Swedish RSCN planning to move to California, how is the job market?

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Hi,

I've been reading this excellent forum for sometime now but this is my first post. :eek:

I'm currently working as a nurse in Sweden but want to move to the U.S with my family. It seems as if it will take its time though with the NCLEX and all the other formalities.

I have a few questions regarding this. Is it possible to get a green card when you are a RSCN? I have heard so many different opinions about this, some say that the U.S needs nurses badly in general, while other says that there's already too many nurses. I have been working at a neonatal ICU for approx 9 years at the university hospital in my part of Sweden.

We (my famiy and I) are interested in moving to Caifornia, Napa to be more precise. Are there any opportunities there? for an RSCN with some experience?

Thanks for reading!

Jonas

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Hi and welcome to the site

Do you have clinical and theory hours in general Adult, Mental Health and Obstetrics? US nurses are general trained and clinical and theory hours are required in Paeds, Mental Health, Obstetrics and General Adult. Without meeting these requirements the state Board of nursing will not accept you and give you eligibility to sit NCLEX. Also add CA no longer accepts applications without a US SSN and you can not get that until in the US with a valid work/immigrant visa.

Once you get sorted with licensure of the state then the problem is retrogression and finding a employer willing to assist with a work/immigrant visa. Most nurses come under the category of EB3 which has been under retrogression for immigrant visa since Oct 2006 and current processing times are applicants who filed early 2005. Also CA nurses are struggling in most areas to find work so very hard for employers to justify why employing a International nurse.

I am not trying to burst your bubble and I really hope you can sort something out but you need to be aware of the above.

Good luck and be prepared for a long wait if you do meet requirements

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Thanks for your reply.

So, apparently we need to find another way. If I understand you correct this means that it'll take at the very least 6 years to get the proper documentation for living and working in CA?

Thanks for your time,

Jonas

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Yes, Currently you are looking at several years wait on top of getting sorted with a license, things may change but with the current US job issues I doubt it will change soon.

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Whoaa :grn: what a disappointment! After talking to the guys over at the green card lottery I actually thought it was possible to arrange everything in a year or two.

Thanks for your answer

Jonas

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

If Sweden participates in the lottery it may be worth a go and may be quicker but with the lottery there is no guarantee. Getting eligibility to be licensed should take 6 ish months approx and then you have to sit NCLEX and pass it to get a license either OKd or issued. Some states will not issue a license without a US SSN and some will not accept applications without a US SSN

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