered nurses varies from $16/hr to $45/hr depending on area of the country, facility, specialty, level of education (diploma, ASN, BSN, ELMSN). A nurse in rural Nebraska with a low cost of living is not going to make as much as a nurse in NYC or SanFrancisco with a significantly higher cost of living.

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