Foreign trained OR nurse

CDNORRN · Jul 13, 2007

Texas is one of those states that is known for its low wages. I interviewed with a hospital in Austin and was offered a job at $21 and change. I tried to negotiate hard with them to bring up the wage. Eventually they came up but it was still less than $25. They also included big relocation and sign on bonus. It just wasn't enough to maintain a nice apartment and go back to school again. These contracts can vary in length from 1 to 2 and sometimes 3 years. If they pay big money up front, the want the comittment from you. If you don't stay you usually just have to pay back the prorated amount. I question your agency on their view that hospitals hire within. In my experience that is not true. Most places will hire an experienced outsider before having to orient and educate a new nurse to the OR. The last estimate I heard, when a hospital has to take a new OR nurse through all the basic orientation was $36,000. With orientation being 4 - 6 months it would certainly be cheaper to hire one with experience. If you're looking for a job that pays good money, you might want to consider travel nursing,if you have a minimum of 2 years experience. I too, by the way, am a foreign trained OR nurse, from Canada. I never had any problems getting a job in the 7 years I spent in the US. Negotiate, play hardball. Best of luck!

Crux1024 · Jul 14, 2007

I just want to know whether it's true that hospitals in the US specially in Texas(my destination weeks from now) are not interested in hiring foreign trained OR nurse.According to my employer/agency ,, hospitals normally hire nurses from within their hospitals to work in the OR.That's why my agency is advising me to work outside of the OR instead. I don't feel safe working in the ward or other area because I've been working in the OR for 10years now(mostly in orthopedic side). I know how legally conscious the US is, I wonder if hospitals would give me enough time to adjust to ward jobs. And also I'd like to know if $22/hour is fair enough when you're in Texas.In my contract if i'm not going to finish my contract with them, I have to pay them $20,000. If I coudn't stand working in the ward, I might have to find another employer who could put me in the OR but the price(fine) is high.Any piece of advice from you please?
Thank you.

Thats not true ( at least not here). My facility hired 36 Phillippino nurses, 9 of them came to the OR. They got to chose where they wanted to be, and it was based on their previous experience. Why would anyone want to work outside of their comfort level? They worked as Surg Techs and scrubbed until their licenses came through. They were all very knowledgeable and we were/are lucky to have them.

suzanne4, RN · Jul 16, 2007

Texas is one of those states that is known for its low wages. I interviewed with a hospital in Austin and was offered a job at $21 and change. I tried to negotiate hard with them to bring up the wage. Eventually they came up but it was still less than $25. They also included big relocation and sign on bonus. It just wasn't enough to maintain a nice apartment and go back to school again. These contracts can vary in length from 1 to 2 and sometimes 3 years. If they pay big money up front, the want the comittment from you. If you don't stay you usually just have to pay back the prorated amount. I question your agency on their view that hospitals hire within. In my experience that is not true. Most places will hire an experienced outsider before having to orient and educate a new nurse to the OR. The last estimate I heard, when a hospital has to take a new OR nurse through all the basic orientation was $36,000. With orientation being 4 - 6 months it would certainly be cheaper to hire one with experience. If you're looking for a job that pays good money, you might want to consider travel nursing,if you have a minimum of 2 years experience. I too, by the way, am a foreign trained OR nurse, from Canada. I never had any problems getting a job in the 7 years I spent in the US. Negotiate, play hardball. Best of luck!

For the foreign nurse that needs petitioning to work in the US, travel positions will not work. Canadians have the option of the TN Visa, but for others, they need a green card.

That is where the problem comes thru. You will not find a travel company willing to petition. They will take a nurse if they have US experience and a green card, but without it? Not going to happen.

suzanne4, RN · Jul 16, 2007

I just want to know whether it's true that hospitals in the US specially in Texas(my destination weeks from now) are not interested in hiring foreign trained OR nurse.According to my employer/agency ,, hospitals normally hire nurses from within their hospitals to work in the OR.That's why my agency is advising me to work outside of the OR instead. I don't feel safe working in the ward or other area because I've been working in the OR for 10years now(mostly in orthopedic side). I know how legally conscious the US is, I wonder if hospitals would give me enough time to adjust to ward jobs. And also I'd like to know if $22/hour is fair enough when you're in Texas.In my contract if i'm not going to finish my contract with them, I have to pay them $20,000. If I coudn't stand working in the ward, I might have to find another employer who could put me in the OR but the price(fine) is high.Any piece of advice from you please?
Thank you.

You normally do not see hospitals petition a foreign nurse for the OR, especially thru an agency. If anything, only have seen it as a direct hire.

I am also the moderator of the International Forum, as well as this one, and from experience you just do not see it. And for the few that I have seen get direct placement in the OR, it has not been a good experience for them. There is significant differences in what instruments are called in most cases, even just the routine idioms can make it hard. Then you add in a mask, and it was not pretty for them or the other staff. There are a few hospitals that will do this but it is no longer the routine.

Several facilities that I know of that did this in the Los Angeles area will no longer petition someone for the OR that did not already have several years in the OR in the US. Each one of those nurses left their contracts within a few months of starting their contracts.

One piece of advice that I can offer to you is to accept that contract and go to the facility, and as soon as you get settled go and introduce yourself to the OR manager and OR director. Tell them that you have years of experience in your country; and if needed or if they have an opening, you would like to apply for a transfer to their dept. This way they have met you and you have met them. This is also what we tell someone to do even if they are American and wish to work in the OR at the facility that they currently are at.

Are you going to be an employee of the facility, or are you going to be employed by the agency?

If an employee of the facility it is easier to do, if for the agency, you may need to get their okay first on doing this.

passionate · Jul 19, 2007

My circulator today is a woman from the Philapines who received her OR training in Texas. We had a wonderful case.:welcome: