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Similar-Poem5576 t1_j16s4td wrote
What is so appalling about the US system? I know that you guys have less holidays etc. but the payment is so good. Also, it is easier to buy a house in the US, service is better, people are friendlier, the gras isnt always greener on the other side.
michael_scarn_21 t1_j16su6p wrote
Oh I'm European so I know both sides. The US healthcare system is a mess, with the for profit system and all the insurance companies, not to mention high costs. The fact that more money is spent on healthcare in the US but health outcomes are worse than in Europe is pretty damning. Had a friend who was a doctor from Australia say she had to leave because although the pay was way better the system just sucked so hard dealing with insurance etc and having patients who couldn't afford their care. Also people are not friendlier in Boston, you'd want the Midwest or south for that. Just search this sub for the many posts about "why is it so hard to make friends here".
aray25 t1_j16vmzc wrote
To be clear, we're not mean or rude (unless we're driving), but we're definitely not friendly. Like we'll help you out if you need a hand, but we're not going to engage in idle chitchat with a stranger.
becausefrog t1_j16cgra wrote
Depending on where you are coming from, it may be easy to get a student visa but difficult to get a work visa, let alone one that leads to permanent residence status, even with a job secured. While there is a nursing shortage at the moment which would be in your favor, by the time you finish school that may no longer be the case.
Find out what it takes to immigrate to the US from your country before committing to an expensive education only to risk being sent back home when you graduate. Some countries are more favored than others in this process. I certainly wouldn't turn down any opportunities until you've done deep research about the actual immigration process.
Similar-Poem5576 t1_j16dqgc wrote
From where do you know that it is difficult to get a work visa as a foreign RN nurse?
becausefrog t1_j16f7yh wrote
In the past (not recently), New Zealand, Australia, Scotland. Super easy to get the student visa and initial work visas, but much harder to get it extended past a certain point and to immigrate permanently.
Right now I imagine it's much simpler if you are already here and have finished your program. Nurses are in high demand. As long as there's a shortage you will get the work visa, but citizenship can be tricky and really unfair.
Similar-Poem5576 t1_j16go46 wrote
I am from Switzerland and I already have my student visa, it was very easy to get, I had it in 5 days without even going to the embassy... I hope nurses will be in high demand when I finish, but I think it would be also no problem to go back to work in Switzerland even if I should not get a Green Card. I just think Nursing school in the USA is really good, very practical and it will be awesome to improve my English.
becausefrog t1_j16luxq wrote
Ah yes, if you can still use the degree in Switzerland, then go for it! It's certainly great to come here for school if you can afford it. And you won't mind our winters at all : )
Similar-Poem5576 t1_j16naar wrote
Ah yeah, -10 degrees since a few days here, I think Boston will be a paradise weather wise.
UndercoverPages t1_j17oued wrote
You seem to know this already, but I wouldn't listen to the other people on this subreddit unless they have specific information about your situation. There may be a better subreddit on which to seek information, but I am not sure which one that is. I don't know anything about immigrating to become a nurse, but please don't be discouraged from moving to the US from the responses you have gotten here.
For some reason people on this subreddit are very jaded and try to discourage everyone from moving to Boston. Maybe the happy people in Boston are out enjoying their lives instead of answering questions on Reddit!
Boston is a very nice city. It is one of the nicest in the US. There is a lot of great art, music and culture in the Boston area. There are a lot of nice public spaces. There is a great variety of landscapes since Boston is right on the water, but also a short drive away from the White Mountains in New Hampshire. Housing in Massachusetts is very expensive for America, but most other expenses are roughly the same. As a nurse, you could certainly afford to live relatively comfortably in Boston.
Compared to many other cities in America, it's true that it takes longer for people to warm up and become friends. However, in practice this just means that you are unlikely to make friends with a stranger at a bar. If you are in school or work at a big hospital, it will be easy to make friends with your classmates and coworkers. If you join a sports league or other activity, you will develop friendships there as well.
I agree with other people that American medical system has problems, especially relating to the expense people incur getting care. Many people accrue debt as a result of treatment especially for diseases like cancer. Some people will delay or forego treatment because they worry about the expense. This is terrible and should be changed. However, it is illegal to deny people lifesaving emergency care on the basis of ability to pay. You may hear otherwise from people here, but surveys consistently show people who have medical insurance are satisfied with their insurance and medical providers. Anecdotally, my friends who are doctors and nurses are very satisfied with their careers.
