How do I get a Social Security Number to work voluntarily in USA Hospital?

[ILoveTenerife]

Hi there,

Can you help me at all as I am very confused!

I am at present studying Adult Nursing (Advanced Diploma) with the University of Southampton in England.

As part of my course programme, we are scheduled approximately 6 weeks to undertake what is called a Professional Development Experience (PDE). I would like to go out to work in a hospital in America for my PDE.

I have contacted a hospital in California and the volunteer coordinator has got back to me saying that all volunteers have to pass a background clearance, and in order to do this, I need to have a social security number which I do not have.

I have looked on the social security website and it sounds as if they send you out your card when you have been 3 weeks in the country, but I of course need the SS number whilst I am still here in the UK in order that I can complete the relevant checks.

Also, to get a SS number, I need to have a visa, but again, I do not know what visa would be required.

I was just wondering if anyone may have any experience in this process and may be able to direct me as to what I should do?

Many thanks xxxxxx

[elkpark]

As far as I know (there are others here a lot more knowledgeable about this kind of thing than I am), the only way to get a Social Security number is to be legally authorized to work in the US.

As for volunteering in the US for your PDE, hospitals in the US generally only use volunteers to do activities/tasks that don't require any kind of licensure or direct patient care (answering telephones, passing out magazines, giving people directions, that sort of thing). I've worked for >25 years in five different states, and I've never encountered a situation where you could do any sort of nursing care in a hospital on a voluntary basis. Would that meet the requirements of your "professional development" experience, and were you very clear with the CA hospital you spoke with about what, specifically, you were looking for in a volunteer experience?

Best wishes!

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Moved to the International forum

Issues as mentioned is going to be getting the right experience and as a volunteer in the US I suspect you will find issues as volunteering will not give you nursing experience that your university will require. I would suggest you check with your advisor at university on what is acceptable and probably have to look either closer to home or to a country where it is acceptable. I know a few UK students managed to get things sorted for Australia and a few asked about the US but I do not think anything was sorted due to visa issues, competition with US nursing schools, sorting insurance

[loriangel14, RN]

Yes I agree with Silverdragon,volunteering in a US hospital is not going to involve patient care or nursing of any sort.

[Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN]

I have seen nursing visiting scholars from foreign countries, this is arranged through nursing administration, not the volunteer office. I would contact a graduate program in the USA or have your university contact the nursing department you are interested in.

The Scholars I have seen do not provide nursing care, but allowed to observe from a high level nursing care delivered. They are also asked to describe about their nursing practice and how it differs from the USA.