nursing usa and agencies
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 21
nursing usa and agencies
Hi,
I have been working in the community for the last 4 years and have 6 years experience in itu. Would the agencies who deal with jobs in the usa take into account my previous experience in itu or would they only be interested in those nurses who have current experience.
Can anyone recommend a good agency and those to avoid.
I have been working in the community for the last 4 years and have 6 years experience in itu. Would the agencies who deal with jobs in the usa take into account my previous experience in itu or would they only be interested in those nurses who have current experience.
Can anyone recommend a good agency and those to avoid.
#2
Re: nursing usa and agencies
Originally Posted by dylan101
Hi,
I have been working in the community for the last 4 years and have 6 years experience in itu. Would the agencies who deal with jobs in the usa take into account my previous experience in itu or would they only be interested in those nurses who have current experience.
Can anyone recommend a good agency and those to avoid.
I have been working in the community for the last 4 years and have 6 years experience in itu. Would the agencies who deal with jobs in the usa take into account my previous experience in itu or would they only be interested in those nurses who have current experience.
Can anyone recommend a good agency and those to avoid.
Anna
#3
Re: nursing usa and agencies
Firstly, yes they will probably take into account your ICU experience, but you may have to start at the bottom rung so to speak. I'm in ICU and in my first job in the US they started me at the bottom and now in my second job I'm one rung up. It helps if your ICU experience is more recent but it's all on the CV anyhow.
Secondly, yes you can do it all on your own but from personal experience I wouldn't recommend it. I went through an agency, and although they gave me the runaround and were a pain in the proverbial to deal with, the entire process is such a headache and such a complicated chain of events, you're probably better off going with an agency because not only do they deal with all the stuff that you have no idea about, they also cover the cost, set you up in the US with housing and support etc. The only down side is that you might get sent somewhere you didn't really want to go, as I did, and you might have to work in a hospital that can't get or retain staff, which is usually for a reason i.e: it's a crap hospital, bad area etc.
If you're going to go it alone, it might help to have an online CV/resume, as I did. Some hospitals you can approach directly and might sponsor you for the green card, and also monster.com is a great resource on which you can post your resume etc. Beware of travel agencies touting for you though, if you're trying to find a job online. Travel nursing is not a term that UK nurses are familiar with, and it's kind of like an agency nurse. If you go it alone, get employed by a hospital. If you go with an agency, go with a travel nurse agency that specialises in UK to USA. If you have any questions then PM me. I've been here over a year now and it all worked out just fine, and I just landed a superb job in ICU for which they're paying me silly money! Good luck.
Secondly, yes you can do it all on your own but from personal experience I wouldn't recommend it. I went through an agency, and although they gave me the runaround and were a pain in the proverbial to deal with, the entire process is such a headache and such a complicated chain of events, you're probably better off going with an agency because not only do they deal with all the stuff that you have no idea about, they also cover the cost, set you up in the US with housing and support etc. The only down side is that you might get sent somewhere you didn't really want to go, as I did, and you might have to work in a hospital that can't get or retain staff, which is usually for a reason i.e: it's a crap hospital, bad area etc.
If you're going to go it alone, it might help to have an online CV/resume, as I did. Some hospitals you can approach directly and might sponsor you for the green card, and also monster.com is a great resource on which you can post your resume etc. Beware of travel agencies touting for you though, if you're trying to find a job online. Travel nursing is not a term that UK nurses are familiar with, and it's kind of like an agency nurse. If you go it alone, get employed by a hospital. If you go with an agency, go with a travel nurse agency that specialises in UK to USA. If you have any questions then PM me. I've been here over a year now and it all worked out just fine, and I just landed a superb job in ICU for which they're paying me silly money! Good luck.
#4
Re: nursing usa and agencies
I can see Rockgurl’s point and I am doing it with the help of a recruiter that has helped with going to my choice of place to live, not the agencies, but it can be done alone. I haven’t found it too expensive approx £400 and the hospital sponsoring my husband and me is paying for everything else. I have heard of a few who have done it on their own and again once they have found a hospital to sponsor them the cost was minimal.
The choices are out there it is up to you how to go for it and whether you want to go to a particular place or happy to go anywhere to start with.
Anna
The choices are out there it is up to you how to go for it and whether you want to go to a particular place or happy to go anywhere to start with.
Anna
#5
Re: nursing usa and agencies
Hi !
I am still going to school at the moment to get my RN (well I was until I just finished all my pre-reqs and co-reqs, and now I'm on the Nursing School waiting list.
(It's a community college and at this rate it'll take me about 4 years to get a 2 year degree !)
Hey Rockgurl, if you don't mind me asking I have a few questions for ya . . .
1. Can a newly licenced RN go straight into ICU work?
2. Would you recommend doing that?
3. Do you have a 4 year / 2 year degree?
4. Do I need a 4 year degree?
5. Never done nursing before, but I'm 38 and it's time for a change - do i start off in a hosital or somewhere else?
6. Do you need extra quals to work in ICU?
7. Do certain RN jobs pay more than others ie: ER, ICU, etc etc? or does it mainly go by experience?
8. If I get licenced in TX, is it easy to move states and get a licence from the new state?
Sorry for all the questions - I'll be grateful for any replies you can give.
Thx !!
I am still going to school at the moment to get my RN (well I was until I just finished all my pre-reqs and co-reqs, and now I'm on the Nursing School waiting list.
(It's a community college and at this rate it'll take me about 4 years to get a 2 year degree !)
