international RN in the USA, HELP

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I am writing on behalf of my friend who recently graduated and passed the NCLEX. Top of her class in nursing school and due to her international status no one will hire her as an RN and now is living out of her car. She is legally here for another 10 months. That is crazy to me she is an RN and cannot get ANY work. She has another 10 months in the US before she must leave. I have two questions. 1. she'd like to stay and work here, is that possible long term? Knowing there is a demand for nurses? She thinks it isn't. And 2, is anyone hiring Rn's for short term status if that is the case. She can no longer work as a CNA due to her RN status it seems. She was let go from all of her CNA jobs once they found out she passed NCLEX. Just crazy to me, with the nursing shortage, she cannot find work anywhere. She has tired everywhere. She is not holding out for the perfect job. Again, people would love to hire her but it seems their hands are tied.

Any advice, lawyers, routes for her to take would be appreciated especially for her to stay in the US and work as an RN. And yes, I have offered her to stay with me but she is too proud being from Africa.

Thank you to anyone who has advice for me.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

The simple answer is there is NO nursing shortage of nurses in much of the country. In fact there is an oversupply of new & inexperienced nurses educated in the US especially in the major metropolitan areas such as NY PA NJ MA CA TX.

Since the hiring & orientation process can take 3 months or longer it is unlikely she will find an employer willing to hire her when she is legal for less than a year.

There is a shortage of experienced specialty nurses and a shortage of nursing jobs (faculties downsize and not replacing staff) but not a shortage of inexperienced or non-specialized nurses.

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I appreciate your feedback. For anyone else who might read this, if anyone knows more about the legal aspects about her staying in the US as an RN, I'd love to know. And maybe she is just out of luck and will be sent back to a violent country. And where I live, there are many jobs available. Even if there is no shortage, there is still a demand for nurses. As I said, many want to hire her. Just seems strange that she is willing to help but no one will allow her too even short term.

Why is it she can no longer work as a CNA if she has an RN degree. Legally she can no longer work as an aide?

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

What kind of visa is she here on? Does she need sponsorship? If so that is the big issue.

Just because jobs are posted it doesn't mean that they are hiring. Some are posted with no intent to fill with external applicants. because of budget or internal hiring.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I appreciate your feedback. For anyone else who might read this, if anyone knows more about the legal aspects about her staying in the US as an RN, I'd love to know. And maybe she is just out of luck and will be sent back to a violent country. And where I live, there are many jobs available. Even if there is no shortage, there is still a demand for nurses. As I said, many want to hire her. Just seems strange that she is willing to help but no one will allow her too even short term.

Why is it she can no longer work as a CNA if she has an RN degree. Legally she can no longer work as an aide?

We cannot give legal advice as per the Terms of Service. We also can't give referrals to lawyers. Check with your friends state as there are always free legal services offered. She needs an immigration lawyer.

As many of US grads are expereincing...there are not many jobs out there......in some areas of the country the unemployment of new grads is as high as 47%....almost HALF of new grads cannot find work. Hospitals are experiencing a plethora of inexperienced nurse grads....but are looking for experienced specialty nurses with >5 years expereince but

YOu say many want to hire her... have they said why they can't or won't? What VISA does your friend hold?

Without a work VISA...you are right she may be out of luck. Has she tried political asylum? If your freind can't legally work no facility will hire her.....they can lose their federal funding and medicare/medicaid reimbursement.

Unfortunately in bad economic times this it the new reality.

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Specializes in Pedi.

Your friend needs an immigration lawyer. If she is here on a student visa she probably cannot work here. Potential employers are required to obtain documentation that the prospective employee can legally work in the United States. There is no employer out there who is going to hire a new grad knowing they are only going to get ten months out of her. New grads have been having a hard time finding employment since the economy tanked in 2008. Nursing is not a recession proof career and there is not a current nursing shortage.

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I was an international student until about 2-3 years ago.

after graduation, you are legally allowed to work full time in the US for a total of 12 months in the area of your degree- that's what the law states.

the law does not help her get a job etc, that is something that depends on her.

Unfortunately, because employers train you for 3-4 months (and that costs, because they pay another nurse to shadow you at the same time), it does not seem reasonable for them to train her knowing that she will leave. Nursing shortage? not so sure about that. She might get lucky if she gets a new grad position somewhere, but again....

Long term care might hire her if nothing else.

Her options:

-enroll in further courses towards her career, meaning associate to BSN degree, etc. that may give her another student visa (she can work legally for two years part time while attending school, as far as I know)

it's unfortunate what situation she is in....

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The student visa gets transformed into a work visa for 12 months. International students are allowed to work legally outside of campus, in the area of study, once they graduate.

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Sponsorship is a no-go. Visas are not issued any more based on "there is no one that can do a better job than this person"!!

She should get a job as an RN in a long term or something that will hire her!

good luck

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Oh, and you mentioned violent country? Political asylum could be an option, there are different treaties between certain countries and the US!

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
I was an international student until about 2-3 years ago.

after graduation, you are legally allowed to work full time in the US for a total of 12 months in the area of your degree- that's what the law states.

the law does not help her get a job etc, that is something that depends on her.

Unfortunately, because employers train you for 3-4 months (and that costs, because they pay another nurse to shadow you at the same time), it does not seem reasonable for them to train her knowing that she will leave. Nursing shortage? not so sure about that. She might get lucky if she gets a new grad position somewhere, but again....

Long term care might hire her if nothing else.

Her options:

-enroll in further courses towards her career, meaning associate to BSN degree, etc. that may give her another student visa (she can work legally for two years part time while attending school, as far as I know)

it's unfortunate what situation she is in....

They must apply for and qualify for OPT before they graduate otherwise they can not legally work in the US post study. Also job must be obtained within a certain period of time otherwise OPT is void and unless maintaining student status become illegal in the US and can be liable for a ban

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