Are you a Registered Nurse looking for a comprehensive guide on how to secure a Nursing Job in the United States? Good. This article will walk you through the necessary information and processes to become a qualified candidate for nursing jobs in the United States.
Nursing is a challenging yet rewarding profession that offers a handful of opportunities for professional growth and career fulfillment. Nurses are important professionals who ensure good health and wellness.
If you work as a Nurse in the USA, you have access to quality of life, such as competitive salary, comprehensive healthcare benefits, career advancement, professional support, flexible working hours, exploration, and job security.
Table of Content
Comprehensive Guide to Nursing Jobs in the USA for Foreigners: Requirement and how to Apply
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An Overview of Nursing Jobs in the USA
10 Types of Nursing Jobs in USA
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Nursing Jobs in USA for Foreigners
2. Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
4. Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
Nursing Jobs in USA for Foreigners
What are the Requirements for Foreign Nurses in the USA?
Visa Sponsorship for Nursing Jobs in the USA
Nursing Jobs in USA for foreigners
US Permanent Residence (Green Card) for Nurses
Salary Expectations for Nurses in the USA
How to Find Nursing Jobs in the USA
Networking and Professional Associations
How to Apply for Nursing Jobs in the USA
Job Search (Networking, Utilize Recruitment Agencies)
Starting Your Nursing Career in the USA
An Overview of Nursing Jobs in the USA
The pandemic outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 was one of the core causes of the high demand for Nurses in the United States, as the percentage increased from 9.4% to 11.2% between 2020 and 2022. The American Association of Colleges of Nurses reported that over 5 million registered nurses work in the U.S., and more than 25% of RNs are projected to leave the profession in the next five years.
The BNS predicts that nursing jobs will grow 6% from 2022 to 2032, and the federal government projects creating 203,000 new registered nurse positions every year from 2021 to 2031.
This content discusses the types of available nursing positions, the requirements, fitted visas for foreign nurses, the application process, and how to find nursing jobs in the United States in light of the current shortage of nurses.
10 Types of Nursing Jobs in USA
While nurses’ primary and overall goal is to provide healthcare for patients and advocate for or promote wellness, their services can vary depending on their specialty. Here are 10 types of Nursing Jobs in the USA.
1. Registered Nurse (RN)
A registered Nurse (RN) assists doctors and other medical experts in providing qualitative patient care. Registered Nurses have specific qualifications and experiences and prefer to work in a certain setting that aligns with their training. For example, an RN might specialize in working in Emergency Rooms (ERs) or caring for people with Cardiovascular Disease. They always have specifications.
A registered nurse is known for playing a central role in assisting healthcare centers or organizations in providing adequate care to a diverse and growing patient population.
Responsibility of Registered Nurses
- They give you a physical exam
- Record observation about your health
- Use medical equipment
- Assist with diagnostic tests
- Oversees Licensed Practical Nurses who may also play a role in your care
2. Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Licensed Practical Nurses are Nurses who offer basic medical care to patients with the support of Registered Nurses and Doctors.
They are allowed to do basic medical tasks such as checking vital signs and feeding patients.
Licensed Practical Nurses liaise with patients, their relatives, and doctors and ensure communication among the healthcare team.
Responsibility of Licensed Practical Nurses
- Monitor Patients’ health
- Keep Patients’ records
- Reporting
- Communication
- Provide basic comfort care for patients
3. Nurse Practitioner (NP)
A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is also an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) with full authority to offer a wide range of healthcare services such as diagnosing and treating illness, prescribing medication, interpreting diagnostic tests, and seeing to all patients’ care.
A Nurse Practitioner shares almost the same responsibilities as doctors because of their qualifications, training and experiences. They can offer primary health care, specialty care providers and focus their care on a specific population, such as families, children, and elders.
Responsibility of Nurse Practitioner
- Create Patient care plans
- Prescribe medication
- Write referrals for specialists
- Analyze tests results
- Order diagnostic tests
4. Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) trained by a Master’s or Post-graduate certificate level CNS program. They are trained to apply knowledge and experience to a particular patient population, such as adult acute and critical care in a clinical setting.
They serve as Educators or Consultants to nursing staff, and as professionals, they ensure evidence-based practice and quality patient outcomes.
Responsibility of Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Direct care
- Consultation
- System Leadership
- Coaching Staff
- Research and Interpretation of Evidence
5. Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
A Nurse Anesthetist is an important type of Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) who offers or administers anesthesia to patients before, during, and after surgical processes.
Nurse Anesthetists provide services in various settings, such as hospitals, physicians’ offices, rural and medically underserved areas, and the military. They can also serve as teachers, researchers, and administrators outside clinical settings.
Responsibility of Nurse Anesthetists
- Preparing patients for Anesthesia
- Administering Anesthesia to patients
- Managing recovery from anesthesia
- Maintaining anesthesia during an operation
- Determining the proper amount of anesthesia
6. Nurse Midwife (CNM)
A Nurse Midwife is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) responsible for the gynecologic and primary care of women. Nurse midwives are specifically based on women’s reproductive health and childbirth.
Nurse Midwives offer prenatal, postnatal, family planning, and obstetric care for women.
Generally, they ensure wellness for new mothers and babies, offering them health education on nutrition and disease prevention.
Responsibility of Nurse Midwife
- Performing routine gynecological checkups
- Coaching and caring for mothers throughout labor and childbirth
- Educating women on their childbirth options based on their unique health
- Providing newborn care for the first 28 days
- Teaching mothers how to breastfeed and care for their babies
7. Public Health Nurse
Public Health Nurses are health practitioners who are committed to preventing, educating, advocating, evaluating, and assessing public health. They are active medical experts in their respective communities who help improve the health of the populace.
They educate and enlighten people with helpful information on how to protect their health and prevent themselves against illness. Their ultimate interest is to promote public wellness, prevent illness, and reduce health risks in the community.
Responsibility of Public Health Nurses
- Assessing health trends to discover health risk factors peculiar to communities
- Advocacy with local, state, and federal authorities in improving access to health services in underserved communities
- Providing information on local health programs and services that are available to improve access to care
- Providing direct health care services to at-risk population
8. Home Health Nurse
Home Health Nurses offer one-on-one or personalized medical care for patients of all ages in their respective homes.
Home Health Nurses’ patients can critically observe and examine ill elders, disabled, recovering from surgery injury, or accident. They also extend their services to pregnant women or new mothers in need of medical care, support and education.
Responsibility of Home Health Nurse
- Monitoring and Evaluating Patients’ responses to treatment
- Oversee cases management
- Assess patient’s needs and develop plans of care with physicians
- Take vital signs, draw labs, and manage wound care
- Work with clinical health care professionals to coordinate home care
9. Travel Nurse
Travel Nurses are registered or licensed practical nurses who work on short-term contracts to help hospitals or healthcare centers fill workforce gaps.
Whenever there is a shortage in a hospital, a travel nurse is assigned to fill the vacant spot. For example, Travel Nurses might be contracted for nurses on maternity or sick leave, and they could be invited to another country for an emergency case.
The contract length for Travel Nurses is 13 weeks or more. However, the length varies depending on the needed facility and the travel nurses’ availability.
Travel Nurses work with third party or Nursing job agencies that assign them to hospitals in dire need of their services.
Responsibility of Travel Nurses
- Performing head-to-toe assessments
- Admitting and discharging patients
- Giving medication
- Managing IVs or Central lines
- Collecting labs
10. Nurse Educator
Nurse Educators start their careers as registered nurses and then acquire education, such as an MSN and DNP, that allows them to take up nurse education positions. This allows them to instill a better knowledge of healthcare, the system, and patient needs.
Nurse Educators are trained Nurses who are saddled with the responsibility of teaching and training prospective nursing practitioners in clinical skills, patient care methods, and best collaboration practices to become skilled and qualified nurses.
Responsibility of Nurse Educators
- Maintaining clinical skills and certification
- Instructing hospital research
- Role model
- Designing and Evaluating program curricula
- Collaborator
What are the Requirements for Foreign Nurses in the USA?
Working as a Registered Nurse in the USA has many advantages. However, it comes with its demands. Before you can be qualified to practice Nursing in the USA, you must fulfill the requirements briefly discussed below:
1. Valid nursing degree or diploma: One of the core requirements for a foreign nurse is to meet the educational standard or qualification of the United States. You must have graduated as a registered nurse from a recognized institution in your country for either an associate degree program or a diploma certificate in nursing which is equivalent to U.S standards, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or higher.
2. English language proficiency (TOEFL or IELTS): The English proficiency exams or tests are an important aspect of the US immigration process. If you don’t have proof, you will not be granted a visa to work in the US as a Registered Nurse.
Two acceptable English tests are highly regarded and recommended for foreign nurses intending to practice in the United States before they can be granted a Visa. They are TOEFL, and IELTS
- TOEFL: This means a Test of English as a Foreign Language. It is a recognized standard English test to assess and examine your understanding and use of English. It is a test designed for non-English speakers to test their reading, listening, speaking, and writing skills. TOEFL is computer-based.
- IELTS: This stands for International English Language Testing System. It is also a test to determine the English proficiency of the taker. It is basically meant for foreigners who intend to study or work in an English-speaking country.
It is important to note that some states accept the TOEFL or IELTS, while others accept both.
However, the US Visa and immigration department and the US Government accept IELTS, which shows that the non-English speaker taking it has the required knowledge to work in the United States.
3. Credential evaluation by a recognized agency: It is very important to have your credentials evaluated by a recognized body to authenticate the genuineness and authenticity of your profiles before you can qualify to write the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).
This will prove that you have genuinely completed an education program of the same status as a US education program and you hold a valid nursing license, university or nursing school certificate, or transcript verified by a recognized independent party.
The Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing (CGFNS) is the most popular body in the US for credential evaluation and verification. They go through your education background and your nursing school transcript from your country to determine if you are qualified for the NCLEX.
4. Passing the NCLEX-RN exam: The National Council Licensure Examination is a required national examination or test by all nurses to be qualified as registered or licensed practical nurses. This examination grants you the authority to practice your acquired nursing skills and knowledge in the US.
The NCLEX is organized and championed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. They are the body that issues or denies candidates a nursing license. If you pass the NCLEX-RN exam, you will be given the license to practice the profession in the US. If you fail the exam, you will be denied the permit.
5. VisaScreen certificate: Visa credential assessment service provides broad screening services for medical experts seeking a United States working visa. Successful applicants are given an ICHP certificate that satisfies federal screening requirements.
Once you have successfully submitted all the needed documents and passed all the required examinations and tests, you are qualified for the visa screen certificate, which will be valid for 5 years from the day of collection.
6. State licensure application: All United States are responsible for the licensure of Nurses in their states. The approval is different. You can get each state’s licensure information on the Board of Nursing Website.
7. Background check: A background check is a comprehensive investigation of a potential candidate’s education, employment history, professional license, criminal history, and information on professional penalties to confirm that their qualifications are safe and hireable.
A USA nursing background check is considered a thorough check on the applicants’ profiles regarding education, previous employment and experiences, professional license, and other vital information before they are deemed qualified to practice in the USA.
There are two ways to run a nursing background check, and they are:
- Do it yourself
- Do it with a third party by employing the services of companies that run it, such as Precheck, Checkr, Prehire, Iprospectcheck, etc.
Visa Sponsorship for Nursing Jobs in the USA
To pursue a Nursing career in the United States, you must have sponsorship for an employment-based Visa. This means an employer must offer you Nursing jobs after you have met the requirements.
Below are different visas you may consider as you intend to move to the US to practice Nursing.
H-1B Visa
The H-1B Visa is a non-immigrant visa that permits U.S. employers to employ foreign talents in specialty occupations temporarily. These careers require a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a specific profession of expertise.
The essence of the H-1B Visa is to allow U.S. employers to temporarily hire capable and qualified foreigners to work in the United States.
This is one of the visas for foreign-trained Nurses because it grants medical experts temporary employment in the U.S. for three to six years.
Requirements for H-1B Visa
- Education level of a bachelor’s degree or beyond
- Securing a nursing license by completing a nursing program and passing the National Council Licensure Examinations (NCLEX)
- Sponsorship and petition filing
- Employer-Employee relationship
- Labor condition Application
EB-3 Visa
The EB-3 Visa is an employment-based visa that grants permanent residency to international or foreign holders working in the United States.
This Visa is categorized as an Employment-Based immigration visa offered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (UISCIS). Eb is an acronym for Employment-Based.
As an international nurse willing to immigrate to the United States to continue your Nursing career, an EB-3 visa is the best green card option for you.
The EB-3 Visa is made for 3 categories of applicants:
- Skilled workers: These workers do not necessarily have formal degree certification but have relevant training with at least 2 years of experience. They must have post-secondary school education or training. They can be considered for the EB-3 visa when they meet other requirements.
- Professionals: These workers must have a formal degree before being considered for this visa category. Years of experience are also advantageous, but the focus is more on higher educational qualifications.
- Unskilled Workers: You must be ready and able to do non-seasonally and permanently unskilled labor.
TN Visa
TN Visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows qualified Canadians and Mexicans to work in the US. It will enable its holder to work for 3 years with the possibility of renewal.
Nursing is one of the eligible careers or professions for this Visa. If you are a Canadian or Mexican Nurse, you can secure this visa and practice your nursing profession in the US.
TN Visa came up with an agreement with the United States, Mexico, and Canada (UMCA).
Requirements for TN Visa:
- Citizenship: Only a Canadian or Mexican citizen is qualified for this visa
- Job Offer: You must have been offered a job by a US employer before this visa can be granted. It doesn’t permit self-employment.
- TN Visa Profession List: You should state your nursing profession in this spot.
- Educational and Professional Credentials: Your visa application will be granted only if you have all the required educational certifications and professional credentials.
- Non-Immigrant Intent: Your application should show that you are staying in the US temporarily and have a strong connection with your home country.
US Permanent Residence (Green Card) for Nurses
A registered nurse can easily obtain a green card to practice nursing in the United States permanently, more easily than almost any other career.
The US Department of Labour categorized nurses as a Schedule A shortage occupation in the US, making it easier for registered nurses to move to the US faster than people of other professions.
Employers can sponsor Registered Nurses’ Green Card without going through the lengthy and expensive PERM process.
Requirement for Green Card Visa
- Obtain a college degree in Nursing
- Get a license abroad as a Registered Nurse
- Pass an English Examination
- Obtain a Visa screen certificate
- Get a job offer from a U.S. Employer
- Pass the NCLEX examination
The H-1C Visa
The H1-C Visa is also a non-immigrant visa that grants foreign Nationals the right to move to the U.S. for temporary work as registered nurses in a health professional shortage area determined by the U.S. Department of Labor.
The H1-C Visa was introduced in 1999 to combat the shortage of nurses in the United States by allowing qualified international nurses to practice there.
Requirement for H1-C Visa
- Applicants must have a license to practice nursing in the country where they finished their nursing course.
- Passed necessary exams or tests by the Commission on Graduates for Foreign Nursing Schools to prove their qualifications and capability for a U.S. nursing license.
Salary Expectations for Nurses in the USA
This is a breakdown of Nursing specialties in the United States in 2024.
| Nurses in the United States of America | Expected Salary |
|---|---|
|
$86,070 (yearly) or $41.38 (per hour) |
|
$59,730 (yearly) or $28.72 (per hour) |
|
$117,450 (yearly) or $56.47 (per hour) |
|
$94,545 (yearly) or $45(per hour) |
|
$212,650 (yearly)or $102.24 (per hour) |
|
$129,650 (yearly) or 62,33 (per hour) |
|
$78,437 (yearly) or $37.71 (per hour) |
|
$105,021 (yearly) or $50 (per hour) |
|
$104, 030 (yearly) $36.28 (per hour) |
|
$80,780 (yearly) |
Source: Nursingprocess.org, Talent.com and ZipRecruiter
How to Find Nursing Jobs in the USA
As a foreign registered Nurse who seeks a greener pasture in the United States, you can explore the following ways to get suitable nursing vacancies that resonate with your qualifications.
Online Job Boards
Online Job boards are online platforms or job searches where employers make job vacancies or opportunities available for prospective job seekers and promote the vacancies for qualified employees.
If you are a registered nurse willing to work in the USA, you can explore job boards designed for that profession to get your dream job. There are different job boards where you can find Nursing jobs in the USA.
Below are some of the job boards you can try out:
- Nurse.com: Nurse.com is one of the biggest job boards that focuses on promoting nursing vacancies for qualified candidates to become nurses in the USA.
- Nursejungle.com: Nurse Jungle.com is another reliable job board that displays job opportunities related to Nursing, such as RNs, LPNs, Surgical Techs, and Physician assistants, for eligible candidates. You can search for available positions on this job site using location, course, contract, and type.
- Nursefinders: This is a popular job search for Nurses who intend to practice in the USA.
- RNwanted: This job site gives nurses easy access to US vacancies in Nursing. It is a job search that permits you to place down your contact details, resumes, and other important information for your application.
- USAjobs: USA jobs is an official online platform where most of USA jobs are promoted for intending candidates with required qualifications. You can also use the medium to get a nursing job by exploring the site.
Read Also:
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Recruitment Agencies
Recruitment Agencies serve as intermediaries between employers and job seekers. They are a body that works for organizations or companies to fill the vacancies with qualified applicants.
They also assist job seekers in getting jobs that fit their qualifications. They source, screen, and recommend eligible candidates for hiring managers.
As a Nurse who intends to port to the US to continue your career, you can take advantage of these job agencies to get yourself the best. Below are some of the recruitment agencies you can try out:
Networking and Professional Associations
Networking and Professional Associations are another good way to find nursing jobs in the United States of America (USA). As a registered nurse, joining recognized professional associations and networking with revered nursing personalities opens greater opportunities to develop your career and connects you to communities with a wide range of talents.
These connections can refer and recommend you for any international job opportunity and provide a recommendation letter that makes employment easier. Below are examples of professional nursing associations you can join:
- American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
- American Association of Neuroscience Nurses (AANN)
- National League for Nursing (NLN)
- National Association of Licensed Practical Nurses (NALPN)
- Emergency Nurses Association (ENA)
- American Nurses Association (ANA)
How to Apply for Nursing Jobs in the USA
Nursing jobs can be applied for in the United States, adopting different styles. Check these methods of applying for nursing jobs in the USA.
Job Search (Networking, Utilize Recruitment Agencies)
You can apply for nursing jobs using job search engines or recruitment agencies. There are different recruitment agencies that are partnered by the United States that publish or promote job vacancies and recruit qualified candidates for US employers.
You can apply for and get Nursing jobs through the network you keep with professional colleagues in your field. Also, using job search engines or tools and recruitment agencies like Adecco, Randstad, Airswift, and Kelly Services can be greatly helpful for your nursing job application.
Resume Development:
When developing or writing your resume for a nursing application, there are tips or guidelines to follow to attract the hiring manager easily. Consider the below tips when developing your resume:
- Include Keywords: Use keywords in the job description. This will scale your application through the Applicant Tracking System.
- Blend quantifiable and qualitative information: When discussing your skills and brilliance, it is important to include data from your years of experience and statistics of your recorded achievements in those years.
- Write your summary last.
- Consider formatting style
- Remember the structure: Your resume should have three components: skills, experience, and achievements.
- Proofread
Other cogent things when writing your resume are:
- Understand the job description
- Use attractive adjective
- Make it scannable
Job Application
The following are steps for Nursing Jobs Application
- Meet the US basic educational or professional requirements
- Complete a Foreign-Educated Nurse (FEN) Course: Some states in the US demand Foreign Nurses to take a FEN course before they can consider their applications. This includes 120 hours in the classroom and 120 hours of clinical practice to be supervised by a licensed registered nurse.
- Pass English Language Proficiency Tests
- Pass the NCLEX-RN examination.
- Get your credentials evaluated by CGFNS to confirm their authenticity and genuineness.
- Find a Nursing Recruitment Agency or US-Based Employer
- Get your Nursing Employment Visa or Work Visa
- Find a Registered Nursing Job in the US
Interview Preparation
While preparing for your US nursing job interview, consider the tips below:
- Know who you are and how you got where you are: You are expected to understand your resume by knowing your strengths and weaknesses and recounting your achievements.
- Know the following goals and ambitions for your career.
- Understand the role you are applying for and on which the interview would be based.
- Know about the organization: It is essential to read about the organization you are applying to. You must master its mission and vision and set goals before the interview.
- Get down your ideas.
Follow-Up
You need to follow up after your application, especially if you do not receive a response from the organization you applied to a week or more after submitting and confirming your application.
However, doing that requires logical approaches. Consider the following steps when following up on your application.
- Subject line: Make it clear and direct. Example: “Follow up on Nursing Educator Application” with your name.
- Greeting: Ensure you address the recipient by name, if possible.
- Introduction: Briefly introduce yourself and the position you applied for.
- Purpose of Email: State the essence of your message, which basically is to know the status of your application.
- Restate your interests and qualifications. You should re-emphasize your passion for the role and why you are the best fit.
- Closing: Appreciate the receiver for their time and consideration and provide the information through which you can be reached.
Starting Your Nursing Career in the USA
Having discussed everything required to become a successful US registered nurse without what may seem difficult before your path crossed with this content, I believe you can proceed with your application now and be rest assured of standing a chance of securing your nursing job. All you need to do is strictly adhere to the information provided in this content.
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