I'm a doctor in latin america but I want to becomen a nurse in USA. what can I do?

Question

I'm a medical doctor in latin america, but I really want to become nurse in the USA and work. I wonder if somebody knows about the steps that I have to do?

Answer 1

get a green card is the first step, or student visa if you want to learn how to become a nurse. or a working visa.

But seriously, we have way to many doctors. Of course, who says there's a limit?

Answer 2

Apply, visit, see if you like it, and go through the proper legal process/channels if you wish to stay... and you will be welcome.

Answer 3

You would have to contact a state board of nursing.  

In order to work as a nurse you need:

1)graduation from an accredited school of nursing (two degrees are quite often required depending upon the state: science and nursing)

2)passing a stringent background check

3)passing the state board

Being a doctor doesn't qualify you to work as a nurse.  Nurses have far different skills than a doctor does as they perform a different duty.  Yes - you will have it easier going to nursing school as you already know your diseases - however, you still will have to learn the nursing skills that doctors are never taught in medical school.

A doctor may have difficulties working as a nurse due to differing attitudes towards patients.  Doctors normally diagnose and prescribe medications - then walk off.  Nurses deal with tons of emotional issues, clean diapers, translate what doctors said into plain language for the patients.  

You need to ask yourself some questions - can you change from prescribing medications to be taken during the night to changing an altzheimer patients diapers, watching a 1/2 dozen patients all night long - with an average of 2-3 of them very capable of self harm due to dimished capacities....doing stuff to themselves like yanking out catheters, or trying to commit suicide?  Doctors don't do these things - nurses do it every single shift - and nurses get talked down to by doctors, and get blasted by patients families when they are upset due to anger (with god, medical system, family members, etc) - and must smile while and be pleasant regardless of how they are treated...

If I havent discouraged you - good luck with your endeavors!