Eight Steps for Foreign Educated Nurses to Work in America

1) Meet Education & Work Requirements

· Diploma or BSN from an accredited RN program

· Licensed as a Registered Nurse

· 2 years’ work experience as an RN

2) Pass the IELTS Exam

Pass the Academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam with a score of 7 in speaking and 6.5 overall.

3) Pass the NCLEX Exam

After ensuring you meet the education and language requirements, it’s time to clear the NCLEX-RN exam. Register with Pearson Vue to schedule your NCLEX exam location and date. NCLEX examinations are currently administered in various countries around the world including Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, India and the Philippines.

4) Obtain a VisaScreen Certificate

You will need to secure a VisaScreen Credentials Assessment from the Commission of Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS). The VisaScreen is a comprehensive screening service for healthcare professionals seeking an occupational visa to work in the United States. Applicants who successfully complete the VisaScreen Credentials Assessment receive a VisaScreen Certificate which ensures that they have the necessary qualifications and language skills to work as a RN in America.

5) Select an Agency to Find You a Job in the U.S.

There are generally two types of agencies that help international nurses to secure jobs in the U.S. Direct Hire or Permanent Placement agencies & Contract Staffing agencies.

Direct Hire: The international nurse becomes an employee of the U.S. healthcare facility and receives sponsorship for his/her green card directly from the healthcare facility.

Contract Hire: The international nurse is an employee of the staffing agency and receives sponsorship for his/her green card from the agency. The staffing agency contracts their services to healthcare facilities needing nurses.

At Global Nurse Force, we believe the Direct Hire Model is the best option for nurses and healthcare facilities.

Nurse know exactly where they will be working from day one and receive the same salary and benefits as regular staff.

Healthcare facilities can immediately build their permanent nursing workforce and reduce dependency on contract labor.

6) Secure an Employment Based Work Visa

The next step is to obtain your employment-based work visa (green card). Nurses that receive sponsorship directly from U.S. healthcare facilities generally do not face any challenges during the immigration process. A green card allows a nurse to live and work in the U.S. permanently.

7) Attend Immigrant Visa Interview

At the end of your immigrant visa interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate, the consular officer will inform you whether your visa application is approved or denied. When approved, you will be informed when your passport and visa will be returned to you.

8) Arrive & Start Working in the U.S.

Upon your arrival in America, a GNF representative will meet you at the airport, take you to your temporary housing and help you settle into your new community. We’ll make sure you receive your RN license, social security number and driver’s license so you can start your exciting new life and career in America.

About Global Nurse Force

Need nurses? Global Nurse Force is the premiere direct-hire international nursing recruitment specialist. Our innovative international nurse recruitment strategies and solutions can help you build your long-term workforce, reduce dependency on contract labor, and improve patient satisfaction. We have placed thousands of highly skilled nurses at healthcare facilities throughout the UK, Ireland, and USA. Reach out to us to find out how we can help your facility to recruit the best nurses from around the world.