USA nurse banding

[EBnurse]

Hi

I am a UK nurse looking to emigrate to the USA. I understand the complexities and struggles of doing this regarding NCLEX visas jobs etc and have got great info on this site. What would be beneficial is to understand the grading of nurses in the US.

for example I am a degree trained nurse with a masters degree and work as a senior sister at band 7 on the AfC pay scale in the UK. I appreciate that this may not be transferable but I would like to understand the structure of nursing in the US if possible.

thanks in advance

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

US doesn't band nurses. US and Canadian RNs are generalist trained through the bachelor's level (all nurses have clinical and theory in adult, geriatric, pediatric, psych/mental health, and OB/women's health. ) BSN usually has some additional management and public/community health nursing.

There are advanced practice RNs that specialize (acute care adult , family practice, pediatrics, psych , women's health, nurse anesthetist, etc) and usually have diagnostic and prescriptive authority. These are minimum MSN but some have DNP (doctor of nursing practice).

There are also clinical nurse specialists & clinical nurse leaders that are masters prepared.

In addition there are non clinical MSN nurses such as nurse management, nurse education and nursing informatics.

Quite often the largest barrier for UK nurses is the entry to RN practice education is specialized and there is insufficient clinical & theory in the generalist areas

If you are an experienced specialist nurse that can meet the basic nurse education (clinical & theory in the above mentioned areas) and qualify to take the NCLEX and become a licensed RN you have a greater chance to qualify for a visa such as H1B that is intended for BS level professionals with specialty training. There is also a less competitive visa for MSN prepared & qualified nurses.

[EBnurse]

Thank you this is very helpful- the whole healthcare system is so different it's great to understand more- my husband and I are both nurses and are transcripts are fine for NCLEX but visas are a whole other situation! I'm a specialist nurse in the uK but that's not formalised like it is in the US. My husband is a nurse manager with a masters.

Its ta a mind field!

[Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN]

I would start with adding the NCLEX, try and publish, make connections through professional organizations.