USA Nursing Programme FAQs
Do you have questions about nursing in the USA? A nurse job opportunity of a lifetime awaits you at O’Grady Peyton International! Learn more about our USA Nursing Programme by looking through some of the questions that we hear most frequently from nurses around the world. If your question isn’t answered here, we’d be happy to talk to you in person to give you more information. Please call us or submit an
inquiry form and we will contact you.
Getting Started
What qualifications do I need for a USA nurse job?How do I apply to O’Grady Peyton International?Do I have to sign a contract?How long is my commitment to O’Grady Peyton International?Licenses and Visas
What type of visas or licenses do I need to work in America?How do I get a permanent residency visa or an RN license?What type of training do I need for the RN license?Where do I take the NCLEX-RN exam?What kind of questions will the NCLEX-RN exam have?Who pays for the NCLEX-RN exam?Why do I need a permanent residency visa?How does the visa process work?Can I bring my family?How do I get permanent residency visas for my family?Are there costs for the permanent residency visa?What is VisaScreenSM certification?Is there a cost for the VisaScreen certificate?Nursing in America
Can I choose where I work and live?How do you match me to a hospital?When does my assignment in America begin?What do American hospitals expect from their nurses?Living in America
How much does it cost to live in America?Is the pay better in America?Does O’Grady Peyton International offer benefits?How do I find accommodations in America?What happens after I complete my contract with O’Grady Peyton International?
Getting Started
What qualifications do I need for a USA nurse job?
- Be a registered nurse.
- A graduate of a three-year RN training programme.
- Currently working in an acute-care hospital environment.
- A minimum of two year’s post-graduate hospital experience.
- Fluency in English.
- Good references.
How do I apply to O’Grady Peyton International?
To get started, you need to complete and submit an
inquiry form. This will help us determine whether you have the skills and experience needed for a nursing position in the USA.
Do I have to sign a contract?
Yes, we require a signed contract to confirm that you will work for O’Grady Peyton International for a predetermined amount of time in the United States.
How long is my commitment to O’Grady Peyton International?
Typically, your commitment to work with O’Grady Peyton International will be an 18 to 24 month assignment in the USA. This job is an opportunity for a nurse to make a positive impression with a medical facility, where he or she may be retained after the assignment is completed.
Licenses and Visas
What type of visas or licenses do I need to work in America?
You will need a permanent residency visa (also known as a Green Card) and a U.S. RN license.
How do I get a Permanent Residency visa or an RN license?
Once you have been accepted into the USA Nursing Programme, O’Grady Peyton International will help you study for and obtain your U.S. RN license, and will also handle all the requirements for your permanent residency visa (Green Card.)
What type of training do I need for the RN license?
In order to get your RN license, you will need to pass the NCLEX-RN examination. O’Grady Peyton International has a comprehensive training program and study materials to help prepare you for the exam.
Where do I take the NCLEX-RN exam?
Once you are ready to take the exam, O’Grady Peyton International will fly you, at our cost, to the United States or one of its territories, or to London, Hong Kong or Seoul to take the NCLEX-RN exam. We will also pay for your hotel accommodations. Your visit will last approximately two to four days.
What kind of questions will the NCLEX-RN exam have?
The multiple-choice is taken on a computer and covers medicine, surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry and obstetrics. The exam is designed to test the knowledge, skills and abilities essential to the safe and effective practice of nursing. The exam takes about five hours, and you’ll know your results within three weeks of taking the exam.
Who pays for the NCLEX-RN exam?
While O’Grady Peyton International will handle your airfare and accommodations expenses associated with the NCLEX-RN exam, you will be responsible for the cost of the exam.
Why do I need a permanent residency visa?
A permanent residency visa allows you to legally live and work in America on a permanent basis. Your spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 will also qualify for permanent residency visas.
How does the visa process work?
When you take the NCLEX-RN exam, we will meet with you to discuss the process of applying for your permanent residency visa, including the VisaScreen certificate. O’Grady Peyton will pay for the initial filing fee for your visa and will help you with the necessary visa requirements and paperwork throughout the process.
