What Affected the Progress of My USRN Application?

Pursuing a U.S. Registered Nurse (USRN) position is a significant milestone in the professional journey of many nurses, particularly those who aspire to build a career on the global stage. The opportunity to work in the United States offers not only competitive compensation but also access to world-class healthcare systems, diverse clinical experiences, and long-term career growth. However, the path to securing a USRN role is highly competitive and governed by strict standards set by both U.S. employers and regulatory bodies.

Not all applicants are immediately qualified for these roles, even if they possess local nursing experience or licenses. This is because USRN vacancies often require a unique combination of academic qualifications, clinical expertise, legal eligibility, communication skills, and many more. The U.S. healthcare system has specific expectations when it comes to training, licensure, and professional readiness, and only candidates who meet all these criteria can move forward.

Understanding why some candidates do not progress in the application process is crucial—not as a point of discouragement, but as a guide for preparation. Identifying these factors early allows aspiring USRNs to take the necessary steps to become more competitive in the future, whether that means pursuing additional training, passing required exams, or completing needed documentation.

Below are the most common factors that may hinder the progress of your USRN application:

Unresponsive via Call and Email. One of the most common issues we encounter is the lack of response from applicants. Our initial step is to contact them via phone to verify details upon their application and provide the next steps; however, many of the numbers provided are either unreachable, unattended, or incorrect. If there is no response by phone, we still follow up through email to confirm the applicant’s interest. Unfortunately, continued unresponsiveness hinders the application process and may result in disqualification. We strongly encourage all applicants to double-check their contact information before submitting and to remain responsive to communication from our team to avoid missed opportunities.

Applied Without NCLEX for a Required NCLEX Role. While we have many openings for adult bedside nurses, certain specialized positions—such as those in the NICU, PICU, or L&D—demand a higher level of clinical readiness due to the complexity and sensitivity of patient care. For these roles, we require applicants to have already passed the NCLEX to ensure they meet the licensure and competency standards expected in these high-acuity areas. Applicants who have not yet passed the NCLEX will be unable to move forward to the interview stage for these specific vacancies until they meet this requirement. If you’re targeting these specialized roles, we recommend prioritizing your NCLEX to move forward in the hiring process.

Did Not Meet Bed Capacity Requirements. A common reason nurses do not qualify is that they lack experience in facilities with the required bed capacity. Employers use bed capacity as a measure of the hospital’s size, patient volume, and complexity of care. At Epic International Staffing, our longest-standing U.S. client, requirements vary depending on the nurse’s specialization, with higher standards for areas like ICU or Emergency. To help applicants better understand if they meet the requirements, here are our general guidelines based on care type: 

• Adult Patient Care: Nurses must have experience in hospitals with at least 50 beds, provided they worked exclusively with adult patients.

• Mixed Patient Care: Nurses who handled both adult and pediatric patients must have experience in hospitals with a minimum of 150 beds.

If you're aiming for such positions, consider gaining experience in hospitals with larger bed capacities, as this better aligns with employer expectations and prepares you for the demands of the U.S. healthcare system.

Already in a Managerial or Supervisory Role. Epic primarily recruits nurses who are currently engaged in direct bedside care, as most available positions are for staff nurses. We’ve encountered applications from nurses in managerial or supervisory roles, which may not align with the hands-on clinical experience required by our partner facilities. While these applicants have strong qualifications, we may be unable to proceed with their applications for roles that demand active patient care. Nurses in leadership roles who wish to apply are encouraged to return to bedside practice to meet eligibility.

Currently Working as a Virtual Nurse. Nurses who are currently employed in virtual roles—such as telehealth or other forms of remote nursing—may not meet the clinical experience requirements for bedside positions in the U.S. While virtual nursing is an emerging and valuable area of healthcare, it typically lacks the direct, hands-on patient care exposure that U.S. employers look for when hiring for hospital-based roles. At Epic, the majority of our current vacancies require recent bedside experience in acute care settings. As such, applicants working solely in virtual environments may need to return to in-person clinical practice to be considered for these positions.

Unwilling to Transfer to a Medical-Surgical Setting. At Epic, some nursing specialties—such as ER, ICU, or OR—have limited openings depending on current employer demand. Because of this, applicants are often asked during the initial screening if they are open to transferring to a Med-Surg unit, which typically has more available slots. Nurses who are unwilling to make this transition may face delays, as placement opportunities become fewer and more competitive. Being flexible and open to Med-Surg roles not only increases your chances of deployment but also provides valuable U.S. clinical experience that can lead to future specialty opportunities.

Prefers Deployment to a Specific State. We’ve encountered applicants who are qualified and ready to move forward but prefer to be deployed to a specific U.S. state. While Epic works with hospital facilities across more than 30 states, we cannot guarantee placement in a preferred location during the initial interview or matching phase. This is because placements depend on current demand, specialty openings, and employer needs at the time an applicant is ready for deployment. Our priority is to deploy nurses promptly by matching them with facilities actively hiring for their skill set. Limiting placement to a specific state can delay deployment or reduce opportunities, so we strongly encourage applicants to remain flexible with location to move forward more efficiently in the process.

