NewYork State is the first state in the US to require a Bachelors of Sciencein Nursing for all nurses. The BSN mustbe obtained within 10 years of practice, starting with nurses first licensed inNew York in Summer 2019. All currently-licensedNew York State nurses are grandfathered into the current licensing systems anddo not have to obtain BSNs.
This new educational requirement mayallow foreign nurses who apply for nursing licenses in the US to apply for theH-1B visa. The H-1B is normally of limitedvalue to foreign nurses because the USCIS often denies H-1B RN petitions. However, with the new BSN requirement, theUSCIS may approve H-1B petitions filed on behalf of foreign-educated nurses. It remains to be seen how the USCISupdates its policy in light of the updated New York State licensing requirement.