are there hospitals in USA who accept foreign RN with little or no nursing experience

Silverdragon102, BSN · May 18, 2010

OK guys, lets keep to topic in this forum, I know things can get a bit heated especially with current US economic issues so lets keep to topic when answering questions that people post in here regarding working in the US.

Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN · May 18, 2010

Obviously you're very confused, as I have nothing whatsoever to do with CMS regulations, violations or reimbursement at that or any other hospital. I work in a clinical position. Which again, has NOTHING to do with the question asked by the OP.
For everyone's information, if your employer bills for medicare or medcaid you are bound the standards that they publish.

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · May 18, 2010

For everyone's information, if your employer bills for medicare or medcaid you are bound the standards that they publish.

...and for your information, I provide care to my patients regardless of what government agency pays their medical bills. But again, what's that got to do with a foreign nurse asking if they can work in the USA with little or no experience?

Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN · May 19, 2010

...and for your information, I provide care to my patients regardless of what government agency pays their medical bills. But again, what's that got to do with a foreign nurse asking if they can work in the USA with little or no experience?

That is what you should be doing providing care following the current Medicare/ Medcaid standards, basically providing the standard of care. I am sure where you work there are protocols one must follow to meet these standards. For example, DVT prevention. The government pulls random records to monitor how well your hospital is providing care, and since the government thinks Medicare and Medicaid are vunerable populations, if you follow these standards they assume you are providing good care for all. Your institution must have good outcomes or you would have heard if you provided care below their thershold.

My point is Medicare used to reimburse the cost of recruiting nurses, that incentive has been removed with the new budget cuts. Since the cost of hiring a foreign nurse is now absorbed by the hospital 100%. In the days of intensive nurse recruitment, bonuses where enjoyed by all. the cost of hiring a foreign nurse included transportation, housing, and paying an agency. It is my opinion, with so many nurses are unemployed why would they import nurses at a tremendous expense.

The new cms rhqdapu is increasing the monitoring of care, hospitals need to keep on top of the these measures this takes resources.

In conclusion, Recruitment of nurses using agencies, and hiring the most expensive nurses is not in the best interest of a hospital due economics, it is not a reflection on the foreign nurse in any way except the actual cost is cost prohibited at this time, and I don't think it will change in the near future.

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · May 19, 2010

That is what you should be doing providing care following the current Medicare/ Medcaid standards, basically providing the standard of care. I am sure where you work there are protocols one must follow to meet these standards. For example, DVT prevention. The government pulls random records to monitor how well your hospital is providing care, and since the government thinks Medicare and Medicaid are vunerable populations, if you follow these standards they assume you are providing good care for all. Your institution must have good outcomes or you would have heard if you provided care below their thershold.

I know all about these CMS standards you just mentioned. But come on, are you seriously telling me that you need Medicare to tell you that Pressure Ulcers, Deep Vein Thromboses, and Ventilator Associated Pneumonias are preventable and shouldn't happen with appropriate hospital care? I'm sorry but the Medicare standards you mentioned are a result of Evidence-based Medicine. Medicare did not come up with those rules on their own. It took years of medical and nursing research to come up with studies that showed us healthcare professionals what works and what doesn't. Then, Medicare adopted those guidelines.

I know Medicare rules as it pertains to the reimbursement of my services as a Nurse Practitioner but I subscribe to Evidence-based Medicine when I provide care to my patients. Isn't it clear that I have no interest in all the paperwork you deal with in your desk job as the Medicare "police?

My point is Medicare used to reimburse the cost of recruiting nurses, that incentive has been removed with the new budget cuts. Since the cost of hiring a foreign nurse is now absorbed by the hospital 100%. In the days of intensive nurse recruitment, bonuses where enjoyed by all. the cost of hiring a foreign nurse included transportation, housing, and paying an agency. It is my opinion, with so many nurses are unemployed why would they import nurses at a tremendous expense.

Medicare is not the only driving force behind the high unemployment rate in this country. But since you seem to be the expert on Medicare, I guess you can continue with your tangent. I would rather say that the economy is not doing so good and there are no chances of more visas being opened for nurses. Period. Short and sweet and to the point.

The new cms rhqdapu is increasing the monitoring of care, hospitals need to keep on top of the these measures this takes resources.

Hospitals big and small have been cited in the past for all sorts of deficiencies by JCAHO and CMS. There is nothing new about this.

Now can we just answer the OP's question?

allnurses Guide · May 21, 2010

**Off to hit the ignore button.....**

Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN · May 21, 2010

I answered my question in post number two,then readers did not see a relationship between Medicare and medicaid. No funding no recruitment.

nursepacific · May 22, 2010

Is it possible to get a job with no experience? Yes. It is likely? No.

Due to budget cuts, I think some U.S. hospitals are still hiring foreign experienced BSNs in critical care because it is cheaper than training a new grad.

Since there has been a huge increase in new grads in the past few years, many new R.N. grads in the U.S. are having trouble finding jobs. The CNMI (saipan) was given a special transition visa while they are undergoing a transition to U.S. Federal Immigration, and they may hire new grads from the philippines when the new CW Transitional Worker Visa regulations come out tentatively in September.

StrawberryBanana · Jun 18, 2010

Once again, more irrelevant and uncalled for ranting and raving about sponsorship of foreign nurses.
The question was whether you need experience to get sponsored. The answer is: yes, usually.

I feel Ginger's Mom made some very valid points. I completely agree with her and I'm glad that she actually cared enough to take the time to explain this to the OP as many other foreign nurses read this forum and may be curious as to what is going on in the USA. She didn't pour any sugar on it. I back her up. This is factual information, not ranting or raving. However, I am also a little confused by subsequent postings.

nursepacific · Jun 21, 2010

I agree with ghillbert.

Hospitals for fy2010 have over 1000 labor certifications stating that they can not fill available positions (usually in critical care). I believe that many hospitals are facing budget constraints, and do not wish to invest in new grads. For that reason, foreign nurses with experience are still being hired. If a foreign new grad has certain connections, I think it is theoretically possible to be hired, but for the reasons that ginger's mom stated it would still be ALMOST impossible.

I don't understand what is confusing about that.

Nurse!Nurse!Hello? · Jun 21, 2010

I agree with ghillbert.
Hospitals for fy2010 have over 1000 labor certifications stating that they can not fill available positions (usually in critical care). I believe that many hospitals are facing budget constraints, and do not wish to invest in new grads. For that reason, foreign nurses with experience are still being hired. If a foreign new grad has certain connections, I think it is theoretically possible to be hired, but for the reasons that ginger's mom stated it would still be ALMOST impossible.
I don't understand what is confusing about that.

Not sure where you are getting your information, but I have to question the accuracy of your comments. Hospitals facing budgetary constraints would be less likely to petition foreign nurses, regardless of their level of experience. There are additional costs involved that would not be present when hiring a US candidate. And with the level of unemployment in the US, it certainly makes more sense to invest in US-trained nurses--it's better for the US economy as a whole.

And as to your statement "If a foreign new grad has certain connections..." I'd like some clarification. Preferential hiring based on ethnicity is an EEOC violation. It may be OK in some foreign countries, but in the US it is illegal. :nono:

In fact, the facility I currently work at is facing an EEOC complaint because they preferentially hire too many foreign nurses from one particular country (because the DON is also from that country!) Can't wait to see how it turns out...

Precious Pinay · Jun 21, 2010

Texas and many southern states are hiring nurses with no experience