Need some serious advice

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I need a serious advice too, I can't make a new post since I'm not a premium member so I thought I'd just insert it here. I'm a foreign grad but an RN in CA and I have been looking for a job all over the place now, even tried agencies but I always get turned down because I do not have any US experience. But how do I get experience when I can't land a job, when no one would give me a chance? Can anyone advice me on what to do? I'm thinking of volunteering in hospitals instead, but volunteers don't do nursing or any medical duties there. Will that count as experience to help me attain my goal of being able to work as a nurse in the US? Please help, I am really confused on what to do.

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Specializes in Nursing Home ,Dementia Care,Neurology..

I've moved your post to International forum for more informed input.

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If you are hear legally, I would apply to LTAC which is a long term care hospital. Also would the California and see how the other nurses are finding the job search.https://allnurses.com/california-nurses/

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Yes, I am here legally and have just gotten my green card, in fact. I have all the docs and papers to prove that I am legally allowed to work here in the US, but the thing that's holding me back is that I don't have any US experience. I'm confused how to attain this because no one would hire me, so how can I gain any experience if nobody would let me have one?:confused:

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Specializes in CTICU.

Sounds like many new grads, even US trained, are having the same issues. You may just have to apply to many facilities, use any contacts you have, try to apply to less acute places (nursing homes etc) to try and get some experience.

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I'm thinking of doing some volunteer work at some of the hospitals here. Will that count as a US experience for a foreign grad like me?

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Specializes in intensive care, recovery, anesthetics.

No, it won't, but might be useful to establish some contacts.

5cats

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Why not try to move to the underserved areas of the country? Look at the boards here and see where nursing jobs are. You may have to move from CA, though.

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New grads that actually trained in the US and in particular in CA are having difficulties in getting hired and they are always going to get first pick since they are used to the system here and chances are that they even did their clinicals in one of the facilities that they applied to. But there are a very limited number of new grad positions that open up.

I would seriously consider going to another state if you wish hospital experience. Texas is hiring and Wisconsin has a shortage as well. And they both hire new grads.

Volunteer work will not count as any experience and add in the fact that it would not be in a nursing role as union contracts forbid someone to do the work and not get paid for it. So there is no way that it would be experience for you, no patient care is permitted as a volunteer.

Where in CA are you actually living? That can also make a difference.

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I live in the Silicon Valley area... I have had 4 agents/recruiters tell me that it is hard for me to find a job here, but I can't move, this is where my husband and family are, I have to consider their jobs too. I can try working in maybe about/over 50 miles from where I live, but that's about it, but even searching in those places have not resulted to any luck with me getting hired, mainly because I do not have any US experience... I just don't know what to do... If I work in nursing homes, will that count as a US experience for me to pursue being a Medical/Surgical nurse in a hospital afterwards, in the future?

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You are in a tough position! As others have said, it would be very, very difficult for you to find employment in an acute care setting, as a foreign nurse with no experience. Even new US grads are having a hard time.

When you ask about "volunteering," you have to understand that volunteers at US hospitals do things like work in the gift shop, greet people and give directions--that type of thing. Unlike the Philippines (where volunteers basically provide free nursing care,) US volunteers work in different aspects of the hospital setting. Never nursing!

If you cannot move to an area that needs nurses, you might need to change your goals for now. There are other types of nursing that you can look into. I would suggest looking into long term care, since those facilities would be more likely to hire a new grad. Later on, if the job market improves, you can think about working in a hospital setting. For right now, though, you need to look at the reality of the job market in your area, and keep an open mind about different types of nursing. You may even find that you like long term care--a lot of nurses do! Best of luck.

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try to ask an immigration lawyer that can handle your case, chances are they know a facility/hospital that can sponsor you.

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