Can I bring my family?
If you are married, your spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 can legally relocate to the United States with you.
How do I get permanent residency visas for my family?
When you apply for a permanent residency visa through O’Grady Peyton International, your spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 will be able to apply at the same time.
Are there costs for the permanent residency visa?
Yes. We will pay the filing fee for your permanent residency visa. However, once your application is approved, you (and any family members who will be relocating to the U.S. with you) will be responsible for any national Visa Center (NVC) fees. In addition, you will be responsible for any embassy and medical charges
What is VisaScreenSM certification?
VisaScreen certification is a process to ensure you have the necessary qualifications to work in America. During the screening, your skills will be compared to the minimal skills required in education, licensing and English language. Nurses who have graduated from a college or university in Australia, Canada (except Quebec), New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States, don’t have to meet the English language requirement. Once you have passed the VisaScreen, you will be given a certificate which we will submit to the American embassy or consular office as part of your permanent residency application.
Is there a cost for the Visa Screen certificate?
O’Grady Peyton International will pay the cost for your VisaScreen application. If you require any additional training from your school of nursing or English language training to meet the minimum standards for the VisaScreen, the costs will be your responsibility.
Nursing in America
Can I choose where I work and live?
Absolutely. There are a wide variety of options for you to choose from, ranging from big cities like New York and Los Angeles to quaint mountain towns in Utah or Colorado. You decide where you’d like to live, and we’ll help match your skills and expertise with the job that fits your needs.
How do you match me to a hospital?
We consider your skills, experience, needs, personality and goals and make the closest match possible with the hospital. We consider both your wishes and the needs of the hospital to ensure that we make a match that work well for nurses and the facilities.
When does my assignment in America begin?
Once you are accepted into the programme, it takes about 12 to 24 months before you can begin your assignment in America.
What do American hospitals expect from their nurses?
Nurses are treated as professionals in America and as an RN, you’ll most likely have more autonomy than you’re used to at home. An RN’s role is an educator and decision-maker. O’Grady Peyton International will thoroughly prepare you for the differences you’ll encounter when you begin working in an American hospital. Our extensive training and preparation will ensure you will know what to expect on the job, and you’ll be confident that your decisions are grounded in excellent assessment skills and clinical knowledge.
Living in America
How much does it cost to live in America?
The cost of living largely depends on the region where you’re working, the housing options you choose and your own personal tastes. There’s no set standard-of-living cost, but once we know your personal situation, we can help you determine your expenses. Many things in America are cheaper than other countries, including cars, petrol, household goods, clothing and food, and there’s a greater selection to choose from as well.
Is the pay better in America?
American nurses’ salaries are among the most competitive in the world. Your compensation will depend on your experience, clinical specialty and the location of your assignment. Based on the cost of living, some regions of the country pay more than other areas.
Does O’Grady Peyton offer benefits?
Yes. O’Grady Peyton International offers all its nurses a comprehensive and highly competitive benefits package. Our benefits include:
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Dental insurance
- Professional liability insurance
- Retirement plan participation
- Free continuing education
- Referral bonuses
How do I find accommodations in America?
Once you accept a job at a hospital in the United States, your international relocation specialist will help you set up your housing, arrange for furniture delivery and ensure that everything is ready for you when you arrive. We’ll help you find the best housing for your needs and make sure that it’s ready when you arrive.
What happens after I complete my contract with O’Grady Peyton International?
You have many choices and we will help you with your decision. Here are some of the opportunities you can choose from:
- Begin a new assignment with us—a nursing job opportunity in the same facility may be available, or perhaps a facility in another location you’d like to live.
- Explore more of the country by joining our exciting travel nurse programme and choose from 13-week or longer assignments anywhere in the United States.
- Become a permanent employee of your assigned hospital.
- See the world by taking an assignment outside of the U.S. as an O’Grady Peyton International nurse.
- Return home, where we will help you with a job placement in your country.
- Arrange for your own employment at a hospital of your choice anywhere in the United States.