Of all the countries in Africa, Nigeria sees the most immigrating to the US. There are roughly 400,000 Nigerians and their family members in the US, and of those numbers, approximately 6,000 work in nursing.
Among all of the well-qualified professionals in Nigeria, many make the decision to immigrate to the US, because after earning their degrees, they find that they either can’t find work, or they do not earn enough to cover their living expenses. What these Nigerian professionals want is to find a career that not only helps them cover their day-to-day needs, but also provides the opportunity to continue their education. As a result, the Nigerians who choose to come to the US find these opportunities in the IT and health care industries.
Most among the Nigerian immigrants pursue nursing. Why nursing? There is a high demand in the US for health care workers, especially nurses. In addition, many were already nurses in Nigeria. These applicants may even win positions over those who were doctors back in Nigeria.
Another draw is the reasonably high pay. Nursing salaries range anywhere from $46,000 to over $96,000 per year and the median is around $67,000 per year. Of course, these salaries vary depending on the level of education and the state that you practice.
Nursing provides a field in which people can fall back, make a comfortable living, and still have opportunities to further their education. People who come to the US from Nigeria may have also wanted to study nursing all along. It is easier and less competitive to get into nursing schools in the US due to the high cost of education here. Some immigrants are more willing to pay the high cost than American students to pursue a degree with the availability of school loans.
Finally, the potential scheduling flexibility is a very attractive to workers. With the opportunity to work PRN, pursue more than one job, travel, or work extra shifts, there are potentially a lot of options for building one’s career path as a nurse.
If you are a current Nigerian nurse working in the US, let us know your story and why you chose to become a nurse in the comment section below!
As many fields are experiencing layoffs and shrinking career opportunities, one career is attracting many experienced workers. People who are seeking a career change that provides them with job stability and advancement opportunities frequently find themselves called to nursing as a second career.
For experienced workers seeking a second career that is challenging, enriching, and provides stability, nursing can be an excellent option. Between the growing need for nurses, particularly in the chronic illness sector, and record numbers of nurses retiring, the field is expected to grow by about 19 percent by 2020. Another factor – the Affordable Care Act. The passage of this health care law brought millions of Americans into the insured population, meaning they now take advantage of preventative and ongoing care measures.
People choosing nursing as a second career are typically well established in their lives. They have homes, families, and other financial responsibilities. As such, they’re also seeking a career change that will support their lifestyle and needs. Depending on the education level and area of specialty chosen, second career nurses can make between $57,446 and $100,000 per year, on average. Depending on their first career, this can even be a salary increase for some.
Hospitals, doctor’s offices and other nursing employers see huge benefits in hiring second career nurses. Although second career nurses may not be experienced in the medical field, they are experienced in coping with workplace politics, managing work related stress, and bring diversity to the workforce. In a field traditionally dominated by women, many men seek nursing as a second career, particularly in critical need areas such as the ICU.
The ability to understand and navigate workplace politics means second career nurses are able to come up to speed more quickly and often serve to mentor younger nurses in managing workplace stress and navigating the complexities of workplace politics.
In preparation for the nursing shortage, many schools have already developed accelerated nursing programs. For second career nursing students, these programs can be completed even more quickly by applying credits and knowledge from their previous degree and career path to the requirements of their nursing program. In many instances, second career nursing students can earn a bachelor’s degree in 12 to 18 months and a master’s in nursing in two to three years.
While returning to school can be challenging due to other financial responsibilities, there are specialized financial aide programs to assist those seeking nursing as a second career. For example, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funds a scholarship program called New Careers In Nursing (NCIN), which provides financial aide to people from “underrepresented” backgrounds seeking a second career in the nursing industry.
Second career nurses come from all walks of life and have a variety of motivations for entering the nursing field. One thing, however, remains constant – they all feel called to make a difference in people’s health and wellbeing. Check out these great success stories.
Sarah Woodard is a freelance writer based in Southern New Hampshire. She enjoys bringing stories, issues and topics to live with words and pictures. In addition to writing, Sarah is a beekeeper, Reiki Master Teacher and black belt in Muay Thai Kickboxing. In her free time, Sarah enjoys spending time with her boyfriend and playing with their four cats.