Hey Rockgurl, if you don't mind me asking I have a few questions for ya . . .
1. Can a newly licenced RN go straight into ICU work?
2. Would you recommend doing that?
3. Do you have a 4 year / 2 year degree?
4. Do I need a 4 year degree?
5. Never done nursing before, but I'm 38 and it's time for a change - do i start off in a hosital or somewhere else?
6. Do you need extra quals to work in ICU?
7. Do certain RN jobs pay more than others ie: ER, ICU, etc etc? or does it mainly go by experience?
8. If I get licenced in TX, is it easy to move states and get a licence from the new state?
Sorry for all the questions - I'll be grateful for any replies you can give.
Thx !!
#6
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2004
Location: Sunny QLD :)
Posts: 67
Re: nursing usa and agencies
Hi Tracy
I am an RN and I live in Texas
small world, hey
txmogga
I am an RN and I live in Texas
small world, hey
txmogga
#7
Re: nursing usa and agencies
Originally Posted by dylan101
Hi,
I have been working in the community for the last 4 years and have 6 years experience in itu. Would the agencies who deal with jobs in the usa take into account my previous experience in itu or would they only be interested in those nurses who have current experience.
Can anyone recommend a good agency and those to avoid.
I have been working in the community for the last 4 years and have 6 years experience in itu. Would the agencies who deal with jobs in the usa take into account my previous experience in itu or would they only be interested in those nurses who have current experience.
Can anyone recommend a good agency and those to avoid.
#8
Re: nursing usa and agencies
Originally Posted by txmogga
Hi Tracy
I am an RN and I live in Texas
small world, hey
txmogga
I am an RN and I live in Texas
small world, hey
txmogga
Yes, it is a small world.
If you don't mind me asking, whereabouts in TX are you?
As you can see I'm in Austin.
Been here since 1999 - it's a great place but I still don't feel settled.
Cheerio !
- Tracy.
#9
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2004
Location: Sunny QLD :)
Posts: 67
Re: nursing usa and agencies
Originally Posted by Tracy in Texas
Hi txmogga !
Yes, it is a small world.
If you don't mind me asking, whereabouts in TX are you?
As you can see I'm in Austin.
Been here since 1999 - it's a great place but I still don't feel settled.
Cheerio !
- Tracy.
Yes, it is a small world.
If you don't mind me asking, whereabouts in TX are you?
As you can see I'm in Austin.
Been here since 1999 - it's a great place but I still don't feel settled.
Cheerio !
- Tracy.
I live in a rural area outside of Fort Worth.
Any idea how long you have to wait to get accepted into nursing school?
txmogga
#10
Re: nursing usa and agencies
Originally Posted by txmogga
Hi
I live in a rural area outside of Fort Worth.
Any idea how long you have to wait to get accepted into nursing school?
txmogga
I live in a rural area outside of Fort Worth.
Any idea how long you have to wait to get accepted into nursing school?
txmogga
Well, they are supposed to review the waiting list twice a year - Jan and June, so I'm waiting to see where I'm ranked at. (I've done all my pre-reqs and co-reqs and have a GPA of 4.0, so that should help.) I think I'll get into the Nursing School this Autumn, hopefully. In the meantime I just got my old job back at a credit union I used to work at, albeit P/T (30 hr/week) this time, but that's ok. S'funny really, as full time in the UK is only 35 hrs per week. Oh well.
Bye for now,
Take care !
Tracy
#11
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2004
Location: Sunny QLD :)
Posts: 67
Re: nursing usa and agencies
Hi,
Sounds like you are in a good position for being accepted soon.
You might even consider doing a nurse's aid job for a few hours a week too. It would give you more exposure to the medical environment, which can only help in the long run. I have a friend that has worked in a rehab for years as a tech. She is not allowed to do the actual nursing things because she doesn't have the license, but she has so much experience and has seen so much, I am sure if she *were* allowed to sit for a nursing exam, she would have a good chance of passing.
txmogga
Sounds like you are in a good position for being accepted soon.
You might even consider doing a nurse's aid job for a few hours a week too. It would give you more exposure to the medical environment, which can only help in the long run. I have a friend that has worked in a rehab for years as a tech. She is not allowed to do the actual nursing things because she doesn't have the license, but she has so much experience and has seen so much, I am sure if she *were* allowed to sit for a nursing exam, she would have a good chance of passing.
txmogga
#12
Just Joined
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3
Re: nursing usa and agencies
Hi there, I am considering a move to the U.S and would be grateful if anyone has any info on Geneva or OGP agencies. Thanks, Lou
#13
Re: nursing usa and agencies
Originally Posted by thistlegirl
Hi there, I am considering a move to the U.S and would be grateful if anyone has any info on Geneva or OGP agencies. Thanks, Lou
#14
Re: nursing usa and agencies
Originally Posted by dylan101
Hi,
I have been working in the community for the last 4 years and have 6 years experience in itu. Would the agencies who deal with jobs in the usa take into account my previous experience in itu or would they only be interested in those nurses who have current experience.
Can anyone recommend a good agency and those to avoid.
I have been working in the community for the last 4 years and have 6 years experience in itu. Would the agencies who deal with jobs in the usa take into account my previous experience in itu or would they only be interested in those nurses who have current experience.
Can anyone recommend a good agency and those to avoid.
#15
Re: nursing usa and agencies
Originally Posted by thistlegirl
Hi there, I am considering a move to the U.S and would be grateful if anyone has any info on Geneva or OGP agencies. Thanks, Lou