Nursing Graduate Camille Accelerates Her #AmericanDream

Chances are you have a relative or family friend that has been working in the USA as a nurse for some time. They probably inspired you to become a nurse to help patients and as a means to achieve your #AmericanDream. Most likely they also gave you advice on how to become a USRN. Their advice probably sounded something like this:

1. Do well in nursing school.
2. Graduate and pass the local board exam.
3. Get to work as a staff RN anywhere you can.
4. While working, study for and pass the NCLEX and IELTS exams.
5. THEN if you have two years of nursing experience, find an agency that will help you get a visa and nursing job in the USA.

WOW! That is a lot to do on your own, but that's the way most agencies still operate.Here's Camille's story on how the PassportUSA ASPIRE program helped her pass needed exams and expedited her arrival to the USA.

Camille's USRN Career Began Much Sooner

Meet Camille, who joined the ASPIRE program and has been working as a USRN in Illinois since June 2019. She graduated in 2015, decided to work at a local hospital for one year, and then joined the ASPIRE program in 2016. She started her journey at least one year earlier, versus waiting to attain two years of work experience before joining an agency!We spoke with Camille regarding her experiences and here is what she shared:

How did you hear about the ASPIRE program?

"I heard about the program from my best friend in college. She saw PassportUSA's advertisement online and encouraged me to sign up with her."

How soon after graduation did you join the ASPIRE program?

"I joined the program about a year after graduation. I worked at my local hospital and then applied to the program."

Did you know agencies were helping new graduates to pass NCLEX?

"Yes I did! I knew Health Carousel was helping new graduates to pass the NCLEX."

What perks made you decide to join the ASPIRE program?

"I decided to join because I learned that Health Carousel assists with IELTS preparation. I utilized the free resources such as class discounts for in-person review centers in the Philippines. I was able to pass IELTS because of the free resources provided to me."

Would you recommend the ASPIRE program to other recent Filipino nursing graduates?

"Yes, I recommend the ASPIRE program because the PassportUSA ASPIRE program offers guidance, document processing to be able to go to the U.S. and start your nursing career there, and it inspires new graduates to achieve their personal dreams. The nursing practices we utilize in the U.S. right now are actually carried out from what we read about in textbooks in nursing school. When you inquire about the program, Health Carousel is so timely with responding to your inquiries."

Do you know anyone else that was or is currently in the ASPIRE program?

"Yes, I knew two colleagues that signed up for the ASPIRE program. I have another colleague who is in the process of applying with Health Carousel for the ASPIRE program. She has asked me a lot of questions and I happily told her about my journey."

Who/what inspired you to pursue your American dream?

"My family inspired me to pursue my dream because I want to provide for them. Also I want to develop my career growth and there are a lot of opportunities for nurses here in the U.S. compared to the Philippines."

Who do you want to thank for encouraging you to join the ASPIRE program?

"Of course, I would like to thank my Health Carousel Philippines advisors. They are responsive and helpful."

Why did you choose to work in the U.S.?

"For my family, I want to send money back to them. So whenever I go back home for vacation, their house will be improved with the money I send back to them monthly. I am also able to send money for my mother and grandmother's medications."

What do you hope to accomplish in your U.S. nursing career within five years?

"Within five years I am looking forward to enhancing my experience to respond properly and rapidly to emergency situations. I want to become a more skilled nurse to become knowledgeable in nursing and communication skills. I want to connect better with people because I continue to realize that being a nurse is really important because we take care of people, especially in their most uncomfortable time."

Are there any certifications/units you are interested in?

"Yes, I currently work in med-surg. I would like to learn more about the OR and ICU units and participate in nursing research."

What are three traits of a good U.S. nurse?

"Number one: compassion is important because you need compassion to take care of other people. Second, being authentic and genuinely wanting the best for your patients' well-being. Third, being empathetic to understand how the patient is feeling. I believe when you make patients feel safe and secure, they trust you more."

Who/what motivates you currently to continue being a spectacular U.S. nurse?

"What motivates me to continue being a spectacular U.S. nurse is the idea of having a positive mindset and praying that everything will be alright, and continuing to learn from other coworkers. I am motivated to be assertive enough to ask advice from coworkers if I need help or need clarification on protocols I am unsure of."

What advice do you have for candidates that are thinking about joining the program?

"If you are thinking about joining, you don't have to think twice! When you allow time to apply, it is not overwhelming to submit the required documents. Don't ever give up on your #AmericanDream, because based on what I am experiencing right now, there is growth here, there are learning opportunities here, and it's the best challenge to be the most skilled version of myself. Don't get discouraged with the process because Health Carousel will help you in what you need to submit next and guide you to get to the next step in your journey."[caption id="attachment_352762" align="aligncenter" width="473"]

"It has been my childhood dream to become a U.S. nurse. Having this experience is everything I have wanted for my career and more." -Camille[/caption]Thank you Camille! We are proud to see how far you've come and look forward to seeing your nursing career progress.

Program Eligibility

The PassportUSA ASPIRE Program is offered to recent graduates of Philippine nursing schools and students enrolled in their final year of Philippine nursing schools.� We provide our ASPIRE candidates with access to resources to pass the NCLEX and IELTS examinations and will file for your visa as soon as you pass the NCLEX.

Please note:�In the Philippines, PassportUSA is recruiting through Health Carousel Philippines. License number � POEA-230-LB-103018-R. For manpower pooling only. No fees to be collected. Be aware of illegal recruiters and human traffickers.