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The US has the largest number of nurses globally, and half of all the English-speaking nurses in the world work in the US.
But faced with a national shortage that continues to grow, the US has been welcoming nurses from around the world to keep its healthcare system ticking.
Higher salaries, good working conditions, and the ability to bring family have made it a top destination for international nurses looking for a new chapter.
We explore what’s behind the nursing shortage and why more and more nurses are choosing to call the US home.
The combination of an aging population and increased healthcare needs after Covid means that there aren’t enough nurses in the US to meet patient demand.
Many experienced nurses are also retiring, with almost a quarter of Registered Nurses (RNs) having stepped down or planning to retire in the next five years, according to a 2022 national survey.
There’s a shortage of nursing educators too; nursing schools had to turn away almost 66,0000 applicants in 2023 because they didn’t have enough teaching staff.
The result is that hospitals and healthcare facilities are actively recruiting international nurses to fill critical gaps, offering a stable and secure career path for nurses willing to relocate to the US.
There are almost 4.7 million registered nurses in the US.
That number is projected to grow by almost 10%, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, who predict that there will be almost 200,000 vacancies for Registered Nurses each year between 2020 and 2030.
The number of nurses relocating to the US has tripled since 1994, and around 8% of current Registered Nurses were educated outside of the US.
The Philippines (29%) and Jamaica (29%) are the top countries Registered Nurses have relocated from, followed by India (19%).
Quickly part of the team, almost 90% of international nurses say they feel accepted by patients and nursing colleagues.
For many international nurses, moving to the US means better professional and personal resources and different ways to specialize, train and focus their careers.
The US is known for offering some of the highest rates of pay for nurses globally.
On average, Registered Nurses earn just under $95,000 a year (c.$45 an hour), with the top 10% of nurses earning over $132,000 annually.
The states with the highest mean annual salaries for nurses are California ($137,690) and New York ($106,620).
Many US healthcare facilities also offer sign-on bonuses and retention bonuses.
The financial benefits of nursing in the US go beyond the salary. US employers provide comprehensive compensation packages that include healthcare coverage for nurses and their families, pensions, paid sick leave and vacation days.
Over a quarter of employers also provide childcare, with 10% providing their nursing staff with help repaying student loans.
There’s a myth that moving to the US means leaving your family behind. But with nurses in such high demand, spouses and children under 21 are allowed to accompany nurses to the US — even on a H-1B Registered Nurse temporary visa.
Those dependents on a H-4 visa are able to apply to work in the US, with the opportunity for the whole family to become US citizens if you progress to the employment-based EB-3 permanent residency visa, or “Green Card” as it’s better known.
Another advantage of working as a nurse in the US is the flexibility of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC).
From large urban hospitals in Dallas to rural clinics in North Dakota, this multistate license allows nurses to practice in any of the 42 jurisdictions, finding the setting that best suits their expertise, family, and lifestyle.
Whether it’s pediatric care, oncology, critical care, or advanced practice nursing, the US healthcare system provides many opportunities for nurses to specialize.
Hospitals and healthcare institutions in the US often have training programs to help nurses achieve their specialization goals and gain hands-on experience with the most advanced medical technology and procedures.
Being able to specialize in the areas that are of special interest not only boosts job satisfaction, but it also unlocks opportunities for higher pay and stepping up the career ladder.
For those interested in a leadership role, there are many different options within US nursing, such as Nurse Managers, Directors of Nursing, or Chief Nursing Officers.
These positions not only come with higher salaries but also provide the opportunity to influence healthcare policies, mentor the next generation of nursing professionals, and improve patient care on a broader scale.
Relocating to the US offers nurses a whole host of professional and personal opportunities.
In high demand, international nurses are valued by healthcare employers, with high wages, great benefits, and opportunities to take their nursing career in the direction that interests them most.
Thinking of making the move? Take that first step with PTE Academic — the faster, fairer, simpler way to evidence your English skills.
PTE Academic covers all four skills in just a single two-hour test, so test takers don’t need to worry about taking a separate speaking test with a human examiner. PTE Academic is a computer-based test and so test takers are judged purely on their English skills. Not their accent, their age, their outfit or their appearance.
