antmaggiern

Well I am not sure what the laws are in Nigeria. I am assumeing you mean to leave there someday and come to america. Be warned that your vast nursing experience and license does not gaurantee that you will be allowed to work as a nurse here. I know of doctors from other countries who had to settle for taking the RN exam because their MD license did not carry over. I also know that many RN's in other countries end up having to work as LVN/LPN's because the training and education is different. In any case there must be other nursing positions open to you that you can go to. Why stay where you are not paid? you aren't losing you will be gaining. Also does your government have a labor support advocacy group? You might have to report your employer to these groups. You have to eat and support your family. That takes money. You have not been paid for 6 months? It is doubtful you will be paid at all. Good Luck in your future.

I think before you consider a specialty area you should have some experience in Med Surge. Then you wouldn't feel intimidated by being a charge nurse or the only RN on staff when starting such a job. To answer your question I believe its a matter of being over qualified. You would want to do what you are licensed to do as an RN. Its not easy taking a job in which your training and skills would not be used. Its not a matter of being willing to take the lower pay but a matter of legal responsibilities. The employer who advertises the position of LPN cannot hire an RN if their are qualified LPN's available for that job. WE are a litigeous society and for every job filled by the wrong person the right person for that job is willing to sue for.