Most internationally educated nurses spend months, or even years, preparing for their move to the United States. There are exams to pass, documents to complete, interviews to attend, and plans to make. But what happens after you arrive?
That moment often receives far less attention, even though it can be one of the most overwhelming parts of the entire journey. You're in a new country, surrounded by unfamiliar places, and preparing to start both a new job and a new chapter of life. In this video, Alfons Letrondo, a nurse who made the journey from the Philippines to rural Ohio, shares what that arrival looked like for him and what he wishes every nurse considering this path knew beforehand.
The first days often include practical challenges that have nothing to do with nursing skills. There are new surroundings to learn, transportation to figure out, essential items to purchase, and countless small details that come with settling into a different place.
For Alfons, the difference was knowing he wasn't navigating those moments alone.
He arrived to find people waiting and ready to help, not just with accommodations and meals, but with the practical steps that make a new place feel livable: setting up a phone, opening a bank account, getting moved into a home. After a long journey to a new country, that kind of presence matters.
Knowing where to go, who to contact, and where to find help makes a real difference during a major life transition. Research and workplace experts consistently find that employees who feel welcomed and connected from the start are more engaged and committed over time.1 For internationally trained nurses, that sense of welcome begins before the first shift.
Alfons' advice is to understand who will actually be there when you arrive. At PRS Global, that responsibility extends beyond finding a position or managing immigration. It includes helping professionals feel prepared, welcomed, and supported as they begin their lives in the United States.
This video is part of the Viewpoint series featuring PRS Global, Fisher-Titus Medical Center, and the impact of internationally educated nurses on healthcare organizations and communities.
Watch the complete series here:
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