how people look at US citizens being trained abroad and getting a job?

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Hi everyone,

Might be slightly off topic, but just wondering how people look at US citizens being trained abroad? I was born in the US, lived there until I was 10 and then moved to Europe. Since I was still quite young after hight school, I decided to do my nursing training in Europe. I now really want to move back to the US and already hold a MA RN license. I have actually been accepted to grad school (FNP), starting this September. Just curious as to how difficult it will be getting a job afterwards. I read about a low of new grads experiencing difficulties getting positions; does this count for NP's as well?

Any reply would be greatly appreciated!

Kate

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Since your FP will be in the USA getting a NP job should not be any harder than your classmates. If you are looking to work while in school, it depends where you will be living. If the nurses in your area and having a hard time, anticipate you will have some difficulty. You must be an experienced nurse so it will be easier that an IEN with no experience.

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

There's a lot of regional variation as far as NP job opportunities. There are definitely georgraphical areas in the US where the pool of NP's far outnumber the availability of jobs. On the other hand, there are also areas where even newly-graduated or inexperienced NP's find a job within six months of graduation. Congratulations on being accepted to grad school for an FNP program. Are you planning to work as an RN while studying? I think that will be advantageous because you will get a feel of employment patterns for NP's in the area where you'll work. For instance, when I was working as a staff nurse in a hospital Cardiology unit, I got to meet quite a few NP's who work in specialty practices such as Cardiology and Pulmonary Medicine. They were able to give me insight on which areas have more openings for NP's and they influenced my decision on which NP track to pursue.

By the way, where you obtained your undergraduate degree should not matter as long as you are licensed as an RN. In most places, nurses with experience tend to have an easier time finding jobs than new grads. You also mentioned you have a Massachusetts license. I hear that the Boston area in particular prefer nurses with BSN's and that new grads are really having a hard time finding jobs in the Boston metro area. However, I'll leave that first-hand knowldege of the job situation in Massachusetts from someone who actually know and work in that state.

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Thanks for your replies! They were very helpful. I am planning on doing the NP program part-time and work as an RN simulataneously.. That is, if I will be able to get a job, otherwise I will just study full-time, hoping that the job market will be a bit better after graduation. I thought about the PA program, as I was told the job market for them tends to be less tight. It's just that I am sure I want to work in Family Practice, thought it would therefore be better to specialize directly.

Thanks again!

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If your school is in MA, you will find it hard to get a job with flexibility. Most schools, NP and PA do not recommend you to work while in school.

If your school is in another state, you may find job hunting easier.

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Specializes in CTICU.

I am not a USC, but I have found that as long as I have a US nursing license and verifiable experience, nobody cares where I did my education.

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