Foreign RN on CRNA school policies

gwapo · Sep 23, 2012

Greetings everyone!
I am a Lebanese-Filipino RN, I recieved my BS in nursing from the American University of Beirut. I currently work at the American University of Beirut which is JCI and MAGNET accreddited and about to complete my one year experience in the Neonatal ICU.
I'm currently in the process of getting my credentials for the CGFNS in order to take my ATT for the NCLEX. CCRN certification is currently not an option at my hospital.My Nursing school and Undergrad GPA are greater than 3.0. I am BLS, NRP certified and have scheduled my PALS and ACLS certifications. I am also an ATLS coordinator and involved in the process of bringing the ATCN program to Lebanon.
I have been lurking the forums for the past few months and been reading up but I have not had any definite answers on whether or not CRNA schools accept RN's with foreign work experience. My dream scenario would be to apply to a few schools where I have family and close friends in the US.
I am not in rush to enter or apply soon, I realize adult ICU experience would be a plus even though some schools accept NICU ( love working with babies) and am very much willing to apply for transfer to adult intensive care. There is also the matter of the GRE which I will be able to take.
My question is does anybody currently in CRNA school have foreign students studying with a student visa and planning to apply for an H1b upon graduation? Are there any instances or examples of people you know who have done something similar, and do you think program directors would be open to such an idea.
Thank you very much all for your time and consideration.

I doubt that there is anybody out there with a similar situation. Here are the reasons why I think so:

1. You would most likely be financing you own education. I don't think you will be qualified for a federal student loan. Unless you bank in Lebanon will offer a student loan for you. this is anywhere from 30K - 180K for cost of attendance.. definitely more if you will need a car, apartment, health/car insurance, etc. But you probably have figured this out and may have plans on what to do regarding this.

2. You will need at least a year of acute care experience in the US (with an RN license from one of the states). I mean, if a program has 200 well-qualified applicants for 50 seats,i don't think they will pick someone in a situation like yours when they could get 1 from the other 151 who already knows the healthcare system, standards of care, etc. but then maybe they would consider the fact that it is a magnet facility.

3. Although it might be fairly easy to get a student visa, getting a working visa may not. I don't know how true it is, but i have read a bunch of posts here that there is not enough jobs for CRNAs at this time... It may be hard, if not impossible, to find an anesthesia group or hospital, to petition you. It costs a lot.

4. If you do get in a program and get through the training but do not get a working visa after grad, what would you do with you degree? can you practice in your country?

My suggestion is, come to the states as an RN and work for a year then consider applying. You did say you have family here so it may not be as hard for you to do it. those certifications will help though.. so get as much of them as you can. get as much experience as you can so when you come to the states, it will probably be easier to land on a specialty unit, like ICU.

all this info is just my opinion.. so do not base your decisions on this, although I know you won't.

FYI, i am a foreign-educated RN but has worked in the states for a few years before applying. I can guarantee you though that having your degree outside of the states will not matter (as long as your GPA is acceptable). Good luck to you "kabayan" (if you speak Tagalog) :)

Samir Ballouz · Sep 24, 2012

I doubt that there is anybody out there with a similar situation. Here are the reasons why I think so:
1. You would most likely be financing you own education. I don't think you will be qualified for a federal student loan. Unless you bank in Lebanon will offer a student loan for you. this is anywhere from 30K - 180K for cost of attendance.. definitely more if you will need a car, apartment, health/car insurance, etc. But you probably have figured this out and may have plans on what to do regarding this.
2. You will need at least a year of acute care experience in the US (with an RN license from one of the states). I mean, if a program has 200 well-qualified applicants for 50 seats,i don't think they will pick someone in a situation like yours when they could get 1 from the other 151 who already knows the healthcare system, standards of care, etc. but then maybe they would consider the fact that it is a magnet facility.
3. Although it might be fairly easy to get a student visa, getting a working visa may not. I don't know how true it is, but i have read a bunch of posts here that there is not enough jobs for CRNAs at this time... It may be hard, if not impossible, to find an anesthesia group or hospital, to petition you. It costs a lot.
4. If you do get in a program and get through the training but do not get a working visa after grad, what would you do with you degree? can you practice in your country?
My suggestion is, come to the states as an RN and work for a year then consider applying. You did say you have family here so it may not be as hard for you to do it. those certifications will help though.. so get as much of them as you can. get as much experience as you can so when you come to the states, it will probably be easier to land on a specialty unit, like ICU.
all this info is just my opinion.. so do not base your decisions on this, although I know you won't.
FYI, i am a foreign-educated RN but has worked in the states for a few years before applying. I can guarantee you though that having your degree outside of the states will not matter (as long as your GPA is acceptable). Good luck to you "kabayan" (if you speak Tagalog) :)

Hey gwapo, salamat po on your thorough and prompt response. If you don't mind I'd like to go through each of your points, and would like to know if any of my reasoning is valid.

1. Regarding financing, I've seen some of the fund requirements for some of these crna schools and would be able to have that amount in a US bank account. As far as I understand eligiblity for loan programs rely greatly on have a US citizen as a co-signer which is also a possibility for myself.

2. I understand that MAGNET facilities do fall under the strictest US guidelines and my current acute care experience is almost over a yeae in neonatal intensive care, which as I have read a fair amount of programs do accept. Ideally I would love to have that experience in the US but with retrogression on foreign RNs coming with just a Bachelors of Science I don't see that happening in the foreseeable future.

3. I've seen a few job applications online requesting H1b Visa sponsorship with CRNAs qualify for. with regards to job availiblity i've been browsing sites such as gasworks who seem to be popping up with positions on a daily basis. Of course I can't predict what the market would be like in 2-4 years but right now it doesn't seem too saturated.

4. That is the clincher right there, as far as I understand the Nursing Anesthesia as it is being practiced in the US grants practitioners far more autonomy and responsibility than most other countries, which is largely the main reason I would like to migrate. Being taught under American standards of care and practice and then being limited by the scope of actual practice is something that I see frustrates RN's on a daily basis.

In any case thank you very much buddy, just venting I think I will attempt to contact a few program directors directly just to see if they have considered any cases like mine. Hope all is well on your end and you are enjoying your practice. Godspeed