Foreign trained nurse needs help getting hired

Dear Nurse Beth Advice Column - The following letter submitted anonymously in search for answers. Join the conversation!

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Dear Nurse Beth!

I am foreign graduated nurse and recently passed the NCLEX-RN.
I have a gap in my resume. When I came to the US I didn't speak any English, and I started from scratch by going to school and learned English and later attended many NCLEX reviews. This took me some time.

Should I put this info in my resume to show that I did something here?

Also if I was taking care of person with Alzheimer disease or Gullian barre here in the US. Is this something that I should include in my resume and fill the gap?

I have experience working as a nurse in my home country and now I would love to help people here and apply for a job as a nurse.

Thank you so much for your advice.

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

Dear Has a Gap,

Congratulations, you have accomplished much! It's no easy feat to do all that you've done.

Your work history and any gaps after you passed the NCLEX are more important than your work history and any gaps before you passed the NCLEX. In a way, your resume starts here, in the States. Experience in the States is weighted more than experience outside of the states.  Many nurse managers tend to look at foreign-trained nurses more as new grads because foreign training and nursing practice vary widely.

Some hospitals will even consider you a candidate for a nursing residency program.

Yes, include that you did some private care as a non-licensed healthcare worker. This shows work ethic and reliability.

Definitely get assistance with your resume as English is your second language and grammatical mistakes will count against you. I really hope you'll consider reading my book. It will help you so much with your resume, cover letter, cold calls, strategy, interview- everything you need to help you land that first nursing job with the inside knowledge of a hiring nurse manager.

Right now getting a job is your job, and the clock is ticking. It is best to land a job as soon as possible after passing the NCLEX because this is when the employment gap counts.

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth

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