Recommend an Agency??

suzanne4, RN · Nov 2, 2006

Question #1: Why in the world do you need an agency, in the first place?

It is quite easy to do things on your own, and get your license, etc. An agency is not required for that.

Please take the time to do some reading here before signing on the dotted line with anyone.

If you trained in the UK, then ther English exams are waived for you. All that you need to do is apply to the state that you want to work in for licensure, take the NCLEX-RN exam and pass it. And get a Visa Screen Certificate. Then find an employer.

At the top of the International Forum, there is a thread called the "Primer"

----please read that and then post questions that you have about working in the US on the International Forum, since most things apply to all foreign nurses and are not specific to nurses from the UK.

Not sure when you graduated, but you may need to make up some hours. You are required to have hours in maternal and peds to work in the US, even if it will be with only adults. And no way around that.

Clarecartwright · Nov 7, 2006

welcome Matt !

I also am starting off on the long and winding road of immigration as Suzanne says the best thing to do is read all the threads pertaining to the subject here you will learn so many things.

I have choosen to use an agency to get over to the USA as I really didnt fancy doing all the leg work so to speak ~ I researched alot of agencies before enquiring with any and I eventually picked Adevia who have been more than helpful in the 3 weeks since I applied to join them, they have rang me 4 times and have emailed me numerous times to check in with me ~ I am stuck at the moment waiting for college transcripts to check I have the required hours before I apply to Vermont to sit my NCLEX, Adevia are one of the only agencies who actualy use direct hire hospitals so they help you but you are actually contracted to the hospital you work in rather than the agency, where alot of the other agencies have you contracted to them. Definately do some research as not all options suit everyone we are all different, where some people prefer to do it alone others just dont have the confidence and would rather have someone hold there hand and guide them which is what the agencies are supposed to do.

Good luck in whatever you do and PM me if I can be of anymore help - I dont know a great deal but I may be able to help

RGN1 · Nov 8, 2006

To be truly clear - Adevia are an agency & they use agencies in the USA to place you. However, you can use them to help should you find a direct hire hospital that is willing to file I-140 for you if you are with them from the start. Not that they go out to advertise that but if you've built up a relationship with them they are willing to help you (at your expense obviously).

They are helpful & they try their best for you (at least that is what I have experienced so far). Also the break of contract fee is way, way below OGP's. Personally I think that they are one of the better bets if you want to use an agency but you will be under an agency contract in the USA for 12-24 months depending on where & who you end up getting a job in the USA with. However, the offered wages are competitive (I did plenty of homework on that before signing my contract) and it is a means to an end so the choice is yours to make.

Some will be happy to do everything themselves, others will want the help, guidance & initial finacial outlay (which is clawed back along the line via your wage & fees to the hospital) from an agency. it's a personal choice that you are free to make but just make sure you check everything out along the way. Go into it with your eyes wide open & check the fine print!! That goes for agency or direct hire!!

janelola · Nov 8, 2006

Hi, I'm hoping to go with an agency, but the BIG problem I seem to have at the moment is that for the last 5 years I have not been based on a ward. I worked in outpatients for 3 1/2 years then for the last 1/12 years I've been working as a diabetic research nurse which I love.

I applied to OGP, Avedia, Sateside and Atlas and they've all said that I will need to go back to the wards for at least one year for them to be able to help me. HELP! I have also enquired about direct hire [only to one hospital] and they've kind of said the same thing, they're really after general ward based nurses with RECENT experience. I do have 6 years ward experience, but it's not recent. Help! Has anyone out there been in a similar situation. I really would prefer to go with an agency for less hassle.

Thanks

Janelola

Silverdragon102, BSN · Nov 8, 2006

Hi, I'm hoping to go with an agency, but the BIG problem I seem to have at the moment is that for the last 5 years I have not been based on a ward. I worked in outpatients for 3 1/2 years then for the last 1/12 years I've been working as a diabetic research nurse which I love.
I applied to OGP, Avedia, Sateside and Atlas and they've all said that I will need to go back to the wards for at least one year for them to be able to help me. HELP! I have also enquired about direct hire [only to one hospital] and they've kind of said the same thing, they're really after general ward based nurses with RECENT experience. I do have 6 years ward experience, but it's not recent. Help! Has anyone out there been in a similar situation. I really would prefer to go with an agency for less hassle.
Thanks
Janelola

I am going direct hire in Phoenix and been out of acute setting for 4 years and had no problem getting the job and they are even paying me for my 20 years experience as a nurse

RGN1 · Nov 8, 2006

If I remember rightly (forgive me if I'm wrong - but the rest of the post still stands) SD you're a practice nurse which involves a multitude of skills & vast knowledge base that is current & relevant. It may be that research nursing is not recognised quite as well (rightly or wrongly) as your job - which can still be classed as being in an acute clinical setting.

I'm not saying that research nursing isn't all of the above, I know it is in many ways, but it's just that it may not be recognised as such by US hospitals.