Insufficient Bedside Experience or Wide Work Gap. One of the reasons some applicants are not qualified for U.S. nursing roles is insufficient recent bedside experience or a significant employment gap. Many of Epic’s partner hospitals are large, high-acuity facilities that require nurses to be clinically up-to-date and confident in delivering hands-on care. Upon arrival in the U.S., nurses are expected to hit the ground running and may be placed in specialized units that demand strong clinical exposure. Maintaining continuous bedside practice ensures you remain competitive and well-prepared for the complex care settings found in U.S. hospitals.

Not a Filipino Citizen. Epic’s U.S.-bound nursing program, in partnership with ABBA, is currently focused on recruiting Filipino nurses. While we appreciate interest from nurses of other nationalities, this specific recruitment track is tailored for Filipino citizens due to existing deployment systems and processing partnerships in the Philippines. Epic does hire nurses from other countries, but they must apply through the appropriate channels in their respective regions (e.g., Middle East, Africa, Europe, South America, or other parts of Asia). Non-Filipino applicants are encouraged to visit Epic’s website or contact their global offices to explore country-specific opportunities.

Has an Ongoing Application with Another Agency. We understand that many nurses explore multiple opportunities abroad. If you have an ongoing application with another agency, you are still welcome to apply with Epic—as long as your other application is not under an immigrant visa category. Nurses may continue pursuing short-term opportunities (e.g., working visas) in adult bedside hospital settings while waiting for their U.S. application to progress. However, this must be disclosed early on to avoid any future conflicts or complications in processing your U.S. deployment.

Securing a USRN position is not just about meeting the minimum requirements—it's about aligning your experience, qualifications, and readiness with the standards expected by U.S. healthcare employers. If your application did not move forward, don’t be discouraged. Instead, view it as a chance to reassess, strengthen your credentials, and take the necessary steps to become a more competitive candidate. With the right preparation, persistence, and mindset, your goal of working as a nurse in the United States remains well within reach.

Already gone through the list and found that you’re now eligible to apply as a USRN? Submit your updated CV NOW at bit.ly/AbbaEpicNurse or tinyurl.com/AbbaEpicNurse. For any questions or concerns, feel free to contact Toni Buan at +63917-704 2150.

Check out the newest job opportunities available at Epic International Staffing by exploring the listings below:

QUALIFICATIONS

• Non-NCLEX and/or non-IELTS passers are welcome to apply

• RNs with Authorization to Test for NCLEX are accepted

• At least 1 year of post-license experience in the adult care area of a tertiary hospital with at least 50-100 beds and current hospital experience (must be currently working)

AVAILABLE AREAS

✔ Medical

✔ Surgical

✔ ICU

✔ Telemetry

✔ Progressive Care Unit

✔ High Dependency Unit

✔ Stepdown Unit

✔ Rehabilitation

*For specific vacancies

• NICU, PICU, L&D, and Pedia Nurses must be an NCLEX passer and is currently employed in a hospital with at least 100 bed capacity

• For Psychiatric and Hemodialysis nurses, as long as NCLEX passer, you are also welcome to apply

• ER, OR, and ICU Nurses must be from a hospital with at least 150 bed capacity

SALARY & BENEFITS

• Competitive starting salary ranging from 30 - 40USD per hour

• Green Card sponsorship to spouse and unmarried children below 21 yrs. old

• Dedicated Career Path Coordinator

• Free NCLEX review program*

• NCLEX exam reimbursement

• IELTS review and exam reimbursement

• Visa Screen fee and processing assistance

• Medical exam reimbursement

• Immigrant visa processing

• Life and health insurances

• Paid clinical and cultural transition

• Free Airfare

• Driver’s education

• Car loan provision

• Accommodation upon arrival

• 4,000USD start-up advance

• No placement or processing fee

EMPLOYER DESCRIPTION

💡 unlimited number of E.B.-3 USRN job vacancies in esteemed hospitals and institutions.

💡 our longtime U.S. client, Vintage Health Resources, has transitioned to a bigger healthcare organization, Epic International Staffing.

💡 pioneer in healthcare staffing with over 3 decades of experience and Joint Commission-certified.

💡 has an excellent track record when it comes to managing the long and complex U.S. nurse application process.

💡 one of the few agencies that have weathered the E.B.-3 visa retrogression, rising immigration issues, and the changing professional and personal lives of its applicants.

💡 over 1,000 Philippine healthcare workers placed in various U.S. states.

GOT A QUESTION?

Contact Toni through +63917-704 2150

ABBA Personnel Services Inc.

Upper Ground Floor 01 / 02 Pioneer Highlands

Pioneer St. near cor. EDSA

Mandaluyong City 1550 Philippines

DMW LICENSE: DMW-357-LB-05232024-R-AOE. NO FEES TO BE COLLECTED. BEWARE OF ILLEGAL RECRUITERS. JOB ACCREDITATION NO. 9913578.