Should foreign trained nurses with experience be considered new grads?

Published

Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

Dear Nurse Beth,

I recently got my RN license of NY state. I have 9 yrs of foreign clinical experience .Am I considered as new grad RN or experienced RN. How easy to get jobs in ny someone like me.

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

4
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical care.

Dear Nurse Beth,

I too am facing a similar problem. I had cleared my NCLEX-RN in 2007 (Arizona State Board) but could not immigrate at that time due to retrogression. 

I reached US -NY ( Long Island) in 2019 August and once I got my SSN I renewed my AZ license and applied for NY license by endorsement in Sept 2019. Finally.. I got my NY license in the 3rd week of August 2020, but I haven't been able to get a job till now.

I called up one of the hospital HR enquiring about the Nurse residency program, but I was informed that it is for the new grads and as I have not passed out this year, I will not be considered as a new grad. 

I totally agree with you regarding the need to orient the newly immigrated nurses, but without a clear guideline by hospitals as to how to get through this is very disheartening. Hospitals are ready to take new nurses if they go through agencies, but not otherwise!! which is surprising...

Can you please tell me how I need to approach the HR to be enrolled in the new grad residency program. Also which time of the year does this program begin.  

 

Thank you 

Liz

 

 

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.
8 hours ago, lizsheeba said:

Dear Nurse Beth,

I too am facing a similar problem. I had cleared my NCLEX-RN in 2007 (Arizona State Board) but could not immigrate at that time due to retrogression. 

I reached US -NY ( Long Island) in 2019 August and once I got my SSN I renewed my AZ license and applied for NY license by endorsement in Sept 2019. Finally.. I got my NY license in the 3rd week of August 2020, but I haven't been able to get a job till now.

I called up one of the hospital HR enquiring about the Nurse residency program, but I was informed that it is for the new grads and as I have not passed out this year, I will not be considered as a new grad. 

I totally agree with you regarding the need to orient the newly immigrated nurses, but without a clear guideline by hospitals as to how to get through this is very disheartening. Hospitals are ready to take new nurses if they go through agencies, but not otherwise!! which is surprising...

Can you please tell me how I need to approach the HR to be enrolled in the new grad residency program. Also which time of the year does this program begin.  

  

New grad residency programs start at different times, depending on the hospital. Typically they follow graduation dates, and often they are in the Spring and the fall. It's best to follow individual hospital's  job boards because residencies can be posted for as little as 48 hrs.

You have been told by at least one hospital that you are ineligible, and most hospitals will tell you the same.

Consider applying to sub-acute facilities and later on applying to acute care as an experienced nurse.

Best wishes

 

 

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical care.

Dear Nurse Beth,

Thank you very much for your reply, appreciate it.

Sheeba ?

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion