Taiwanese Nurses in USA: NCLEX, Credentialing & Staying Connected to Taiwan

Your Journey from Taiwan to USA Nursing: Communication Essentials

Congratulations on taking the bold step to practice nursing in the United States! Whether you're preparing for NCLEX-RN in Taiwan, navigating CGFNS credentialing, or already working at a hospital in California, Texas, or New York, staying connected to family back in Taiwan while managing your new American life is crucial. This guide covers everything Taiwanese nurses need: from understanding US phone requirements to keeping in touch with family using Chunghwa Telecom (中華電信), Taiwan Mobile, or FarEasTone.

Understanding Your US Phone Needs as a Taiwanese Nurse

During NCLEX Preparation and Credentialing

Before you even board that EVA Air or China Airlines flight from Taoyuan Airport, you'll need a reliable US phone number for:

NCLEX registration confirmation from Pearson VUE
State Board of Nursing communications (California BRN, Texas BON, etc.)
CGFNS credential verification updates
Hospital HR departments calling for interviews
Recruiter contact for contract nursing positions
Two-factor authentication for US banking apps and healthcare portals
Emergency contact during your transition period

Many Taiwanese nurses make the mistake of trying to use their Taiwan roaming plan from Chunghwa, Taiwan Mobile, or FarEasTone. While convenient initially, international roaming costs NT$300-600+ per day—absolutely unsustainable for a multi-month credentialing process or long-term work.

What You Actually Need

As a healthcare professional, you need:

Unlimited talk and text for hospital shift coordination
High-speed data for electronic health records (EHR) access, continuing education modules, and telemedicine apps
Reliable nationwide coverage whether you're working in Los Angeles, Houston, or New York
Affordable international calling to update family in Taipei, Taichung, or Kaohsiung
No credit check options (many Taiwanese nurses arrive without US credit history)

Best Prepaid Plans for Taiwanese Nurses in America

Nexitel Purple Plans: T-Mobile Network from $6/Month

Perfect for budget-conscious nurses during credentialing or PRN (per diem) work phases:

Purple 1GB Plan - $6/month:

1GB high-speed data (enough for WhatsApp, Line, and light browsing)
Unlimited talk & text
Great for nurses living near Wi-Fi (hospital break room, apartment)
View Purple Plans

Purple Unlimited Plan - $15/month:

Unlimited high-speed data
Perfect for traveling nurses between assignments
Stream nursing continuing education videos
Use hospital EHR systems anywhere
Access NursingCentral, Medscape, UpToDate on the go

Nexitel Blue Plans: AT&T Network from $10/Month

Excellent coverage in rural areas where many hospitals recruit foreign nurses:

Blue 8GB Plan - $10/month:

8GB high-speed data
Unlimited talk & text
Ideal for most nurses' monthly usage
Strong AT&T coverage in smaller communities
View Blue Plans

Blue 15GB Plan - $15/month:

15GB high-speed data
Best for nurses who video call family in Taiwan frequently
Reliable during 12-hour hospital shifts

Blue Unlimited Plan - $20/month:

Truly unlimited high-speed data
Perfect for travel nurses constantly on the move
Works excellently in Midwest and Southern states where many Taiwanese nurses find positions

Compare all options at nexitel.us/plans.

Calling Taiwan: Staying Connected with Family

The Weekly Video Call Home

Most Taiwanese nurses maintain strong family ties—Sunday evening video calls with parents, grandparents, and siblings are essential. Here's how to do it affordably:

Option 1: Data-Based Apps (Best for Video)

Line (most Taiwanese families use this)
WhatsApp
WeChat (if communicating with Mainland relatives)
Skype
Facebook Messenger

With Nexitel's unlimited plans, you can video call Taiwan as much as you want without worrying about data overage charges.

Option 2: NexiTalk VoIP for Traditional Calls

When you need to call Taiwan landlines (government offices, hospitals, credentialing agencies), NexiTalk offers incredibly low rates:

Taiwan calling: as low as $0.02/minute
No connection fees
Clear voice quality
Plans from $4.99/month
Perfect for calling:
- Taiwan Board of Nursing (護理師公會)
- Medical institutions for document verification
- Family members without smartphones
- Government offices during business hours (8:30 AM - 5:30 PM Taiwan time = 7:30 PM - 4:30 AM Eastern Time)

Time Zone Management Tips

Taiwan is 12-13 hours ahead of US Eastern Time (depending on daylight saving). Strategic calling times:

Call Taiwan evenings: Before/after your day shift (if working 7 AM - 7 PM)
Night shift advantage: Call Taiwan during your breaks on night shifts (7 PM - 7 AM)
Days off: Perfect for long family video catch-ups

Keeping Your Taiwan Number Active: Nexi Volt

Don't lose your Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, or FarEasTone number! Many Taiwanese nurses need to maintain their Taiwan number for:

Taiwan banking (Land Bank, Fubon, CTBC two-factor authentication)
National Health Insurance queries while on leave
Property management if you own an apartment in Taiwan
Government correspondence (household registration, tax office)
Professional licenses (Taiwan nursing license renewal)

Recharge Your Taiwan Number from USA

Nexi Volt makes it simple:

Top up Chunghwa Telecom (中華電信) from anywhere in USA
Recharge Taiwan Mobile (台灣大哥大) instantly
Add credit to FarEasTone (遠傳電信) with a few clicks
Support APT/T-Star accounts
Pay in USD with your US debit card
Instant delivery—credits appear in minutes
Keep your number active with minimal monthly recharges (NT$100-200/month)

This is much easier than asking family to recharge for you or dealing with Taiwan payment systems remotely.

Hospital-Specific Scenarios for Taiwanese Nurses

During NCLEX Study Period

While studying for NCLEX in USA (many Taiwanese nurses take Kaplan or Hurst prep courses):

Start with Purple 1GB ($6/month) if staying mostly at library/home
Upgrade to unlimited when you start clinical rotations/orientations
Use NexiTalk to call Taiwan nursing school for transcript verification
Keep Taiwan number active with Nexi Volt for NHI correspondence

First Nursing Job Orientation

Hospital orientation requires:

Downloading multiple apps: Hospital EHR, scheduling systems, secure messaging
Video training modules: Often 20-30 hours of content
GPS navigation: Finding hospital departments, satellite clinics, patient homes (home health)
Emergency contact availability: Scheduler may call about shift changes

Recommended: Blue 15GB ($15/month) or Blue Unlimited ($20/month) during first 90 days.

Established Nurse Working Full-Time

Once settled into regular shifts at your hospital:

Blue 8GB ($10/month) works for most nurses with hospital Wi-Fi access
Use Line video calls on Wi-Fi during breaks to check on family
NexiTalk for monthly calls to Taiwan banks, insurance companies
Nexi Volt quarterly top-ups to maintain Taiwan number

Travel Nursing Assignments

Taiwanese nurses doing 13-week travel contracts across multiple states:

Blue Unlimited ($20/month) essential for constant coverage
AT&T network reaches rural hospitals where many contracts exist
GPS for driving to new cities every quarter
Video calls from hotel rooms between shifts
Research next assignment locations during downtime

Immigration Status Considerations

H-1B Visa Nurses

Most Taiwanese nurses enter on H-1B specialty occupation visas sponsored by hospitals:

You'll need consistent US phone number for USCIS communications
Maintain Taiwan number via Nexi Volt for family emergencies
Plan for 3-6 year stay minimum—choose sustainable phone plan
Consider family sponsorship later—spouse/children will need phone plans too

Recommended Setup:

Blue 15GB ($15/month) for primary use
NexiTalk for weekly Taiwan family calls
Nexi Volt to keep Taiwan number for eventual return/visits

EB-3 Green Card Process

Many Taiwanese nurses pursue permanent residency through hospital sponsorship:

Long-term credibility requires stable US phone number
Keep same number throughout I-140 and I-485 process
Critical for USCIS interview notices and biometrics appointments
May take 2-5 years—prepaid plans offer flexibility without contracts

TN Visa (for some Taiwanese nurses via Canada pathway)

Less common but some Taiwanese nurses work in Canada first, then apply for TN status:

Need immediate US activation upon border crossing
Nexitel plans activate within hours
No SSN required initially—perfect for TN entry
Month-to-month flexibility if TN renewal uncertain

Setting Up Your Phone Service: Step-by-Step

Before Leaving Taiwan

Two weeks before departure:

Research Nexitel plans based on your expected usage
Don't cancel Taiwan phone service—reduce to basic plan instead
Download Line, WhatsApp and ensure family has them installed
Notify Chunghwa/Taiwan Mobile you'll be abroad (avoid fraud alerts)
Set up international calling expectations with family

Upon Arrival in USA

First 48 hours:

