Currently, the United States is short an estimated 150,000 nurses. Yet over the next decade, more than 650,000 new jobs in nursing will be created. At the same time, an estimated 450,000 nurses will have retired. By 2020, the nurse shortage is expected to increase to 800,000.
The trend in Nursing shortage in the US has reach a crisis level...but not in millions.
Please check your stats.
I run an employment agency here and I still work as per diem RN in ER and home care just to get my hands current on the trend because I'm training new RN's myself so I know what the issues are. Plus I am working alongside an immigration lawyer.
Anyone can try applying directly to an employer and if they get hired then they've got to be very lucky.
There is a retrogression in effect, they are planning to lift the retrogression this year and will hopefully issue 60K visas in the next 3 years.
20 K visas/year in all disciplines of other professions that includes children and spouses (not only RN's)...that's a lot of numbers to compete with. I hope they'll keep those 20K for RN's only.
Only then the Employers will be able to sponsor. This is a costly proposition for them so they will hand picked experienced RN''s .
So if somebody is sitting on their diploma, PRC license, CGFNS certficate or even NCLEX, sad to let them know that does not guarantee a job.
They have to find a way to acquire experience or advance training, educational advancement, expertise in specialty department. IV, EKG interpretation, wound care expertise. Those are some of the advancement that will boost the chances of becoming competitive in the market.
New RN's from foreign country have to find a way to be a hot to acquire talent these days.
Here's my advice to newly graduates or new RN's but have not experience work yet.
I'm not sure how hard to get in or if there is a cost now to volunteer in the hospital...I've heard that there's a cost (ridiculous!), but somebody's learned to take advantage of the need...that's business and that's just how life is. Can't argue with that. You'll probably do the same if given the opportunity, so stop complaining.
Volunteer with NBI forensic to tag along with the medical examiner is another way to earn experience I'm sure they'll love their company.
Join as a volunteer in a Medical Mission groups when they are in the Philippines especially when there's relief efforts in disaster area ( be active!), that will earn very good recommendation.
Create a foundation with fellow RN's and raise some funds from sponsors (business people that wants to earn media exposure) go to depress areas and offer Nursing services whatever it may be...it's a community service that will earn a rich reward someday.
If they don't earn these skills now and the next wave comes in (and it's coming very soon) I can almost guarantee that they will be left out.
Whatever means they can to earn something related to Nursing advancement they must do it now.
Japan is opening it's door as well...they just had a contract with Indonesia because of their own shortage issues.
Who knows Phils. might get into their contract as well, we have relations with them in advance skills and entertainment industry in the past.
I'm in possesion of resume's from RN's in the Philippines whose relatives are here in the US and they thought that they can just walk in anytime and get hired since they are RN's/BSN and NCLEX passers...we'll they are outright WRONG!
Not only that nobody can/want to sponsor them (because nobody can...just yet)...they don't meet the experience criteria.
Hospitals don't even want to hold their resume.
I just walk into one of the biggest Nurse Specturm job fair in NY 2 weeks ago with over 40 employers and I pretended to be applying for a job and the first thing they ask me was;
What is my experience? When I said none...they recommend that I look for something that offers residency program and wish me good luck.
But when I went to see few HR's and I told them I have 20 years experience in the Emergency Department in NY...they wanted to grabbed me by my neck.
I don't mean to disappoint people but I'm leading everyone towards reality.
Now work your butt to earn that experience...whatever it takes!
I know that it's tough to find a job these days.
Back in the 80's it was the same. I came from Davao City and land a job at Metropolitan Hospital in Masangkay.
Lost that job a year later and volunteered at Veterans Memorial in Quezon City while doing private duty Nursing at the same time to afford my board and lodging, until I finally got hired and stayed in Psych and Uro/Surg for 2 years.
There are many ways to get into the hospital as a Nurse...but it takes a lot of sacrifice and time invested.
Also learn the linggo of RN's here by joining Nursing forums (you'll find me there too), and you'll gather a lot of informations about the current trends here.
I've been working in the ER since I got here in '94 and now currently running my own business with partners.
PINK Diamond Staffing
I have been actively collaborating with recruiters and most of them are looking for experience RN's here in the US.
They don't even want to hire those American RN's that have not work in the past 7-10 years, unless they enroll in a refresher course. The newly graduates here has to go through a residency program (sort of like an OJT on probation for 6-9 months) before they can become a fulltime hired staff.
I like the excitement, but inaccurate information can only disappoint the rest of the new RN's in these group.
Passing the NCLEX is not the difficult part...trying to sell yourself and convince the employer that you are worth their time and money is the hardest thing to accomplish.
With that said, experienced documented on paper is the best ticket to get the employers attention and then they will let you into the training/orientation where you have the chance to prove your skill as a Nurse.
Stay from abusing any drugs because drug screening here is becoming a norm and they are taking it seriously (there are too many RN's who have access to drugs and are addicted to self consumption), and their screening here is very accurate. No matter how much experience you have or you may be a top notch on your class...it don't matter...with stained records---they won't let you in.
Oh by the way---they are not big on titles here such as a valedictorian or top notch on the licensure---they just don't care about it.
Boils down to experience as the best ticket.
I hope you'll share this to our colleagues and when you guys are ready let me know by sending your resume to this e-mail.
Fitline Champ