How International Nurses Can Succeed in Today’s U.S. Job Market with AMN International
Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening — wherever you are calling in or listening from!
Welcome to AMN Academy, specifically Dream Jobs with D.
I’m your host for today — Deirdre O’Regan, Senior Director of Recruitment here at AMN International, the only organization offering both direct hire and staffing opportunities for international nurses.
For those tuning in for the first time — welcome, welcome!
We’re so glad to have you here.
Today, we’ll be talking about how to win in this market.
As many of you know, the last several months have been quite challenging, especially if you’ve been following the Visa Bulletin, which hasn’t progressed as quickly as we might have hoped.
But here’s the good news:
There are still opportunities for international nurses here in the U.S. — and today we’re going to talk about what you can control, even when external factors are out of your hands.
The Market Situation
Now, let’s talk about the market. If you’ve been following updates on social media, you may have noticed that in the direct hire space, some job offers have been rescinded recently.
That can certainly feel concerning — but here’s the great thing:
When you work with AMN International, you also have the opportunity to explore staffing positions, which we strongly recommend right now.
If you qualify for a staffing position, that’s definitely something to seriously consider.
You can apply today at
👉 amnhealthcare.com/international
We’ll continue to display this throughout the show — but if you haven’t applied yet, this is your call to action.
Get your application in and secure your place in line!
In just a few moments, we’ll go over the specific steps you can take that are within your control to qualify for an international nursing position.
Opportunities
AMN International is still hiring. If you already have a priority date, or if you are a Canadian or Mexican-born nurse, we also have TN visa opportunities available for you.
If you’re just beginning your journey — don’t worry. We’ll walk through exactly what you need to do to get started and qualify for an international nursing opportunity.
Open-Mindedness About Location
Now, let’s take a look at our U.S. opportunities map.
The United States is a vast country with opportunities across all regions.
If you’re very location-specific — meaning you only want to go to one particular area — you may be limiting your chances.
So, I encourage you to keep an open mind and explore all the possibilities available nationwide.
Personal Note
A little about me — I’m an immigrant myself.
I moved from Ireland many years ago and lived in California for quite some time.
California is wonderful, and I loved it there!
But life surprised me — I eventually moved to the East Coast, then to the South, and now I live in Georgia.
And I couldn’t be happier — I absolutely love it here.
So, stay open to the opportunities available to you across the United States.
By working with AMN International, you benefit from over 40 years of experience and expertise — and that’s going to be critical when choosing a trusted partner to help you come to the United States.
I see a lot of great questions coming in right now, and we’ll get to those shortly. But first, let’s talk about what you can control.
Things You Can Control
Let’s pull up that slide — “Things You Can Control.”
1. Take and Pass the NCLEX
This is your first and most important step.
The NCLEX qualifies you to work as a registered nurse in the United States.
If you’re currently studying for the NCLEX or planning to start soon — congratulations! You’re already taking the right first step.
And to all of you who have already passed your NCLEX, a big congratulations! You’ve completed one of the most critical milestones in your journey.
2. Pass an English Proficiency Exam
The next step is English proficiency.
There’s often a lot of confusion around English exams, so let’s clear that up.
You will need to take and pass an English proficiency exam in order to qualify for your Visa Screen.
The exams we highly recommend are:
- IELTS, and
- TOEFL
Why? Because each U.S. state has its own requirements regarding which English exams and scores they accept.
By taking IELTS or TOEFL, you’re opening yourself up to more opportunities nationwide.
Here’s what you don’t want to happen — and we see this often:
A nurse passes an English exam, only to find out later that the state they’ll be working in doesn’t accept that test. Then they have to take it all over again.
Our goal is for you to do it once — and do it right.
Pass the correct exam, get your VisaScreen, and secure a placement where your English qualifications will not be an issue.
Now, just to clarify:
You don’t need English results to file your I-140, but you will need them as your process continues.
So if you already have NCLEX, and you’re currently studying for or planning your English exam, we still want to hear from you.
3. Be Open to Staffing Opportunities
Be open not just to direct hire, but also to staffing opportunities.
AMN International is the only organization that provides both.
Right now, staffing opportunities are more plentiful — and they serve as a safety net for you.
Here’s what that means:
If, for any reason, your job offer is ever rescinded, you won’t be left without support. Because AMN International is your sponsor, we will help you find another opportunity elsewhere.
4. Get Your Place in Line
You’ve heard us say this in every show — get your place in line!
The Visa Bulletin will move at its own pace, and no one can predict exactly when.
So if you’re waiting month after month to see what happens, you’re just delaying your progress unnecessarily.
Start your process now.
Get your I-140 filed — that’s key — and it can happen within the next 30 days if you begin today.
If you haven’t applied yet, here’s the link again:
👉 amnhealthcare.com/international
Our expert team of recruiters is ready to help guide you through every step of the process.
5. Be Open About Location
We talked earlier about being flexible with your location.
The U.S. is a large country with opportunities everywhere.
The more open you are, the faster you’ll secure a placement.
Remember, each opportunity comes with its own set of requirements.
If you only want to work in one specific area and your experience doesn’t align with the open positions there, you could delay your placement.
So again — stay open.
Flexibility gives us more chances to find you the perfect match.
6. Accept an Offer
If you currently have an offer of employment, and you have questions — talk to your recruiter. That’s exactly what they’re here for.
We love getting questions because it shows your genuine interest in pursuing an opportunity.
If your offer meets most of your criteria — go ahead and accept it.
If it doesn’t, that’s okay — we’ll continue to look for something that fits better.
But if it checks most of your boxes, don’t wait — accept the offer and move forward.
7. Continue Working at the Bedside
This is critical.
We often hear nurses say,
“I’m taking time off to study for NCLEX or English.”
While studying is important, taking a long break from bedside work can make your experience appear outdated when clients review your profile.
If you’re not currently working at the bedside, please secure a nursing position while you’re preparing for exams or waiting for placement.
U.S. employers and healthcare facilities want to see current, active bedside experience — that’s what strengthens your application.
Closing Thought
So, to recap — focus on what you can control:
✅ Take and pass your NCLEX
✅ Complete your English exam
✅ Stay open to staffing and location options
✅ Apply now and get your place in line
✅ Accept offers that align with your goals
✅ And always keep your bedside experience active
With AMN International, you’re not just applying for a job — you’re partnering with a team that has over four decades of experience helping nurses achieve their American dream.