Yes. Brazilian nurses can work as Registered Nurses in the United States. However, there is a process that must be completed before you can legally practice as an RN in the country.
For a Brazilian nurse who is serious about building a career in the United States, the best approach is to start preparing early. The process can take time, and nurses who are best positioned for U.S. opportunities are usually those who begin working on their English, NCLEX, credentials, U.S. nursing license, and clinical experience well in advance.
English proficiency is fundamental
If you are a Brazilian nurse considering working in the United States, take your English seriously.
English is not simply another requirement to check off your list. It is fundamental to working successfully as a nurse in the United States.
You will need to communicate with patients, physicians, nurses, pharmacists, managers, and other healthcare professionals every day. You need to understand medical terminology, document accurately, follow instructions, explain procedures to patients, and communicate clearly in situations where patient safety is involved.
English proficiency can also be part of the credentialing and immigration process. For example, TruMerit requires evidence of English language competency for applicable VisaScreen applicants and accepts examinations including IELTS, TOEFL iBT, OET, PTE Academic, TOEIC, MET, and certain Cambridge English examinations. Requirements and exemptions can vary.
My advice is simple: start improving your English now.
Do not wait until you have completed your nursing credentials to start. The stronger your English becomes, the easier it will be to study for the NCLEX, complete interviews, communicate with recruiters, and eventually work with patients and colleagues in the United States.
Start your NCLEX and U.S. licensing process
The NCLEX RN is one of the most important steps for a Brazilian nurse who wants to become licensed in the United States.
The licensing process is different from simply transferring your Brazilian nursing license. The United States does not have one national nursing license. Each state has its own Board of Nursing and its own requirements for internationally educated nurses.
Because of this, you should determine which state you want to pursue licensure in and carefully review its requirements.
For internationally educated nurses, state boards may require a credentials evaluation to verify and assess your education and professional licensure before you can become eligible for the NCLEX RN. TruMerit provides several credential evaluation services used by state boards, depending on the requirements of the state.
Do not wait until you have found a U.S. employer to begin this process.
If working in the United States is your goal, start your NCLEX and licensing process as early as possible. Getting through the licensing requirements can take considerable time, and completing important steps in advance can put you in a much stronger position when an employment opportunity becomes available.
Your Brazilian nursing education and license are important
Your nursing education and professional credentials will need to be reviewed as part of the U.S. licensing and credentialing process.
TruMerit provides credential evaluation and verification services for internationally educated nurses. Depending on the state and pathway you are pursuing, you may need a Credentials Evaluation Service report, the TruMerit Certification Program, or another credentialing service.
You should also make sure your Brazilian nursing records are in order and that you can obtain the documents required for your application.
Getting your documents organized early can prevent unnecessary delays later.
Bedside experience is extremely important
If you want to work as a nurse in the United States, bedside experience is one of the most important parts of your professional profile.
Many U.S. employers are looking for nurses with recent hospital bedside experience, particularly in acute care settings. Your clinical experience can make a significant difference when an employer evaluates your background and determines whether your experience matches the position.
For Brazilian nurses who are planning to work in the United States, building strong bedside experience should be a priority.
And when it comes to where you gain that experience, the larger the hospital, the better.
Experience in a large hospital can expose you to higher patient volumes, more complex cases, multidisciplinary teams, established clinical protocols, electronic medical records, and a wider variety of acute care situations. It can also give you experience that is more relevant to the types of hospital positions available in the United States.
If you are currently working in a hospital, continue building your bedside experience. If you are choosing between different professional opportunities, a larger and well established hospital can be particularly valuable for your future U.S. career.
The goal is to build a strong clinical background that demonstrates that you are not only a licensed nurse, but a nurse with substantial hands on experience caring for patients in a hospital environment.
What does the process look like?
Every nurse’s situation is different, but the process generally involves several important stages.
First, work on your English and make sure you can communicate comfortably in a professional healthcare environment.
Next, research the U.S. state where you want to pursue nursing licensure and determine its requirements for internationally educated nurses.
You will then need to complete the required credential evaluation and documentation, apply through the appropriate State Board of Nursing, and meet the requirements to become eligible for the NCLEX RN.
After that, you will need to prepare for and pass the NCLEX RN and obtain your U.S. RN license.
Depending on your immigration pathway, there may then be additional healthcare worker credentialing and immigration requirements. For nurses pursuing an occupational visa, VisaScreen can be an important part of the process. TruMerit states that its VisaScreen service evaluates education, verifies professional licenses, assesses English proficiency, and, for registered nurses, verifies that the nurse has passed either the TruMerit Nurse Qualifying Exam or the NCLEX RN.
Applicants who successfully complete VisaScreen receive an ICHP Certificate that satisfies the U.S. federal screening requirements applicable to covered healthcare professionals.
Do not wait for an employer to start
One of the biggest mistakes international nurses can make is waiting until they find an American employer before starting the licensing process.
That can put you months behind.
If your goal is to work as a nurse in the United States, start preparing now. Improve your English. Build strong bedside experience. Work in a hospital environment, and whenever possible, build your experience in a larger hospital. Research the states where you may be eligible for licensure. Start your credential evaluation. Begin working toward the NCLEX RN.
The more progress you make before an employer is ready to consider you, the better prepared you will be.
Brazilian nurses can build a career in the United States
Becoming a nurse in the United States requires preparation. You need to navigate nursing licensure, credential evaluation, examinations, English proficiency, clinical experience, and potentially immigration and healthcare worker requirements.
But being educated and licensed as a nurse in Brazil does not prevent you from pursuing a nursing career in the United States.
The most important thing is to start.
Work on your English. Start your NCLEX and licensing process. Build substantial bedside experience. If possible, gain that experience in a larger hospital. Keep your professional credentials in order and prepare yourself for the requirements of the U.S. healthcare system.
The earlier you begin, the sooner you can put yourself in a position to pursue opportunities in the United States.
Your U.S. nursing career starts with the preparation you make today.