Accepted by the major US nursing bodies, find out more about how PTE can help you start your new chapter in the US.
PTE Academic is completed on a computer, including the speaking part of the test.
So make sure you are prepared by familiarizing yourself with the equipment you will use during your test. Reading these test tips and you will be fully prepared.
There are many ways you can improve your chances of gaining points in Part 2: Reading during PTE Academic.
To improve your reading skills, practice increasing your reading speed and comprehension at the same time. In turn, you will improve your writing, grammar and vocabulary skills.
To do well in this part of the test, you need to be able to read quickly, using effective reading strategies, as there is a limited time to answer all questions.
Speed reading tasks will help improve your reading speed. Practice speed reading every day and:
Aim to be reading at least 220 words per minute
Reading short articles of around 300 words
Read often for short periods of time
You can also try this as a challenge with your friends to help keep motivated. Once you are happy with your comprehension and speed, focus on chunks (groups of words) rather than individual words.
When your reading skills reach a level you are happy with, you will feel more confident to answer the questions.
In the Multiple-Choice, Single Answer question type, some test takers make the mistake of scan reading and matching the words in the text to the words in the answer. Generally, the words in the text are not used in the correct answer, therefore it is important to learn how to use synonyms and paraphrasing as it will be used in the test.
Learn how to improve your grammar in our Reading: Core Skills part 1 article.
In this question type, you will need more time than in the Multiple-Choice, Choose Single Answer question type, as you need to intensively read the stem (the part before the options) as well as the options, then scan read the text on the screen until you find the part of the text that contains information that was in the stem.
Read the options very carefully and match the meaning of the option with the text. Do not match the words – this is something test takers may make errors with.
You should also make sure not to choose all the options since you lose one point for each incorrect choice. However, you cannot score below zero.
To do well in the Re-order Paragraphs questions, you will need to have a strong understanding of cohesive devices and how they work. You will also need to understand how articles work, as well as the logical and chronological order of information.
In this question type, skim-read the text to get the ideas of the topic of the text. From there, you should read all the sentences carefully.
For both Fill in the Blanks and Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks question types, you will need to understand a range of vocabulary, collocations, grammar, pronouns, and cohesive devices, as well as being able to identify when plural nouns are needed.
You will also need to be able to skim read to get an idea of the meaning of the text, then read intensively before and after each blank. If unsure, you should guess based on the context.
Make sure you do not leave any spaces blank. You do not need to correctly fill in all spaces to get points.
To go back and review the question types within the reading test, we suggest learning more about the reading questions.
Explore Smart Prep, which combines all our practice materials in one place, so it's easier for you to stay on track with your PTE preparation.
Smart Prep is a clear path to test day, guiding you through the official paid and free resources available for your test
It can be accessed whether you’ve booked a test or not – just create, or sign in to your myPTE account
Preparation materials include guided practice tests, introductory videos, video courses and test tips.
Ready to get started?
Do you have your heart set on studying in England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland? The UK is a wonderful place to live and learn, but you’ll most likely need to get a UK study visa before you start packing your bags.
This comprehensive guide covers who needs a UK student visa, the requirements for getting one, how to apply, how much it costs, and how long it takes.
If you’re an international student hoping to study in the UK, you’ll most likely need a student visa. The only exceptions are nationals of Switzerland and countries in the European Economic Area (EEA), who don’t need a visa to enter the UK. *
* Please note: The outcome of Brexit may alter this after 2020. Check the UK government’s website for up-to-date information about this.
There are several UK study visa requirements you’ll need to meet to successfully apply. These include:
You’ve been offered a place in a full-time course from an eligible university (i.e. the school must be a licensed Student route visa*Tier 4 sponsors)
You can understand English (both written and spoken)
You have enough funds to support yourself and any dependants, while also paying for the course.
These requirements apply to students from all over the world. This means the UK student visa requirements for Indian students and American students are exactly the same for Chinese students and Australian students (and so on).
![[Asset] US nurses](/content/dam/ELL/pte/pearsonpte/articles/us-nurses.jpg)