Certainly agencies do want at least 1 or even 2 years recent acute clinical experience but I know that many do include practice nurses in this definition.

To the OP try other Direct Hire hospitals - perhaps SD can PM you her one to see what they think?? You can also try Florida Hospital - they are Direct Hire - they have a web site or you could PM Letina (if she doesn't kill me for telling yet another person to do so) for contact details.

I wish you the best of luck, let us know how you get on.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Nov 8, 2006

If I remember rightly (forgive me if I'm wrong - but the rest of the post still stands) SD you're a practice nurse which involves a multitude of skills & vast knowledge base that is current & relevant. It may be that research nursing is not recognised quite as well (rightly or wrongly) as your job - which can still be classed as being in an acute clinical setting.
I'm not saying that research nursing isn't all of the above, I know it is in many ways, but it's just that it may not be recognised as such by US hospitals.
Certainly agencies do want at least 1 or even 2 years recent acute clinical experience but I know that many do include practice nurses in this definition.
To the OP try other Direct Hire hospitals - perhaps SD can PM you her one to see what they think?? You can also try Florida Hospital - they are Direct Hire - they have a web site or you could PM Letina (if she doesn't kill me for telling yet another person to do so) for contact details.
I wish you the best of luck, let us know how you get on.

yes I am a practice nurse and can honestly say Jack of all trades master of none as we really do a bit of allsorts but when I approached agencies a few years ago they stressed I would never find a hospital who would take me unless I worked in an acute setting not in primary care. Proved them wrong on that score

But if that is the case about experience how is it Phillipine nurses are able to go through the process and get a job in the US and not even take their local boards?? Just a thought that not all hospitals will require acute experience.

To Janelola have sent you a PM (thanks

Belinda-wales, RN · Nov 9, 2006

We are going with interstaff based in london and huston they have got us a direct hire job with Banner loads of hospitals throught the states - we chose where we wanted to live and together with banner we sorted out which hospital we have had loads of input in to this. So we are going to be living in Gilbert AZ and working near which is what we wanted. My husband has been out of clinical for five years he is a senior nurse with in the trust OGP would touch him but banner bit his hand off.

RGN1 · Nov 9, 2006

yes I am a practice nurse and can honestly say Jack of all trades master of none as we really do a bit of allsorts but when I approached agencies a few years ago they stressed I would never find a hospital who would take me unless I worked in an acute setting not in primary care. Proved them wrong on that score
But if that is the case about experience how is it Phillipine nurses are able to go through the process and get a job in the US and not even take their local boards?? Just a thought that not all hospitals will require acute experience.

Glad you proved them wrong - must've been kinda satisfying! :lol2:

As far as the Phillipino nurses go I believe that they actually go to nursing schools set up there to directly feed US hospitals & that they follow a US curriculum. At least that is what I gather from the various forums. NUrses who have gone to those schools can then get jobs as if they had graduated in the USA. Mind you with retrogression I think most of them have 3-5 years under their belts before they go anyway!

Agencies prefer the easy route & it's easier to get employment for a nurse experienced in shortage jobs plain & simple. Also I suspect that they can get more money for the experienced nurse without passing on this extra - the money going towards their cut/expenses. However, I must stress that is purely supposition on my part for which I have no evidence whatsoever!

Silverdragon102, BSN · Nov 9, 2006

Glad you proved them wrong - must've been kinda satisfying!
As far as the Phillipino nurses go I believe that they actually go to nursing schools set up there to directly feed US hospitals & that they follow a US curriculum. At least that is what I gather from the various forums. NUrses who have gone to those schools can then get jobs as if they had graduated in the USA. Mind you with retrogression I think most of them have 3-5 years under their belts before they go anyway!
Agencies prefer the easy route & it's easier to get employment for a nurse experienced in shortage jobs plain & simple. Also I suspect that they can get more money for the experienced nurse without passing on this extra - the money going towards their cut/expenses. However, I must stress that is purely supposition on my part for which I have no evidence whatsoever!

Yes I found it very satisfying when I told them was doing it alone. They still tried to get me to go with them by saying there will still be lots of fees etc but yes I have spent but hospital is reimbursing me any money spent including flights out to the US to sit my exam in 2004

janelola · Nov 9, 2006

Hi, thanks so much for all your imput. Yes, I agree with you in that my job really is a paperwork job, I do clinical skills daily, such as bp's, ecg's, injections etc. But, I wouldn't class it as a clinical job unlike practice nursing.

SD- thanks for your PM, I am limiting myself somewhat tho' which location as I want to stay with my mum in Sacramento at first.

I think I'm going to have to dig that uniform out again!!

Thanks for the tip about interstaff, I will definately check them out first before throwing myself back on the wards. God, the thought of doing nights and weekends again!!:uhoh21:

I will keep you all informed, and if I find any other good agencies I'll pass it on.

Got to keep smiling!!

Janelola