Philippine Nurse Coming to USA

[Precious Pinay]

Hello, I just graduated from with my BSN from Philippines. I am ready to come to America and find work, I understand there is lots of work for nurses in most parts of the USA.

I think Texas is going to be my destination, I have other batchmates whom are now working in Texas, Some in Lubbock, Houston and Dallas. I look at BON 4 Texas, and requirements seem straightforward. I will send my CES in this week, and I will start my application to Texas BON.

I have decided to not take my local exam in Philippines and study for NCLEX. How long is review class in USA for NCLEX and what is cost? I also heard that NCLEX is offered daily.

What will be starting salary in Dallas? Will I be paid full rate for training? I look forward to being able to help support my family when I start working in USA.

Can I get my Social Security card as soon as I enter the USA? I will plan on 3 to 4 months of paperwork in USA once I arrive in order to get my affairs in order and start my job search. It is difficult to work as nurse in Philippines cuz no hospitals will hire new nurse, and I look forward to being the best nurse I can be in America:redbeathe

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

May be an immigrant visa too, you get 6 months to enter and activate those.

[Precious Pinay]

May be an immigrant visa too, you get 6 months to enter and activate those.

I have a Non Immigrant Visa it is a K1 Fiance Visa

[Precious Pinay]

If your visa is a tourist visa, it does not allow you to work. Glad to hear that you have picked a place to live, but they will not be allowed to employ you. No work visa no ssn. Sorry. The information you heard I really can't comment - but a tourist visa does not allow you to work.

There are no short cuts.

Sorry for confusion, I have Fiance Visa and you are correct there are no shortcuts it took us 4 months to wait for my Visa, such a long process.

[caliotter3]

Suggest you look into a work visa.

[Precious Pinay]

I have more questions. How long is training for new nurses in Texas? Will I qualify for a signing bonus and what is standard signing bonus? Do you think it is wise to take review course for NCLEX, or should I self study?

Will I have advantage over other nurses whom only have 2 year education in USA when getting hired? I attend very good nursing school in Davao and I want to make my instructors proud of me.

In Texas is there Jollibee or ChowKings?

[Precious Pinay]

Suggest you look into a work visa.

I have a Visa already, I will adjust status after I arrive in USA and hopefully I will have work permit within a couple of months and a greencard soon after

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

If you had mentioned what sort of visa you was coming to the US you would have had more appropriate answers. You have 90 days to get married and then you submit your paperwork to change status. Should take just a couple of months which is enough time to study for the NCLEX. Suggest you check out the NCLEX forum under the student section regarding good ways to study for the exam. Whether you qualify for sign on bonuses will depend on job and what they offer or require but until you have sorted out with BON and passed NCLEX I think that shouldn't be a worry at the moment

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

I have more questions. How long is training for new nurses in Texas?

Not specific for Texas but RN orientation depends on the unit you get hired into. From 6-8 weeks is typical. Critical Care areas may take longer than that.

Will I qualify for a signing bonus and what is standard signing bonus?

Depends on the geographical area. I hear parts of Texas still has an RN shortage and hospitals there may still offer a signing bonus but probably not in big cities.

Do you think it is wise to take review course for NCLEX, or should I self study?

This is purely an advice based on my limited knowledge of your abilities and learning style. I would take a review course because: 1) You may need some help in terms of test-taking skills in time-pressured settings since you skipped the NLE, and 2) You are going to practice in a setting with unfamiliar terminologies. I would combine self-study and a formal review course.

Will I have advantage over other nurses whom only have 2 year education in USA when getting hired?

No, unless the hospital specifically states that they prefer BSN grads.

I attend very good nursing school in Davao and I want to make my instructors proud of me.

Aww, that's nice. Unfortunately, the hospitals in Texas may not be able to tell the difference between the better schools in the Philippines and the terrible ones.

In Texas is there Jollibee or ChowKings?

Don't know, search it online.

[Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN]

Sorry for confusion, I have Fiance Visa and you are correct there are no shortcuts it took us 4 months to wait for my Visa, such a long process.

Congrats on getting married, it sounds like you have allot on your plate. I would concentrate on your new husband and having your marriage get off to a wonderful start.

NCLEX is stressful, I would discuss with your husband how much you jointly send back home. How you are going to managing money as a couple can be the number one reason why couples get divorced, so if you tackle this issue you will have a good marriage.

I would not count on any bonus since the new healthcare bill is cutting hospital budgets. Read the Texas section here at all nurses to see how Texas nurses are fairing.

[NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN]

The last time I checked, there were no ratios for Texas. Good luck.

[spongebob6286, BSN, RN]

when i was hired i did not get any bonus when in their website says that there would be sign on bonus of $ X,000! sigh. anyway, i would be forever grateful that they hire me.

[dibuh0]

there's no jollibee or chowking in any part of texas, hehe.. sign-on bonus will be depends to the hospital. but mostly, hospitals in big cities (dallas, houston, san antonio, austin) dont offer sign on bonus with new grad nurses (maybe yes for experienced nurses).. nurse patient ratio? depends to the hospital. in our hospital, our maximum is 6-7..