Anyway, good luck making your decision! The US can be a great place to live especially when you have an in-demand job!
Similar-Poem5576 t1_j17xxq6 wrote
Mhm I was wondering why people on this thread are so discouraging... Most of them also seem to be European who moved to the USA and who have no idea how the immigration process of nurses work that is why I wrote that I am asking people who have SPECIFIC knowledge. It is better to not comment at all when you have no clue instead of just saying something because you are unhappy with your own life.
The medical system does not only have problems in the USA, in Switzerland and Germany there are problems too, not enough nurses, too much economy in the medical system, not enough drugs available, children have to wait hours before getting treatment, two nurses for 20 plus patients, so the USA is still heaven for nurses and some Americans do not realize how good you have it. I never experienced a bad doctor or nurse in the US during my vacation and short stay as an exchange student. I had a health insurance back then and it was a wonderful experience, doctors were available 24 hours, you were able to choose the doctor you want to go to etc. It is not a bad system at all although I agree it should be affordable and available to everyone in the States yet I do know Americans who are happy not having a health insurance ...
deadliftothersup t1_j19m5or wrote
Most of the replies are going to come from patients in the US healthcare system. On the whole, we spend more than any country in the world for worse outcomes. We still have wait times like everyone else, but medical debt is the most common reason for bankruptcy in the US. It's not just a little unaffordable, it can ruin you. The way our system is incentivized, we have an extreme lack of general practitioners and a lot of specialists.
If you have decent insurance (which you likely will have in your role) it's likely just annoyingly expensive, but fine. In MA we have only a small % of uninsured people, in states like Texas, they have about 20% uninsured. We have great disparities in the quality of care you get by state by your employer. You can choose your doctor...if they are in your insurance network. Basically this arbitrary aspect of your life is bound by how cool your employer is and your state.
In Boston and Massachusetts in general, we pay a little more than average for the US for healthcare, but it is pretty world class in this state and we have more subsidized options compared with the vast majority of other states. It's still bound by US issues, but it is an improvement.
I used to live in Maine and our rural healthcare non-systems are imploding and access is getting worse as these hospitals close. I know lot of folks that travel hundreds of miles for their cancer treatments /surgeries to Boston because of how much better it is here.
Being an RN is a grind anywhere as I'm sure you're aware, so I wouldn't let that bother you.
You'll find it takes longer to get folks to open up here, but it's exaggerated how different it is. New Englanders tend to be to the point and less likely to blow smoke up your ass to make nice. It wouldn't be strange at all for my older neighbor to tell me my car is shit for driving in the snow before digging me out of it.
Anyway, good luck in whatever you decide. We need all the nurses we can get.
willzyx01 t1_j16m6j2 wrote
Registered nurses are not eligible for a H1B work visa due to the fact that nurse degree is 2 years long (as far as I know). AFAIK, if you want to be a RN in US, you need a green card path which is an extremely long process.
You can try to get an OPT after you graduate, but that will only give you a 1 year authorization.
Similar-Poem5576 t1_j16mzut wrote
Nursing is actually one of the few 2 years degree where you can get a Green Card sponsored, otherwise I would not go. Green Card sponsorship and H1B visa are two different things. With a Green Card I wouldnt need the H1B visa. There are nursing recruiting companies who even pay for the Green Card process since so many hospitals are looking for nurses... I just wanted to ask someone who maybe already went through the process or knows someone. It is important to really have the facts. Otherwise I would stay in Switzerland which of course is also not bad at all, I dont really need to do it, it just would be a nice dream which would come true but of course I am fine with my life here too if it does not work out.
No-Garlic-2664 t1_j16nzvu wrote
It's going to be hard to get a sponsorship nevertheless and it's a pretty big gamble to take.
If I were you I would stay in Switzerland
Similar-Poem5576 t1_j16o6jm wrote
Did you went through the process yourself or how do you know that it is hard to obtain a sponsorship? Do you know someone who went trough it or work as a recruiter/in the hospital? I need facts and not only what you might think the process is like. Thanks for understanding.
excitableuno t1_j16v0vu wrote
It’s going to be hard to get a job with a two year degree. Most places require a 4 year BSN.
SaltandLillacs t1_j18wiil wrote
why pay for nursing degree in the US? it’s incredible expensive and renting here without being able to work would be hard without support. financial aide is prioritized to US citizens. Graduating with no debt/ very little is preferable.
