Green card thru nursing?!

snowfreeze, BSN, RN · Jun 14, 2005

If you are only looking for a way in, nursing is not it.

Yes you can get a green card to be a nurse, maybe.

It takes a lot of work and you will have to respect everyone elses opinions when you become a nurse.

Are you open minded enough to do that?

Can you smile when a family member accuses you of not being the best nurse for their family member?

Can you help change the diaper of someone who hits you because you scared him or her somehow during the process. And most of all, not get angry, just love them?

How will you deal with a nurse aid who is not having a good shift with a problem patient.

Do you mind vomit or other human excrements?

How do you think you will handle an eyeball laying on someones cheek after a bad accident. Yes the medics wrapped it nice and took good care of it, but it is still hanging on the cheek out of the socket when you unwrap it and....who will you call to help after your assistant passes out?

If no/or I cant do that to any of these questions then go on to another avenue.

jeepgirl, LPN, NP · Jun 15, 2005

If you are only looking for a way in, nursing is not it.
Yes you can get a green card to be a nurse, maybe.
It takes a lot of work and you will have to respect everyone elses opinions when you become a nurse.
Are you open minded enough to do that?
Can you smile when a family member accuses you of not being the best nurse for their family member?
Can you help change the diaper of someone who hits you because you scared him or her somehow during the process. And most of all, not get angry, just love them?
How will you deal with a nurse aid who is not having a good shift with a problem patient.
Do you mind vomit or other human excrements?
How do you think you will handle an eyeball laying on someones cheek after a bad accident. Yes the medics wrapped it nice and took good care of it, but it is still hanging on the cheek out of the socket when you unwrap it and....who will you call to help after your assistant passes out?
If no/or I cant do that to any of these questions then go on to another avenue.

I think that is a pretty harsh, dare I even say rude post.

This person had a pretty good question... they want to stay in the medical field, want to come to the US and they are considering nursing. I say go for it!!! I personally have met some AWESOME forgein nurses... both trained abroad and here in the states. Very sharp individuals, great nurses. From what I know, you'd need to get a student visa to come here to school. You would then have to go through the process again (not sure if its shorter if you already have a VISA) to stay here in the US to work. I would contact the US government departments that handle this and ask them about going to school in the US and working in the US. Check around on websites, there are email addresses so you won't have to worry about the long distance calling. It might take a couple days for a response, but they will get back to you.

I would consider coming here for school. I have heard that there are much lower pass rates on the NCLEX (our certification test) for forgein trained nurses. I also thought that it was somewhat easier to get a VISA to come to school here.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!!

p.s. I heard that if you marry a US citizen it is pretty easy to get your green card.

Vans · Jun 15, 2005

Dear Snowfreeze - your questions alarmed me at first and then made me think - you weree being practical - I hail from a "developing nation" as it is called. I was an optometrist and did caring espescially for the "free" patients - but no - no experinces like seeing falling eye balls - just enucleated sockets and post-op cases. My mom retired as a nurse. So, I get the picture of what it is to be serving in a hospital.....I just need to get myself more ready for what is out there. I appreciate you loving the "tough patients" instead of being angry. This will shape your soul not just this life :)

Dear JeepGirl - I love your enthusiasm and positivity. That gives me energy to move forward.

But, the question still remains - how do I find out if a hospital will sponsor for a green card.

With best regards,

Vans :confused:

letina · Jun 15, 2005

But, the question still remains - how do I find out if a hospital will sponsor for a green card.
With best regards,
Vans

Vans,

I'm sure there must be many hospitals who will sponsor for a green card. There are a great number of foreign nurses working in the US and they will all have been sponsored by a hospital. However, with respect, I think you may be being a bit premature. In order to be 'petitioned' for a green card as a nurse, you need to have RN status already and have passed NCLEX. If you go to the International Forum on here, there are numerous threads which should give you all the information you need. If you approached a hospital at this stage, you would likely be advised to come back once you are an RN.

Sorry if this sounds negative or obstructive but just wanted to be honest with you.

Good luck with your endeavours and I hope you DO decide to go to nursing school, it's a wonderful and very rewarding profession.

Tina :)

BabyRN2Be · Jun 15, 2005

Vans,

Snowfreeze did ask some really good questions, and in the US we do have a nursing shortage partially because retention is not great. Not an hour ago I read the statistic that many nurses quit their first job in 18 months and either move on to another area or quit nursing altogether. However, you said that your mom retired as a nurse and you are an optometrist, so it sounds like you have some idea of what it might be like to work in the medical field.

I think that what Letina has to say is right in that you should approach a hospital after you get your RN. You do not say where you are from, but I believe that I've read things about nurses being brought in from the Phillipines. If you possess the skills of a great nurse, it really doesn't matter where you are from.

I would like to compliment you if English is not your first language. If this is true, you have a great grasp of the language and that's definitely a bonus.

As Letina posted, check out the international forum. Good luck to you!

Vans · Jun 16, 2005

Dear Tina & babyrn2be,

Thank you for your pointers and support. I did visit the international forum and found the topics interesting and useful.

You are right - I should first get the RN degree + license - right now I am just trying to figure out how deep the water is and if it would be worth it.

No suspense of where I come from - my Motherland is INDIA :-). I came to the US to get a Master's degree in the vision field and have been here for about 7 years - my life has changed quite a bit, that's why I am looking at stabilising my position in the US.

I feel hopeful now and I think I should venture into the possibilities of becoming an RN.

Thank you for your support.

WIth best regards,

Vans

epiphany · Jun 16, 2005

What you want to know, if I am not mistaken, is whether there is any hope of you getting a job in the US after graduating with a US degree. As a new graduate with a lot of overseas classmates, my experience is that they all get jobs one way or another. There are lots of avenues, and many institutions willing to sponsor, but you have to keep your eyes open and ask around. It's not always obvious at first. Sometimes you may have to sign a long term commitment, or get in the door through externships, so if a manager likes you, you stand a chance of getting sponsored. Students will often get a year permit after graduation, and that helps them to work while their papers are being processed. So, address your concern, there is definitely a possibility of "getting in".

Hello.
I have been gathering information about nursing schools and courses for more than a year now. Apart from my inclination to stay in the medical field, an important factor for me to choose this profession is this - I need a stable status (let us say a green card) in this country. I was told that since, the demand for nurses is so high in America, Green cards for nurses are processed "easily".
Does anyone know about this? I shouldn't spend the time & money and become an RN only to be sent out of the country when the work visa runs out - Do you know if hospitals process green cards for RNs? How can I get information on this? Please help.
Thank you.
Cheers,
Vans