Can International Students with Associate of Nursing and RN license work in USA

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Hello all, I just got my RN license and am wondering if international students have to obtain a bachelors degree first to work in the USA in a hospital. I was hoping to gain experience and study at the same time, but friends say you need a bachelors as an international student.

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Specializes in CTICU.

On which visa do you plan to enter the US?

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l don't think so. l migrated from London, England April last year and l passed my Nclex in Jan. 2009. l am on my first job as a Registered Nurse in USA and l am loving it. l don't have a BSN but the hospital l am working at is going to sponsor me to go for my BSN. Actually, l only have a diploma, l even got a got at National institute of Health and another big hospital . l picked the big hospital.

Take care and apply for everyjob you can apply for.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Moved to the International forum

As mentioned what visa are you going to apply for? If GC then you will be affected by retrogression and if trained in the US you will have to maintain your student visa to stay in the US as retrogression is taking years and many are already ahead of you in the queue. As an Associate you will not meet H1b requirements plus you need to be a specialist nurse and a new grad will not meet that requirement.

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:wink2: Thanks for your responses - greatly appreciated. I guess I need to then focus on my BSN. :wink2: Just itching to put all my learning into practice and gain valuable hands on experience. Patience I guess is needed yes. Anyone know of a fast track to achieving a BSN.

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I am not sure of the visas one can apply for - just want to get some training under my belt after school. Thanks for all your input.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

You need to maintain full time at school to be able to stay in the US and even then expect retrogression to still be in play so may need to look at leaving the US whilst waiting. You may be able to work under CPT but you really need to discuss this with your international advisor.

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Im also an international student. I will get into nursing school next semester, the community college Im attending right now is offering an AA degree in nursing, then I have the oppertunity to take the NCLEX.

Are you guys saying that there is no point of getting my AA degree at all? As an international student, its pretty expensive to attend a university, so having a college offering an AA degree is great.

:( it kind of scared me now, I have worked so hard to get into nursing school and now there is no chance of working in the US if I dont have a BSN? :(:(

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Specializes in CTICU.

That's correct. Unless you have another method of immigration, such as marriage to a USC or via family, you cannot immigrate to the US either temporarily or permanently with only an associates degree.

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That's correct. Unless you have another method of immigration, such as marriage to a USC or via family, you cannot immigrate to the US either temporarily or permanently with only an associates degree.

I dont get it, it doesnt make any sense. Why havent my school counselor said anything about this or even stopped me from applying to the program when you apparently cant work in the US with an ADN even though you have taken your RN license. I dont really believe in this.. I have read a lot about people getting sponsored, so I guess, that is what I have to do after getting my license..

Maybe I didnt make my self clear, im studying here in the US.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
I dont get it, it doesnt make any sense. Why havent my school counselor said anything about this or even stopped me from applying to the program when you apparently cant work in the US with an ADN even though you have taken your RN license. I dont really believe in this.. I have read a lot about people getting sponsored, so I guess, that is what I have to do after getting my license..

Maybe I didnt make my self clear, im studying here in the US.

It doesn't matter, Retrogression has been ongoing since Oct 06 and affecting everyone including those that train in the US. Even if you find a petitioner you can not stay and work whilst waiting for a visa. To be sponsored generally H1b you need a BSN and specialist and for GC you will be affected by retrogression and currently no visas and none until the new year starts in Oct and even then expected PD is between 2003 - 05

Usually students are expected to return back to their own country and no guarantee that you can stay in the US and work once completed as a student

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It doesn't matter, Retrogression has been ongoing since Oct 06 and affecting everyone including those that train in the US. Even if you find a petitioner you can not stay and work whilst waiting for a visa. To be sponsored generally H1b you need a BSN and specialist and for GC you will be affected by retrogression and currently no visas and none until the new year starts in Oct and even then expected PD is between 2003 - 05

Usually students are expected to return back to their own country and no guarantee that you can stay in the US and work once completed as a student

thank you for your answer. Dont you think the situation will improve within 2-3 years? the economy should be back on its feet soon? sucks, that i have spent 50000 dollars and 3 years of my life for nothing... i was to stupid to believe that dreams could come true... what was i thinking..

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