Itchy-Marionberry-62 t1_j17lw34 wrote
I would stay in Switzerland. It is beautiful there. USA is on a very rapid and dangerous decline. Good luck with whatever you decide!
Itchy-Marionberry-62 t1_j17t1wp wrote
Never said I wanted to live there. Have been there many times…and have liked it. As I said…best of luck whatever you decide. 😀👍🏼
Similar-Poem5576 t1_j17nyhw wrote
Have you ever lived in Switzerland to be able to make such a statement? Seriously, there are several reasons for leaving Switzerland. Just because you heard Switzerland is such an amazing and beautiful place does not mean everyone needs to live there, there are plenty of Swiss not living there, for a good reason. Making holidays somewhere and living somewhere are 2 different things and trust me, living in the US is overall NOT bad AT ALL.
Darklighter10 t1_j1b3bxl wrote
I didn’t know there were so many minuses to living in Switzerland, though I hear their flag is a big plus.
…..I’ll see myself out……
🇨🇭 🇨🇭 🇨🇭
Similar-Poem5576 t1_j1bel04 wrote
as if, do you speak swiss german?
Darklighter10 t1_j1bqyo4 wrote
No sorry, was a dumb joke that may not have translated if English is not your first language. Something that is a plus means something that’s good. The Swiss flag is basically a plus sign (+). I was saying the Swiss flag is a plus (a positive). Sorry for explaining if you already understood.
joelupi t1_j1c2n7i wrote
Going right into a nursing program, especially a 2 year one, is most likely not going to be as easy as you think.
Have you looked at schools and their pre-requisites?
Looking at a local 2 year program you need at least
- Equivalent of HS diploma
- TOEFL/IELTS - English proficiency
- TEAS for Nursing Students (only good for 1 year)
- 1 semester of college level algebra
- 1 semester of college level bio w/ lab
- 1 semester of college level chem w/ lab
This is the bare minimum and many schools will require more especially if you want to get a 4 year degree. Many hospitals especially those Magnet certified want BSN grads only.
Similar-Poem5576 t1_j1dy9mu wrote
I dont think that the RN degrees exist when hospitals only want BSN graduates, and there is still the chance to do a BSN afterwards... You can even do it online. I have a HS diploma, a Toefl Test, chemistry, English 101, psychology 101 already done, I only need the math and chem course plus the TEAS test, I think it is doable. At my college I am not the only international nursing student.
Take a look at all the Green Card sponsorship jobs on Indeed, there are over 1000 jobs listed all over the USA and even 10.000 dollar rewards if you sign up with one of the agencies, they even pay you for it since so many nurses are needed: https://www.indeed.com/q-Nurse-Sponsorship-jobs.html?vjk=910ef4afa1ae8003
There are many nurses from the Phillipines working in the USA and they oftentimes do not even have to retake the state nursing test. I think it is one of the only jobs in the USA where you have good chances, why portraying it all so black and white? Nurses are needed even when there is war so I think it is worth it going through the tests and prerequisites.
joelupi t1_j1ebred wrote
You're right there are areas in the US where you can work as an ASN nurse and not have to do any more with it. However Boston is not one of those areas. If you look at the New Grad programs for any of the top hospitals (BI/Lahey, MGH/Partners, Tufts) they all want BSN or Senior Capstone students. That is not to say that you can't apply for a position outside of the New Grad program but it won't be as easy.
Looking at the link you provided those jobs look to the in the Pacific Northwest, Kentucky/Tennessee, and Texas all of which got decimated by Covid due to various reasons.
The nurses that work in the states and do not have to retake the nursing exam are probably able to work because of reciprocity with the Nursing Compact. It is a nursing license that is applicable in different states, MA is not currently one of those states.
blup12 t1_j16sw6e wrote
Yea dude I know a ton of people who are debating between nursing and working at a hotel. Also they own businesses too! Good luck!!
Similar-Poem5576 t1_j16tcj3 wrote
Oh really? :D How did most of them decide?
First_North5028 t1_j174hth wrote
Working in the medical industry in the US would pay you more than in Switzerland. But the US medical industry is more grueling and stressful with patients, working hours, etc. If I were you I would pick whatever would make me the most joyful in the end. … r/Christianity
michael_scarn_21 t1_j16pfxy wrote
I think if you were just getting a degree then going back to work in Switzerland you'd be good. I can't imagine wanting to work in the appalling US system long term when you are from Europe.