{"id":31794,"date":"2023-12-27T10:00:39","date_gmt":"2023-12-27T10:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/interstride.com\/?p=31794"},"modified":"2024-06-27T21:44:48","modified_gmt":"2024-06-27T21:44:48","slug":"why-you-should-consider-a-degree-in-nursing-as-an-international-student","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/interstride.com\/blog\/why-you-should-consider-a-degree-in-nursing-as-an-international-student\/","title":{"rendered":"Why you should consider a degree in nursing as an international student"},"content":{"rendered":"

International students interested in health or medical professions in the US may want to consider nursing. Nurses work directly with patients on a daily basis and can have a positive impact on their lives. Job prospects for qualified nurses in the US are promising and most positions only require a bachelor\u2019s degree. Whether you want to remain in the US after graduation, return to your home country, or travel the world, there are many benefits of studying nursing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why you should consider nursing<\/b><\/h2>\n

International students should consider a career in nursing because qualified nurses in the US are well-paid and in high demand. According to the <\/span>Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/span><\/a> (BLS), the median salary for registered nurses (RN) is $81,220 per year. The employment of registered nurses is expected to grow 6% from 2022-2032, which is more than the average across all US occupations. For some types of nurses, such as <\/span>nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners<\/span><\/a>, the projected job growth over the next decade is as high as 38%!<\/span><\/p>\n

2023 research from the <\/span>National Council of State Boards of Nursing<\/span><\/a> shows there is a huge shortage of nurses in the workforce. They found this shortage is due to high workloads and burnout caused partly by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the shortage is expected to continue. For international students, this represents a possible pathway to stay in the US long-term after graduation. Employers are more likely to sponsor a work visa or permanent residency because your skills are so in demand. As a registered nurse with at least a bachelor\u2019s degree, you could qualify for an <\/span>H-1B visa<\/span><\/a> or an <\/span>EB-3 green card<\/span><\/a>. If your goal is to return to your home country after graduation or work elsewhere, the skills you learn in nursing school in the US are also transferable to other countries.<\/span><\/p>\n

What degree to study for<\/b><\/h2>\n

Medical school in the US is only at the graduate level, but you can do nursing school as an undergraduate or graduate international student. Here are the nursing degree options:<\/span><\/p>\n