10 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Immigrated to the USA as a Registered Nurse
Moving to the USA as a Medliant International Registered Nurse will be one of the most exciting experiences that you will have in your lifetime! As an immigrant Registered Nurse to the USA myself, I want to share with you 10 things that I wish I knew, so that you can best prepare for your journey ahead! From packing the right clothes, to learning how to make new friends, I am here to share my personal experiences with you!
Here are 10 things I wish I knew before immigrating to the USA as a Registered Nurse:
1. Making Friends Would Be Easier Than I Thought
When I first moved to the USA in November of 2019, I didn’t have any friends or family in America, and I was worried about how well I would fit in and how easy (or difficult) it would be to make new friends. What I didn’t know, is how incredible the nursing community really is here in the USA. Nurses come from all over the world to be here, and some even travel across the USA for work. It is very common to work any given shift with a handful of the nurses that have either immigrated from another country or emigrated across the USA. There is a common understanding that with any new community, it can be challenging making new friends, and I found that nurses were very outgoing and welcoming to me. Before I knew it, I was spending days at the beach, venturing across California to explore the great outdoors, going to concerts and sporting events, and spending time just about anywhere with my new friends. There are a lot of great online Facebook groups that nurses have started, specific to areas all over the USA, for nurses who are wanting to make new friends and do activities together. This made my transition to the USA so much fun!
2. It’s Important To Establish A Routine Early
A routine is important, no matter what your profession is or where you are living. Immigrating to a new country can bring a lot of change, and sometimes stress as well. To alleviate that stress, I quickly realized that it was important to find my go-to grocery store, gas station, laundromat, department store, beach, coffee shop, etc. Rather than having to stress about where I needed to go to get things, I was able to establish a routine and a foundation while I settled in before I was ready to get out and explore more!
3. Get Your Driver’s License And A US Phone Plan
It is important to get your driver’s license early! As a Canadian, my foreign driver’s license was valid in the USA for three months before I had to get a California driver’s license. Not only was this important for me as I prefer to drive over public transportation, but I could then use my driver’s license as an ID rather than having to carry my passport around everywhere I went (you don’t want to lose your passport)!
As for getting a US phone plan, this is important as I wasn’t able to download a lot of important apps that I wanted to (e.g. Venmo, which is an app to transfer money) with a foreign phone plan since I first continued to use my Canadian phone and plan. US phone plans are also very affordable, and many phone companies will offer discounts for nurses when you sign up for unlimited talk and data.
4. There Is So Much To Do And Explore So Make A Bucket List
I have been in the USA for almost a year and a half now, and my bucket list is growing faster than I am able to check things off of it! First off, each of the 50 US states feels like 50 different countries, all with something unique to offer, whether it’s a different climate or ecosystem, culture, activities, places to explore, or things to do. I have spent most of my time in California, but I have also ventured off to Tennessee and Florida as well. As someone who likes being outdoors, the national parks are absolutely breathtaking, and no two are the same. Make sure you take lots of pictures of your adventures here! Next on my list is Austin, Texas and Boulder, Colorado!
5. A Social Security Number (SSN) Is Needed To Open A Bank Account
I quickly discovered the importance of getting an SSN soon after I arrived to the USA. One of the biggest reasons for this, is that you require an SSN for taxation purposes and to open up a bank account (and get paid). To get an SSN, you need to go to a social administration office once your US Visa has been processed and request to get your SSN. This process is quick and easy. Your SSN card will then be mailed to your US address soon after. Remember that your SSN is your identity and you are assigned it for life, so be sure to keep it with your passport in a safe place!
6. Filing Taxes Was Much Easier Than Expected
Coming from another country, I wasn’t sure how easy or difficult it would be to file taxes in the USA. Fortunately, it is very easy. Shortly after the end of each year you are mailed your W-2 tax slip, which you will take with you to any accountant to file your state and federal taxes for that year. I spent perhaps an hour with the accountant for my first-time filing, and within a few months my return of a few hundred dollars was automatically deposited into my US bank account! I was also able to file my Canadian taxes from the USA as I had worked part of the 2019 fiscal year in Canada. The following year I was able to simply upload the documents online and didn’t even have to leave my home to file my US taxes. Talk about an easy process!
7. Medical And Dental Insurance Companies Make It Easy To Find A Doctor
Coming from a public health care system where you can simply walk into any medical clinic and hospital to see a doctor, I wasn’t sure how the process would be in the US private health care system. Fortunately, the process is streamlined and was easy as an immigrant to find a doctor and a dentist. Once I had my medical and dental insurance plans, I simply went online, located a doctor and dentist near me, and I was able to schedule appointments just like that! And for prescriptions, you can fill your prescriptions over the phone or on the medical insurance companies app, and they will mail your medication(s) to your home as well, making it as simple as possible.
8. Pack Enough Clothes For All Four Seasons
When I initially moved to California, I had assumed the weather would always be sunny and warm, and I didn’t bring a winter jacket! Well, I found myself buying one soon after as I hadn’t considered that it can get cold, even in traditionally warm places. I also realized that since I wanted to explore the US, including going to the mountains and on hikes, I should have prepared for all possible weather conditions as well. So, take it from me, and bring clothes for those warm sunny days, and also in the event that you find yourself in a snowy winter wonderland!
9. Learn The Imperial System (Sort Of)
I grew up with the metric system (km, cm, L, ml, etc.), while the US uses the imperial system (miles, yards, feet, gallons, etc.), sort of. What I mean by that, is in the US hospitals we use the metric system when calculating medications (e.g. mcg, mg, grams, ml, L, etc.), which had me jumping for joy as I had been using the metric system in the hospital setting for my entire career, and most likely you have to! When it comes to driving, there are many great apps such as google maps that will help you navigate around the US while you get used to the imperial system. Remember that 1 mile = 1.6 km!
10. Holidays and Patriotism Are Very Important Here!
I knew the US was patriotic, but I didn’t know how much fun it would be to join in on all of the fun for the holidays! First off, Thanksgiving is one of the biggest and most travelled holidays in the US, so this will be an important date to circle on your calendar to celebrate! Independence Day or July 4th is also an incredible day full of fireworks, BBQing, family and friend gatherings, and celebrating the country together. I spent my first Independence Day in Santa Cruz, California on the beach enjoying the festivities surrounded by locals and new friends. I can’t wait for you to join in on all of the fun too!
Ready to apply? If you are ready to begin your application to become a US Registered Nurse with Medliant International Healthcare Staffing please reach out to us on our Medliant Website, Facebook (Medliant International Healthcare Staffing), or Instagram (@medliant).
You can also email your resume to nursebrennan@medliant.com to start your application. Let Medliant help you begin making your American Dream come true today!
