Should foreign trained nurses with experience be considered new grads?

Dear New Grad with Foreign Experience,

You may not feel like a new grad, but to most employers, you will be seen as a new grad and not as an experienced nurse.

The reason is that the hiring manager has no way of evaluating previous foreign experience because it varies so much. 

I once precepted a nurses with experience in the Phillipines. She had worked ICU for 5 years. When I oriented her, I started to talk about breath sounds on her patient. I asked her to get out her stethoscope, but she didn't have one.

Apparently, in the ICU where she worked, only doctors had stethoscopes and listened to breath sounds. We started from scratch and I taught her to assess breath sounds.

Another nurse came from Nigeria, had worked in an ED but did not have IV insertion skills. Again, the doctors placed all IVs. She also struggled with being assertive in any manner. She would not question an order or suggest an order because it was considered presumptuous and unseemly on the part of a nurse and a woman to take the initiative.

Yet another nurse with experience in Europe had a very hard time giving narcotics, as the culture of pain management was very different.

All this to say you have to learn the culture of nursing and medicine here in the States. It may be similar, it may be very different, but you need time and support to bridge the gap. 

As a new grad, you qualify for Residency programs. Residency programs give you the. most support as a new grad. I understand it is not easy to find a job as a new grad in New York, but look at upstate areas and consider re-locating.

I sincerely hope you will read my book below to sharpen your resume, cover letter and interviewing skills for the best chance possible of landing your first nursing job.

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth