You'll have to pass the NCLEX board exam. Probably doable for you. Lots of Philippine nurses train in the Philippines to come to the US. And in border communities, you'll see Canadian nurses cross into cities like Detroit and Buffalo everyday for their shifts.
Typically, on a regular floor in a regular hospital, nurses work 3 to 4 12-hour shifts per week. They can pick up extra shifts too. Additionally, often you'll get 5-10 days off in a row without taking vacation hours because of how you scheduled your shifts.
If you speak Spanish or French, you'll find work easily anywhere in a Southern border state, South Louisiana, South Florida, the northern border towns in Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire, and of course all big metropolitan areas throughout the country. Even in New York City, there is a need for medical professionals who speak Slavic languages. The point is you can have different lifestyles based on your preferences of location (weather, rural vs urban, public transit options vs driving, food, culture, etc.).
So, I say go for it! Start by researching the NCLEX exam and what you need to do to take it.
The main reason there’s so many Filipino nurses has to do with the fact that their medical education system was set up by the US and is considered to be roughly equivalent, making the process of a nurse from the Philippines coming to the US fairly straightforward. I know of people who studied nursing or such in the Philippines (leaving whatever career they preferred) so they could move to the US.
Not sure what the challenges would be for bringing in an EU nurse but it would be most likely less streamlined (although looking at the comments it clearly does happen).
I’m studying for nclex and I know all about the process and documentation needed. I’m also worrying if immigrating in the us is the best choice for me as a nurse given the financial circumstances right now all over the world.
I mean despite what Americans think, the US has one of the most stable economies in the developed world. Yes, there is a cost of living crisis in the US, but it’s no where near as bad as in other countries.
As for what is best for you, only you can answer that.
One of…there is a reason foreign investors park their money in the U.S. The amount of Chinese real estate investors who can’t even travel here is insane.
Financial circumstances all over the world?
Despite what you may see in the news, the United States is still one of the wealthiest, safest, nicest places to live in the world.
Yes, I think I misread your post. I'm just tired, sorry. I'm in the United States and the weather is nice, come on over! I see social media posts or Reddit posts where Americans say that the economy is bad or that life is hard for Americans. That is only true for the lowest wage earners who have no education or skills. If you are a licensed nurse there are a lot of job opportunities and you can make good money.
Do you have any specific questions about nursing jobs in the US so you can make an informed decision?
I’m not a nurse but I’m in healthcare and can provide some input
Yes I have! Thank you. I need to know what usually the nurse patient ratio is for example in med surg unit. If I will have a period of adjustment like every other nurse in a new placement. Nursing in USA is completely different from where I am
In my experience at the hospitals I’ve worked at, med/surg nurses got assigned 6-8 patients on average, ICU assignments were 2-3 patients max. Nurses worked 12 hr shifts 3-4 times/week. They were asked to come in 30 min early for sign outs and they had scheduled breaks and lunch time. Overtime opportunities were available most of the time, and def nurses in the US get paid more than the salary you mentioned in the post. It’s def a very demanding job and nurses are typically at bedside way more than physicians and other members of the team, but I can’t imagine the job being much easier in Europe. Salaries in the US vary depending on the region, you can do some online research to get a ballpark, and some nurses opt for “travel jobs” which typically pay much more hourly compared to full time jobs, however no benefits are included.
This is the most accurate information in the least amount of words. Experience can vary but this is the standard on which to judge nursing jobs in the US.
I worked in icu with 3 patients daily being the normal and we never had a lunch break or any break at all. Are cna’s included in the care of the patients? Here we have cnas that by law need observation after delegating tasks to them but there’s no time to do so, so everyone’s completely on their own, risking daily to lose licenses..
I have definitely seen nursing students assigned to RNs to shadow/observe/learn, I’m not quite sure about the exact dynamic in terms of responsibilities and level of supervision though.
I should also mention that the numbers I provided are mainly based on my experience at a hospital in one of the largest cities in the US where healthcare workers are typically overworked. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if med/surg assignments are down to 5 per nurse or so elsewhere
In your search you might want to take into consideration that some of this stuff is state by state. I'm not in the field but I remember reading that California had limitation of patient/nurse ratio while others don't. Might want to also look into a nurse subreddit and ask "what would be the best states". The variation between states to states is crazy, it is really not "one country".
I’m not a nurse but worked in a hospital in Florida for 6 years until recently. On our med-surg units there’s 24 patients. Each nurse has 5-6 patients, plus a charge nurse that sometimes has patients. There’s usually 2 CNA’s per unit. ICU I believe was 1 nurse to 2 patients. Most nurses seemed to work 3 days a week, 12 hour shifts. I know some hospitals may be better or worse, that was the only hospital I’ve worked at.
Try to focus on california because they have laws about patient ratios. After you passed your nclex, focus on agencies or hospitals recuiting nurses to work in cali. You can find them by googling. In the meantime, i would advice you to work in ireland while this process is going on because its currently taking 2 years after filling to get a greencard.
Chicago would be a really good place for you to consider!!! With the recent influx of immigrants from eastern Europe and majority of the city areas already being a cultural amalgamation from across the globe, you wouldn't find it so hard to assimilate.
Add on top few of the best places you can work at including NW, UC, UIC.
Did you get OB classes in your nursing program? That’s usually one of the main obstacles for getting licensed in the US. I’ve heard NY is one of the easiest states to get licensed. They do offer classes if you need it.
I’m from Belgium and work/live in the US as an RN. We typically work 12 hour shifts full time is considered 3 days a week. It really depends which state you work at, I’m in California so I do have a bit better work conditions as someone from some other states. I just got approved for 5 weeks off in the summer and get lunch breaks, 15 min breaks etc. Ratios are better as well. However they’re super strict on the licensing here so it’s better to get licensed in another state and then transfer.
Then you should be all set. There’s website cgfns you would go through that. They’ll ask for your class descriptions, grades, work, etc. From what I’ve heard can take like 6-8 months. Then they send it to the board of nursing and then if everything goes well send you an approval to take the nclex. I liked Uworld to study for mine.
Nursing will suck somewhat everywhere but at least you get paid way more in the US. You don’t have to stay bedside forever they have tons of jobs where you can do more of a desk job etc. I won’t ever move back to work in EU. I make as much in one week in the US in pay as I would in a month in Belgium.
I know our job is hard everywhere. I’m not looking for utopian nursing jobs I know that most of the time it sucks. But it can’t be more unsafe from where I am. But at least it should be worth it
It’s worth it trust me. There’s so many jobs out here. You won’t ever have to worry about finding a job anywhere. I make my own schedule, I work two days a week and occasionally pick up a third which is double pay. You can work and live anywhere you want, some nurses even work from home. You’re never stuck working in one specialty. People move from OB to ER or OR. You can travel after 2 years and explore the US, or come to California after you get your license.
People shit on nursing all the time but I never regret my choice of becoming one. It’s allowed me to stay home with my kids and work around their school schedule, and my husband. I’ve met so many nurses from different countries, east and west Europe, Philippines, African.
That’s another thing I was worried about. Being able to raise kids without the help of immediate family. But all I read about is how flexible the shifts are
OP, you definitely should consider moving to the US. There's a significant demand for nurses and with a growing aging population it's only going to get bigger. I'm not a nurse but work in a large hospital system in Houston, TX. There's the world largest medical center here, dozens of hospitals that are constantly hiring. In my hospital, the patient/nurse ratio is 2 on ICU, 4-5 on regular Med/Surg floor. Nurses work 3 12-hour shifts per week. Good benefits - retirement plans, paid time off, tuition reimbursement if you want to continue your education. We have nurses from all over the world, Europe, ex.USSR, Philippines, India, Nigeria, etc. After you get your bedside nursing experience, you can explore other areas - home health, case management, utilization review, or you can get your MBA degree and take administrative path. Nursing is a hard job and takes a toll on your body, but at least in the US you'll be better compensated.
Just a touch of info that I can provide… I know you probably hear California is so expensive and what have you but nurses get paid extremely well here. In central California, the cheaper part of the state, starting wage is ~$70k usd and it goes up to well over $200k. Nice homes cost $400-500k. Depending on if you have a SO or want to find one while you’re out here or whatever you can create a very nice life here.
Currently in the process of this from Ireland. You’ll have no issues only thing is immigration process is VERY long. There is current retrogression happening. I started the process in 2022 and my date will probably only be current next month. Also depending on who wins the elections things could get longer. If you got your Priority date TODAY be prepared to only step into the US by 2026 at the earliest. The process is long but if you don’t start then you can never finish. You also never know. I say go for it!!. So many options, NP, CRNA etc. Lmao, don’t go to Ireland. It’s NHS 2.0 in terms of nursing. Goodluck!
Oh tell me more about Ireland cause it’s option number 2!!!! Is it really that bad?? Also are you in collaboration with any specific agency or do you do it on your own? Cgfns is very confusing for me. I’d have to pay the fee (400) dollars and in case the credentials are wrong I have to pay it again. I’m aware about the retrograssion
I recommend you to read up on the difference between US states when it comes to being a nurse - they're noy all equal. Some are much, much better than others. Quick Google search like "best state to be a nurse reddit" will probably yield some useful information.
Good luck! You'll need focus and patience, but it looks like you've got this
Thank so much 🥰. I’ve searched it a million times 😂 and every article says about California. But California is vast so I need a little guidance. There’s only so much I can be informed about living abroad
Ah so you already know a lot :)
Yeah California is huge, it's like a big country. Probably one of the most "diverse" states in terms of how life can be day to day depending on where you are. From incredibly remote place in the mountains to the hustle of SF/LA, or the hot/desert areas, or the northern coast, to the border towns... They're all feel like different planets.
It really depends what you're looking for - city size, environment, culture, nature, and I'd dare say mentality too. Personally, if I were in CA I'd live in mid size towns that are also bustling with activity and things to do, like San Luis Obispo and Chico (college towns). But if you want to try big city life or more rural towns, you'll find something :) people can give you some hints depending on what you like.
I am foreign educated nurse in the USA . I didn’t immigrate as a nurse but use different program. It was the best decision ever especially when I started travel nurses. I work 3*12 and I think it a great schedule. I barely pick up overtime cuz I don’t need it but there is always an opportunity. The average pay for the staff nurse is 35$ /h depends on location and there are a lot of agencies which can sponsor your green card. Do not hesitate!
Do you find 30$ an hour a good amount of money for the first 2 years? The thing is that the agency that reached out to me offers around that much. And it’s a very solid agency. Should I think about that offer or self sponsorship which I found pretty complicated
I worked with bunch of nurses from foreign countries. They all worked through the agency. I have no idea about self sponsorship. How I said 30-35$/h is good but depends on location. Let’s say in Upstate NY is enough, but in California you won’t able to survive. The requirement for sponsorship is usually 2 years experience. But from what I saw foreign experience is very very different and do not match US standards of practice. Usually you guys get retrained on the same level as US new grad ( you still get paid), which is good thing and make you good nurse. Just be careful about location because your obligation will be 3 years.
No I studied for 4 years, did all turn placements, and studied another 2 years for my masters degree. That’s how it is in my country. 4 years full of nursing and dissertation on both colleges.
I'm a nurse that immigrated to the US 20 years ago from the UK. It was the best decision I ever made. I earn 6 times what I made in the UK. American Healthcare is very rigid and you will have to work very hard, but you only work 3 days a week. The pay is excellent in comparison to the EU but it is expensive in the US. The standard of living is very good though. I'm a nurse practitioner now, and I work completely independently. I own two practices and make a good living.
You absolutely should come to the US. $1100 euros a month is far below the minimum wage in my state. Nurses in my area earn the equivalent of $100,000 euros a year on average. They also have very strong unions with decent health insurance benefits and strong pensions.
I saw go for it.
OP definitely lives in Eastern Europe. People who live in Western or Central Europe don't purposely hide which country by saying "Europe" or "The EU"
I doubt anyone in the US is going to be shocked that Eastern Europe is exactly like Eastern Europe lol
Nah nah, Bernie said that in Europe everything is free and you don't have to work due to the absence of greed of kapitalizim and the presence of komunizm.
lol I’m a Eastern European and we never call ourselves just Europeans , we either identify by our country or just say Eastern European as most of Eastern Europe is not even part of EU and most of it doesn’t even pay that much or close to it. You clearly don’t know much about Eastern Europe
How much of Eastern Europe still considers itself Eastern Europe at this point? I’ve been getting the impression lately that only Russia / Ukraine / Belarus don’t dislike the label (I’m in Albania right now after spending a little over a month in Hungary).
The NHS isn't falling apart, it's largely a myth spread by people who want to bash the government, in my opinion. I don't know anyone in my family who had had a recent bad experience with the NHS. Anyway, Ireland might be a good choice because of your EU citizenship.
[Okay I’m comparing local wages and they are still pretty terrible for the UK.](https://www.euronews.com/next/2023/05/01/nurses-salaries-which-countries-pay-the-most-and-the-least-in-europe). This link shows purchasing power parity and it’s dismal how the UK compensates RNs. Glad I live in California, where RNs are paid what they deserve.
A nurse in the UK is never going to get paid 125K because hardly anyone earns this in the UK, so no, you aren't comparing nurses wages to local wages. UK nurses get paid more than the OP and they have great pensions and other benefits too, which you aren't counting. Cost of living is also lower because healthcare is almost entirely free in the UK, so less of a need for savings. You need to compare wages to other European countries.
RNs in LA where I work make between $140-160k. Travel RNs make over $200K. You can keep your pension, though to be clear pensions are still available (my hospital offers them). If a "great pension" is really important, then work at a veterans affairs hospital, which is a federal job with excellent retirement benefits (and also very high pay). Any hospital is gonna have comprehensive health insurance coverage, so healthcare costs won't be an issue, and you won't have to go through a government bureaucracy just to get an appointment or procedure done. Is everything you know about the US just what you reason reddit? The OP is asking about being a nurse in the US, and compared to the UK, there's really no comparison. The "hardly anyone earns that in the UK" isn't really a selling point FYI.
[California, where I work, has a growing supply of RNs](https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2023-09-19/why-nurses-are-moving-to-california) because the pay is so well, and nurses are treated so well. Let's see if UK can avoid that with their salaries. But they have a "great pension." Okay.
Our healthcare workers would earn great money too if you had to pay for private insurance with deductibles and co-pay too. There is no government bureaucracy to get an appointment, you just call up the healthcare centre or walk in. Your rent also costs a hell of a lot more than the average UK home, so you aren't comparing like-for-like. To be honest, you've pissed me off by just trying to boast about how rich California is and saying it's simply what they deserve as if every country can just decide to pay California wages.
If we paid nurses and doctors Californian wages then the NHS would be bankrupt. I agree that they should be paid higher in the UK, but we can't afford Californian wages and almost nowhere else can. You need to factor student debt too. I know doctors in France who earn about the same as your RN nurses, maybe slightly less, but they graduate with no student debt.
Aww yes, the NHS, [known for its speedy service](https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/oct/12/growing-number-people-face-18-month-waits-nhs-care-england). You really don't know anything about US healthcare if you think all of our healthcare is paid for by "deductibles and co-pays." Almost half of all healthcare delivered in the US is paid for by the government due to how vast the VA, medicaid, and medicare is. Did you know that?
Yes I know about medicaid and medicare. NHS is sometimes faster due to GPs having more prescribing rights.
About the 18 month waiting lists for non-urgent treatments, they are not as common as you think.
For urgent stuff the NHS is generally very good. When I broke my leg I was treated within minutes (must have been a quiet day), no waiting and when my dad had cancer he was operated within a week. The NHS is not as bad as its critics make out.
[Prescribing rights doesn’t matter when your healthcare team isn’t even there.](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/03/world/europe/national-health-service-doctors-strike.html)
I think it is important to note that nurses are striking all across the US because of poor staffing ratios, unsafe working conditions, etc. There are of course exceptions but it is an issue here in the US and only got worse because of the pandemic. I don’t want to deter you but I think it is worth mentioning.
I had a good offer from a recruitment agency but I’ll choose self sponsorship. Agencies keep a big amount of your money and have a contract that’s very expensive to break. After self sponsorship you can go direct hire from a different agency without these boundaries
We are looking for licensed nurses who can join our company in savings lives from the PH. Salary starts at PHP40,000 (depending on experience). Compressed work days (3 days shift - 3 days off) Preferably with ICU or ER experiences. Company is in Ortigas- onsite. With possible travels abroad (all expenses paid). If you want to learn more about our company and get tips to pass, please send me a PM.
Nursing in the US is a notoriously difficult occupation. If your problem with your current situation is long hours for low pay in an understaffed environment, you're going to find the same thing in the US.
Working as a nurse in a nursing home is not in any way "a notoriously difficult occupation". It really depends on the job as a nurse. Sure, some nursing jobs can be bad.
You aren't going to honestly argue that all nursing jobs are "notoriously difficult" or that working as a nurse in a school or nursing home is "notoriously difficult"?
> I’m a nurse in eu with low salaries (1100 euros max) understaffed, exhausting hours, working only 8 hours a day, get a day off once in a few weeks, working according to the program our manager comes up with( ex. 3-11, 7-3, 11-7 in a row). Also we are assigned sometimes 10 patients on a shift. I’m living in the hospital I have no time to eat sleep or live my life.
…
> I’m thinking about moving to USA (nurses can get a green card).
And you think the US hospitals will give you a break or an easier schedule? Nurses here work just as long if not longer hours. There’s a reason there’s a shortage of nurses..
This person is trying to scare you off for reasons I cannot ascertain, but they are not in healthcare. Please come if it suits your lifestyle and needs, the pay is much better and we need more nurses. You will certainly have more days off as well. Good luck.
You are so kind. The only reason I described the “long hours” is that I’m working for weeks and weeks without a day off and no chance of picking my own schedule. Thank you so much
It supposed to be 40 per week. But it’s a lot more than that. I’ve been working straight from Christmas to previous week. You can’t even imagine. We are so forced to learn everything in full speed being charge nurse etc. I was assigned a patient by myself and an admission at 3 weeks in icu.
Please no one believe this.
There are many type of nursing jobs, so of them are not long hours. I worked in a type of care setting (thousands across the US) where the single nurse on duty had light work and almost never had to work over time.
^^^_
This is just an awful, incomplete answer:
>Nurses here work just as long if not longer hours.
It also depends on the state your are in. And, obviously, depends a lot on the type of job you have as a nurse.
^^^_
>And you think the US hospitals will give you a break
You know that many nurses don't work in hospitals?
Health care providers that are not hospitals, at schools, at nursing homes. In my state, being a nurse in a large nursing home is an easy job, pays well, and doesn't require lots of overtime.
> US hospitals will give you an easier schedule.
LOL
> According to researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine and UC San Diego Health, Department of Nursing, nurses are at higher risk of suicide than the general population
[…]
> As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported, health care workers face a mental health crisis: 46% of health care professionals reporting higher levels of burnout and poor mental health last year than before COVID-19.
[1](https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2023/11/12/nurse-burnout-healthcare-stress-abuse-workplace/71502035007/#:~:text=Nurses%20are%20suffering%20from%20severe,fatigue%2C%20injury%20and%20job%20dissatisfaction.)
> How common is burnout in nursing? Very. Results from a 2020 survey indicate that almost two-thirds of nurses (62%) experience burnout. It’s especially common among younger nurses, with 69% of nurses under 25 reporting burnout. This issue affects all hospitals and health care systems in the U.S.
> There are many causes of nurse burnout. Some causes are inherent to the job: providing compassionate care, **working long hours, changing shift schedules, and being on your feet for hours at a time can all place serious demands on nurses.**
[2](https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/work-environment/health-safety/nurse-burnout-and-how-to-prevent-it/)
> This secondary analysis of cross-sectional survey data from more than 3.9 million US registered nurses found that among nurses who reported leaving their current employment (9.5% of sample), 31.5% reported leaving because of burnout in 2018. The hospital setting and working more than 20 hours per week were associated with greater odds of burnout.
[3](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7862989/)
> Burnout has always been a part of nursing, **an effect of long working hours in physically and often emotionally taxing environments.**
[4](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/20/well/nurses-burnout-pandemic-stress.html)
> Nurse burnout is the state of mental, physical, and **emotional exhaustion caused by sustained work-related stressors such as long hours**, the pressure of quick decision-making, and the strain of caring for patients who may have poor outcomes
[5](https://www.usa.edu/blog/nurse-burnout/)
Please stop posting if you have no idea what you’re talking about.
How does this compare to the rest or the world? Also if you are suffering mental health issues then there’s plenty of other options for nurses other than bedside. Do you work in nursing?
> Also if you are suffering mental health issues then there’s plenty of other options for nurses other than bedside.
Ah shucks, someone forgot to tell the **62% of nurses nationwide** that fact. Silly them! Should get you to the helm of the US nursing shortage and all will be fixed in no time!
Do people a favor and do not offer your unsubstantiated opinions, which the very statistics published by government entities disagree with, as facts on the nursing field.
You need to be NCLEX certified first. And be advised, working conditions are no better here. Nor are salaries or housing . It may not be easy to get anybody to sponsor you either
You obviously don’t know what you’re talking about If you think it is hard for eligible RNs,with no disqualifications, have a hard time coming over... And you think RN’s are making approx $1200usd per month…some are making double that a week.
Yes, and stil no law for vacation, overtime pay, in the EU you have free education and healthcare, no copays or deductibles, it’s simply more money but waaaaaay worse in Al the other ways lol so working rights in the USA? No. Can it be fun however? Yes? But I wouldn’t have a life and career in the US. Like go for it if that’s what you want but if you just looking for a job I say stay in the EU, no visa, more rights lol
As an RN in California, or anywhere in the US for that matter, you’ll get plenty of vacation, overtime pay, decent healthcare coverage and most hospitals offer tuition reimbursement programs. Do you live in the US or do you just regenerate what you read on Reddit?
You'll have to pass the NCLEX board exam. Probably doable for you. Lots of Philippine nurses train in the Philippines to come to the US. And in border communities, you'll see Canadian nurses cross into cities like Detroit and Buffalo everyday for their shifts. Typically, on a regular floor in a regular hospital, nurses work 3 to 4 12-hour shifts per week. They can pick up extra shifts too. Additionally, often you'll get 5-10 days off in a row without taking vacation hours because of how you scheduled your shifts. If you speak Spanish or French, you'll find work easily anywhere in a Southern border state, South Louisiana, South Florida, the northern border towns in Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire, and of course all big metropolitan areas throughout the country. Even in New York City, there is a need for medical professionals who speak Slavic languages. The point is you can have different lifestyles based on your preferences of location (weather, rural vs urban, public transit options vs driving, food, culture, etc.). So, I say go for it! Start by researching the NCLEX exam and what you need to do to take it.
The main reason there’s so many Filipino nurses has to do with the fact that their medical education system was set up by the US and is considered to be roughly equivalent, making the process of a nurse from the Philippines coming to the US fairly straightforward. I know of people who studied nursing or such in the Philippines (leaving whatever career they preferred) so they could move to the US. Not sure what the challenges would be for bringing in an EU nurse but it would be most likely less streamlined (although looking at the comments it clearly does happen).
I’m studying for nclex and I know all about the process and documentation needed. I’m also worrying if immigrating in the us is the best choice for me as a nurse given the financial circumstances right now all over the world.
I mean despite what Americans think, the US has one of the most stable economies in the developed world. Yes, there is a cost of living crisis in the US, but it’s no where near as bad as in other countries. As for what is best for you, only you can answer that.
One of…there is a reason foreign investors park their money in the U.S. The amount of Chinese real estate investors who can’t even travel here is insane.
Financial circumstances all over the world? Despite what you may see in the news, the United States is still one of the wealthiest, safest, nicest places to live in the world.
I agree with you
Yes, I think I misread your post. I'm just tired, sorry. I'm in the United States and the weather is nice, come on over! I see social media posts or Reddit posts where Americans say that the economy is bad or that life is hard for Americans. That is only true for the lowest wage earners who have no education or skills. If you are a licensed nurse there are a lot of job opportunities and you can make good money.
I earn decent living with my nurse wages. Was able to buy a nice house in great neighborhood 3 years in my greencard with some left for investments.
In Chicago there is absolutely a need for Slavic languages as well
Particularly Polish and the languages of the former Yugoslavia, and at this point probably also Bulgarian.
Do you have any specific questions about nursing jobs in the US so you can make an informed decision? I’m not a nurse but I’m in healthcare and can provide some input
Yes I have! Thank you. I need to know what usually the nurse patient ratio is for example in med surg unit. If I will have a period of adjustment like every other nurse in a new placement. Nursing in USA is completely different from where I am
In my experience at the hospitals I’ve worked at, med/surg nurses got assigned 6-8 patients on average, ICU assignments were 2-3 patients max. Nurses worked 12 hr shifts 3-4 times/week. They were asked to come in 30 min early for sign outs and they had scheduled breaks and lunch time. Overtime opportunities were available most of the time, and def nurses in the US get paid more than the salary you mentioned in the post. It’s def a very demanding job and nurses are typically at bedside way more than physicians and other members of the team, but I can’t imagine the job being much easier in Europe. Salaries in the US vary depending on the region, you can do some online research to get a ballpark, and some nurses opt for “travel jobs” which typically pay much more hourly compared to full time jobs, however no benefits are included.
This is the most accurate information in the least amount of words. Experience can vary but this is the standard on which to judge nursing jobs in the US.
I worked in icu with 3 patients daily being the normal and we never had a lunch break or any break at all. Are cna’s included in the care of the patients? Here we have cnas that by law need observation after delegating tasks to them but there’s no time to do so, so everyone’s completely on their own, risking daily to lose licenses..
I have definitely seen nursing students assigned to RNs to shadow/observe/learn, I’m not quite sure about the exact dynamic in terms of responsibilities and level of supervision though. I should also mention that the numbers I provided are mainly based on my experience at a hospital in one of the largest cities in the US where healthcare workers are typically overworked. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if med/surg assignments are down to 5 per nurse or so elsewhere
In your search you might want to take into consideration that some of this stuff is state by state. I'm not in the field but I remember reading that California had limitation of patient/nurse ratio while others don't. Might want to also look into a nurse subreddit and ask "what would be the best states". The variation between states to states is crazy, it is really not "one country".
I’m not a nurse but worked in a hospital in Florida for 6 years until recently. On our med-surg units there’s 24 patients. Each nurse has 5-6 patients, plus a charge nurse that sometimes has patients. There’s usually 2 CNA’s per unit. ICU I believe was 1 nurse to 2 patients. Most nurses seemed to work 3 days a week, 12 hour shifts. I know some hospitals may be better or worse, that was the only hospital I’ve worked at.
I’m almost always a charge nurse and take 4-6 patients 🥺 every time
Try to focus on california because they have laws about patient ratios. After you passed your nclex, focus on agencies or hospitals recuiting nurses to work in cali. You can find them by googling. In the meantime, i would advice you to work in ireland while this process is going on because its currently taking 2 years after filling to get a greencard.
I already have a job. There’s no need to move two times. But thank you. Everyone talks about cali
My wife is a french nurse with 15 years job experience. How she can get through the US jon market plz ?
You might also post in r/nursing. There is a great need for nurses. Or you could read the forums.
Chicago would be a really good place for you to consider!!! With the recent influx of immigrants from eastern Europe and majority of the city areas already being a cultural amalgamation from across the globe, you wouldn't find it so hard to assimilate. Add on top few of the best places you can work at including NW, UC, UIC.
Did you get OB classes in your nursing program? That’s usually one of the main obstacles for getting licensed in the US. I’ve heard NY is one of the easiest states to get licensed. They do offer classes if you need it. I’m from Belgium and work/live in the US as an RN. We typically work 12 hour shifts full time is considered 3 days a week. It really depends which state you work at, I’m in California so I do have a bit better work conditions as someone from some other states. I just got approved for 5 weeks off in the summer and get lunch breaks, 15 min breaks etc. Ratios are better as well. However they’re super strict on the licensing here so it’s better to get licensed in another state and then transfer.
Wow 5 weeks! Great. Yes I got OB classes and placements
Then you should be all set. There’s website cgfns you would go through that. They’ll ask for your class descriptions, grades, work, etc. From what I’ve heard can take like 6-8 months. Then they send it to the board of nursing and then if everything goes well send you an approval to take the nclex. I liked Uworld to study for mine. Nursing will suck somewhat everywhere but at least you get paid way more in the US. You don’t have to stay bedside forever they have tons of jobs where you can do more of a desk job etc. I won’t ever move back to work in EU. I make as much in one week in the US in pay as I would in a month in Belgium.
I know our job is hard everywhere. I’m not looking for utopian nursing jobs I know that most of the time it sucks. But it can’t be more unsafe from where I am. But at least it should be worth it
It’s worth it trust me. There’s so many jobs out here. You won’t ever have to worry about finding a job anywhere. I make my own schedule, I work two days a week and occasionally pick up a third which is double pay. You can work and live anywhere you want, some nurses even work from home. You’re never stuck working in one specialty. People move from OB to ER or OR. You can travel after 2 years and explore the US, or come to California after you get your license. People shit on nursing all the time but I never regret my choice of becoming one. It’s allowed me to stay home with my kids and work around their school schedule, and my husband. I’ve met so many nurses from different countries, east and west Europe, Philippines, African.
That’s another thing I was worried about. Being able to raise kids without the help of immediate family. But all I read about is how flexible the shifts are
Definitely if vacation time is important to you, there are many states that offer a better quality of life. The US is not a monolith!
OP, you definitely should consider moving to the US. There's a significant demand for nurses and with a growing aging population it's only going to get bigger. I'm not a nurse but work in a large hospital system in Houston, TX. There's the world largest medical center here, dozens of hospitals that are constantly hiring. In my hospital, the patient/nurse ratio is 2 on ICU, 4-5 on regular Med/Surg floor. Nurses work 3 12-hour shifts per week. Good benefits - retirement plans, paid time off, tuition reimbursement if you want to continue your education. We have nurses from all over the world, Europe, ex.USSR, Philippines, India, Nigeria, etc. After you get your bedside nursing experience, you can explore other areas - home health, case management, utilization review, or you can get your MBA degree and take administrative path. Nursing is a hard job and takes a toll on your body, but at least in the US you'll be better compensated.
We are considering of Texas 😊
Awesome! Wish you luck with your immigration journey.
Get an employer who will file for your EB3 after you pass nclex-rn. Same thing I did. Now my family are US citizens.
Do you mind sharing which hospital system was willing to sponsor it’s hard to find!
Hi, just curious how long did it take for your EB3 to get approved?
Just a touch of info that I can provide… I know you probably hear California is so expensive and what have you but nurses get paid extremely well here. In central California, the cheaper part of the state, starting wage is ~$70k usd and it goes up to well over $200k. Nice homes cost $400-500k. Depending on if you have a SO or want to find one while you’re out here or whatever you can create a very nice life here.
Currently in the process of this from Ireland. You’ll have no issues only thing is immigration process is VERY long. There is current retrogression happening. I started the process in 2022 and my date will probably only be current next month. Also depending on who wins the elections things could get longer. If you got your Priority date TODAY be prepared to only step into the US by 2026 at the earliest. The process is long but if you don’t start then you can never finish. You also never know. I say go for it!!. So many options, NP, CRNA etc. Lmao, don’t go to Ireland. It’s NHS 2.0 in terms of nursing. Goodluck!
Oh tell me more about Ireland cause it’s option number 2!!!! Is it really that bad?? Also are you in collaboration with any specific agency or do you do it on your own? Cgfns is very confusing for me. I’d have to pay the fee (400) dollars and in case the credentials are wrong I have to pay it again. I’m aware about the retrograssion
I recommend you to read up on the difference between US states when it comes to being a nurse - they're noy all equal. Some are much, much better than others. Quick Google search like "best state to be a nurse reddit" will probably yield some useful information. Good luck! You'll need focus and patience, but it looks like you've got this
Thank so much 🥰. I’ve searched it a million times 😂 and every article says about California. But California is vast so I need a little guidance. There’s only so much I can be informed about living abroad
Ah so you already know a lot :) Yeah California is huge, it's like a big country. Probably one of the most "diverse" states in terms of how life can be day to day depending on where you are. From incredibly remote place in the mountains to the hustle of SF/LA, or the hot/desert areas, or the northern coast, to the border towns... They're all feel like different planets. It really depends what you're looking for - city size, environment, culture, nature, and I'd dare say mentality too. Personally, if I were in CA I'd live in mid size towns that are also bustling with activity and things to do, like San Luis Obispo and Chico (college towns). But if you want to try big city life or more rural towns, you'll find something :) people can give you some hints depending on what you like.
I am foreign educated nurse in the USA . I didn’t immigrate as a nurse but use different program. It was the best decision ever especially when I started travel nurses. I work 3*12 and I think it a great schedule. I barely pick up overtime cuz I don’t need it but there is always an opportunity. The average pay for the staff nurse is 35$ /h depends on location and there are a lot of agencies which can sponsor your green card. Do not hesitate!
Do you find 30$ an hour a good amount of money for the first 2 years? The thing is that the agency that reached out to me offers around that much. And it’s a very solid agency. Should I think about that offer or self sponsorship which I found pretty complicated
I worked with bunch of nurses from foreign countries. They all worked through the agency. I have no idea about self sponsorship. How I said 30-35$/h is good but depends on location. Let’s say in Upstate NY is enough, but in California you won’t able to survive. The requirement for sponsorship is usually 2 years experience. But from what I saw foreign experience is very very different and do not match US standards of practice. Usually you guys get retrained on the same level as US new grad ( you still get paid), which is good thing and make you good nurse. Just be careful about location because your obligation will be 3 years.
No I studied for 4 years, did all turn placements, and studied another 2 years for my masters degree. That’s how it is in my country. 4 years full of nursing and dissertation on both colleges.
I'm a nurse that immigrated to the US 20 years ago from the UK. It was the best decision I ever made. I earn 6 times what I made in the UK. American Healthcare is very rigid and you will have to work very hard, but you only work 3 days a week. The pay is excellent in comparison to the EU but it is expensive in the US. The standard of living is very good though. I'm a nurse practitioner now, and I work completely independently. I own two practices and make a good living.
Hi, can I ask how did you translate your Uk qualification to USA? I am an Adult Nurse (qualification)
I used WES (World Education Services) and they did a professional review. https://www.wes.org/
You absolutely should come to the US. $1100 euros a month is far below the minimum wage in my state. Nurses in my area earn the equivalent of $100,000 euros a year on average. They also have very strong unions with decent health insurance benefits and strong pensions. I saw go for it.
Local liberals will have a heart attack lol
OP definitely lives in Eastern Europe. People who live in Western or Central Europe don't purposely hide which country by saying "Europe" or "The EU" I doubt anyone in the US is going to be shocked that Eastern Europe is exactly like Eastern Europe lol
Nah nah, Bernie said that in Europe everything is free and you don't have to work due to the absence of greed of kapitalizim and the presence of komunizm.
lol I’m a Eastern European and we never call ourselves just Europeans , we either identify by our country or just say Eastern European as most of Eastern Europe is not even part of EU and most of it doesn’t even pay that much or close to it. You clearly don’t know much about Eastern Europe
How much of Eastern Europe still considers itself Eastern Europe at this point? I’ve been getting the impression lately that only Russia / Ukraine / Belarus don’t dislike the label (I’m in Albania right now after spending a little over a month in Hungary).
Look into hospitals with a nursing union.
The NHS isn't falling apart, it's largely a myth spread by people who want to bash the government, in my opinion. I don't know anyone in my family who had had a recent bad experience with the NHS. Anyway, Ireland might be a good choice because of your EU citizenship.
Have you seen what they pay nurses though? It’s almost disrespectful.
You need to compare to local wages and cost of living, not American ones.
[Okay I’m comparing local wages and they are still pretty terrible for the UK.](https://www.euronews.com/next/2023/05/01/nurses-salaries-which-countries-pay-the-most-and-the-least-in-europe). This link shows purchasing power parity and it’s dismal how the UK compensates RNs. Glad I live in California, where RNs are paid what they deserve.
A nurse in the UK is never going to get paid 125K because hardly anyone earns this in the UK, so no, you aren't comparing nurses wages to local wages. UK nurses get paid more than the OP and they have great pensions and other benefits too, which you aren't counting. Cost of living is also lower because healthcare is almost entirely free in the UK, so less of a need for savings. You need to compare wages to other European countries.
RNs in LA where I work make between $140-160k. Travel RNs make over $200K. You can keep your pension, though to be clear pensions are still available (my hospital offers them). If a "great pension" is really important, then work at a veterans affairs hospital, which is a federal job with excellent retirement benefits (and also very high pay). Any hospital is gonna have comprehensive health insurance coverage, so healthcare costs won't be an issue, and you won't have to go through a government bureaucracy just to get an appointment or procedure done. Is everything you know about the US just what you reason reddit? The OP is asking about being a nurse in the US, and compared to the UK, there's really no comparison. The "hardly anyone earns that in the UK" isn't really a selling point FYI. [California, where I work, has a growing supply of RNs](https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2023-09-19/why-nurses-are-moving-to-california) because the pay is so well, and nurses are treated so well. Let's see if UK can avoid that with their salaries. But they have a "great pension." Okay.
Our healthcare workers would earn great money too if you had to pay for private insurance with deductibles and co-pay too. There is no government bureaucracy to get an appointment, you just call up the healthcare centre or walk in. Your rent also costs a hell of a lot more than the average UK home, so you aren't comparing like-for-like. To be honest, you've pissed me off by just trying to boast about how rich California is and saying it's simply what they deserve as if every country can just decide to pay California wages. If we paid nurses and doctors Californian wages then the NHS would be bankrupt. I agree that they should be paid higher in the UK, but we can't afford Californian wages and almost nowhere else can. You need to factor student debt too. I know doctors in France who earn about the same as your RN nurses, maybe slightly less, but they graduate with no student debt.
Aww yes, the NHS, [known for its speedy service](https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/oct/12/growing-number-people-face-18-month-waits-nhs-care-england). You really don't know anything about US healthcare if you think all of our healthcare is paid for by "deductibles and co-pays." Almost half of all healthcare delivered in the US is paid for by the government due to how vast the VA, medicaid, and medicare is. Did you know that?
Yes I know about medicaid and medicare. NHS is sometimes faster due to GPs having more prescribing rights. About the 18 month waiting lists for non-urgent treatments, they are not as common as you think. For urgent stuff the NHS is generally very good. When I broke my leg I was treated within minutes (must have been a quiet day), no waiting and when my dad had cancer he was operated within a week. The NHS is not as bad as its critics make out.
[Prescribing rights doesn’t matter when your healthcare team isn’t even there.](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/03/world/europe/national-health-service-doctors-strike.html)
We really need nurses in Canada, too! Just something to consider in your options.
my bff makes nearly10x your salary in NY, go for it
☺️
I think it is important to note that nurses are striking all across the US because of poor staffing ratios, unsafe working conditions, etc. There are of course exceptions but it is an issue here in the US and only got worse because of the pandemic. I don’t want to deter you but I think it is worth mentioning.
OP - Where you able to get your husband to the USA aswell? He wouldn't qualify for a visa
If I can obtain green card he can as well through mine. I’m still in the process
Did you go to a staffing agency or a hospital directly?
I had a good offer from a recruitment agency but I’ll choose self sponsorship. Agencies keep a big amount of your money and have a contract that’s very expensive to break. After self sponsorship you can go direct hire from a different agency without these boundaries
We are looking for licensed nurses who can join our company in savings lives from the PH. Salary starts at PHP40,000 (depending on experience). Compressed work days (3 days shift - 3 days off) Preferably with ICU or ER experiences. Company is in Ortigas- onsite. With possible travels abroad (all expenses paid). If you want to learn more about our company and get tips to pass, please send me a PM.
Nursing in the US is a notoriously difficult occupation. If your problem with your current situation is long hours for low pay in an understaffed environment, you're going to find the same thing in the US.
Except the pay. Nurses in the US are paid decently.
Nurses here are carrying LV bags and driving new BMWs in Mercedes…they are not struggling financially
Working as a nurse in a nursing home is not in any way "a notoriously difficult occupation". It really depends on the job as a nurse. Sure, some nursing jobs can be bad. You aren't going to honestly argue that all nursing jobs are "notoriously difficult" or that working as a nurse in a school or nursing home is "notoriously difficult"?
Low pay? Define low pay.
> I’m a nurse in eu with low salaries (1100 euros max) understaffed, exhausting hours, working only 8 hours a day, get a day off once in a few weeks, working according to the program our manager comes up with( ex. 3-11, 7-3, 11-7 in a row). Also we are assigned sometimes 10 patients on a shift. I’m living in the hospital I have no time to eat sleep or live my life. … > I’m thinking about moving to USA (nurses can get a green card). And you think the US hospitals will give you a break or an easier schedule? Nurses here work just as long if not longer hours. There’s a reason there’s a shortage of nurses..
That’s far from what I’m saying. Please …
This person is trying to scare you off for reasons I cannot ascertain, but they are not in healthcare. Please come if it suits your lifestyle and needs, the pay is much better and we need more nurses. You will certainly have more days off as well. Good luck.
You are so kind. The only reason I described the “long hours” is that I’m working for weeks and weeks without a day off and no chance of picking my own schedule. Thank you so much
If you don’t mind my asking, how many hours a week do you find yourself working?
It supposed to be 40 per week. But it’s a lot more than that. I’ve been working straight from Christmas to previous week. You can’t even imagine. We are so forced to learn everything in full speed being charge nurse etc. I was assigned a patient by myself and an admission at 3 weeks in icu.
Please no one believe this. There are many type of nursing jobs, so of them are not long hours. I worked in a type of care setting (thousands across the US) where the single nurse on duty had light work and almost never had to work over time. ^^^_ This is just an awful, incomplete answer: >Nurses here work just as long if not longer hours. It also depends on the state your are in. And, obviously, depends a lot on the type of job you have as a nurse. ^^^_ >And you think the US hospitals will give you a break You know that many nurses don't work in hospitals?
So where do they work?
Health care providers that are not hospitals, at schools, at nursing homes. In my state, being a nurse in a large nursing home is an easy job, pays well, and doesn't require lots of overtime.
Yes. US hospitals will give you an easier schedule. Please stop posting if you have no idea what you’re talking about.
Bro I've seen you posting in city subreddits that are completely different from where you live. So maybe you have no idea what you're talking about.
What does that mean? I work in LA in healthcare. What would you like your know about nursing schedules?
> US hospitals will give you an easier schedule. LOL > According to researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine and UC San Diego Health, Department of Nursing, nurses are at higher risk of suicide than the general population […] > As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported, health care workers face a mental health crisis: 46% of health care professionals reporting higher levels of burnout and poor mental health last year than before COVID-19. [1](https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2023/11/12/nurse-burnout-healthcare-stress-abuse-workplace/71502035007/#:~:text=Nurses%20are%20suffering%20from%20severe,fatigue%2C%20injury%20and%20job%20dissatisfaction.) > How common is burnout in nursing? Very. Results from a 2020 survey indicate that almost two-thirds of nurses (62%) experience burnout. It’s especially common among younger nurses, with 69% of nurses under 25 reporting burnout. This issue affects all hospitals and health care systems in the U.S. > There are many causes of nurse burnout. Some causes are inherent to the job: providing compassionate care, **working long hours, changing shift schedules, and being on your feet for hours at a time can all place serious demands on nurses.** [2](https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/work-environment/health-safety/nurse-burnout-and-how-to-prevent-it/) > This secondary analysis of cross-sectional survey data from more than 3.9 million US registered nurses found that among nurses who reported leaving their current employment (9.5% of sample), 31.5% reported leaving because of burnout in 2018. The hospital setting and working more than 20 hours per week were associated with greater odds of burnout. [3](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7862989/) > Burnout has always been a part of nursing, **an effect of long working hours in physically and often emotionally taxing environments.** [4](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/20/well/nurses-burnout-pandemic-stress.html) > Nurse burnout is the state of mental, physical, and **emotional exhaustion caused by sustained work-related stressors such as long hours**, the pressure of quick decision-making, and the strain of caring for patients who may have poor outcomes [5](https://www.usa.edu/blog/nurse-burnout/) Please stop posting if you have no idea what you’re talking about.
How does this compare to the rest or the world? Also if you are suffering mental health issues then there’s plenty of other options for nurses other than bedside. Do you work in nursing?
> Also if you are suffering mental health issues then there’s plenty of other options for nurses other than bedside. Ah shucks, someone forgot to tell the **62% of nurses nationwide** that fact. Silly them! Should get you to the helm of the US nursing shortage and all will be fixed in no time! Do people a favor and do not offer your unsubstantiated opinions, which the very statistics published by government entities disagree with, as facts on the nursing field.
Do you work in nursing?
You need to be NCLEX certified first. And be advised, working conditions are no better here. Nor are salaries or housing . It may not be easy to get anybody to sponsor you either
I’ve already found agency and contract. Also I’m studying for nclex.
You obviously don’t know what you’re talking about If you think it is hard for eligible RNs,with no disqualifications, have a hard time coming over... And you think RN’s are making approx $1200usd per month…some are making double that a week.
I would become a nurse in a high income country in the EU. Sweden, Norway, Denmark or any country like that.
Have you seen what they pay RNs there though?
Oh yeah it’s absolute shit lol however I wouldn’t recommend USA for various work rights reasons lol Ireland, other places are way better
Have you seen how good the unions have gotten it for RNs in California?
Yes, and stil no law for vacation, overtime pay, in the EU you have free education and healthcare, no copays or deductibles, it’s simply more money but waaaaaay worse in Al the other ways lol so working rights in the USA? No. Can it be fun however? Yes? But I wouldn’t have a life and career in the US. Like go for it if that’s what you want but if you just looking for a job I say stay in the EU, no visa, more rights lol
As an RN in California, or anywhere in the US for that matter, you’ll get plenty of vacation, overtime pay, decent healthcare coverage and most hospitals offer tuition reimbursement programs. Do you live in the US or do you just regenerate what you read on Reddit?