Order Nexitel SIM at nexitel.us/plans
- Ships within 24 hours
- Free delivery to hospital housing or hotel
- Or buy from local retailer if available
Activate your plan
- No credit check required
- Use passport as ID
- Get US phone number immediately
Update critical contacts:
- Hospital HR department
- Nursing recruiter
- State Board of Nursing
- CGFNS (if still credentialing)
- Bank (once you open US account)
Set up NexiTalk for Taiwan calling
- Add credit via debit card
- Test call to family to confirm clear connection
First Nexi Volt recharge of your Taiwan number
- Keep it active before first month ends
- Set monthly reminder to top up

During First Month

Monitor your data usage through your phone settings
Adjust plan if needed—upgrade to unlimited if exceeding limits
Establish calling routine with Taiwan family
Test hospital EHR access on mobile data (many systems require VPN)

Cost Comparison: What You Actually Save

Typical Taiwanese Nurse Phone Expenses (Monthly)

Old way (International roaming):

Chunghwa/Taiwan Mobile roaming: NT$9,000-18,000/month (approximately $300-600 USD)
Unsustainable for 3-6 year contract

Expensive US postpaid:

Verizon/AT&T/T-Mobile postpaid: $60-85/month
Requires credit check (impossible for new arrivals)
Long-term contract commitment
International calling costs extra ($15-30/month)

The Nexitel Way:

Blue 15GB plan: $15/month
NexiTalk for Taiwan calls: $4.99/month (includes 250 minutes to Taiwan)
Nexi Volt Taiwan number recharge: ~$6/month (NT$200)
Total: ~$26/month vs. $300-600 roaming or $75-115 postpaid

Annual savings: $600-900 compared to US postpaid, $3,000+ compared to roaming.

For a typical 3-year H-1B nursing contract, you save $1,800-2,700—enough for a trip home to visit family, NCLEX prep courses, or BLS/ACLS certification renewals.

Special Situations for Taiwanese Nurses

Bringing Family to USA

Once you secure H-1B status, you can bring spouse and children on H-4 visas:

Each family member needs a US phone number
Kids need phones for school emergency contacts
Spouse may need phone for job searching (H-4 EAD holders)

Family Plan Strategy:

You: Blue Unlimited ($20/month) for hospital demands
Spouse: Blue 8GB ($10/month) for daily use
Children: Purple 1GB ($6/month each) for emergency contact
Family of 4 total: ~$42/month vs. $200+ on postpaid family plans

Visiting Taiwan During Vacation

Most Taiwanese nurses visit home every 12-18 months:

Keep your Nexitel plan active ($6-20/month) to maintain US number
Use free Wi-Fi in Taiwan for data (Taipei Metro, airports, TPE Free)
Reactivate your Taiwan SIM card temporarily (you kept it alive via Nexi Volt)
Both numbers work simultaneously if you have dual-SIM phone

Emergency Returns to Taiwan

If family emergency requires sudden return:

Your US number stays active (critical for hospital contact)
Hospital can reach you about shift coverage, scheduling
Continue accessing US bank accounts, email, USCIS portal
No risk of losing your number during extended Taiwan stay

Preparing for Taiwan Nursing License Renewal

Taiwan nursing licenses require periodic renewal (4-6 years):

Need to receive mail from Taiwan Nursing Association
Maintain active Taiwan phone for verification calls
Access Taiwan government websites (some require Taiwan number for SMS codes)
Nexi Volt ensures you never lose access to these services

Technical Requirements for Hospital Systems

Epic, Cerner, Meditech Access

Most US hospitals use electronic health record systems that require:

Stable mobile data connection for remote access
Two-factor authentication to your US phone number
SMS verification codes for shift pick-up, schedule changes
VPN applications (some hospitals) that require high-speed data

Nexitel's unlimited plans support all these requirements without throttling during heavy usage periods.

Continuing Education and Certifications

Taiwanese nurses in USA must complete:

State-specific CE hours (20-30 hours every 2 years)
BLS/ACLS renewals (every 2 years)
Specialty certifications (CCRN, CEN, etc.)
Hospital mandatory training (often 10-15 hours annually)

Most continuing education is now online/mobile:

Stream videos during commute
Complete modules during downtime between shifts
Access NursingCE, Medscape, ANA platforms
Download certificate PDFs for state board submission

An unlimited data plan transforms your commute time into productive CE hours.

Your Communication Action Plan

Month 1-3: Arrival and Credentialing

Phone setup:

Activate Nexitel Blue 8GB or 15GB plan
Set up NexiTalk account for Taiwan calls
First Nexi Volt recharge of Taiwan number
Inform hospital HR of US number
Update Pearson VUE, state board, CGFNS records

Usage focus:

Job searching and interview coordination
Credentialing document submissions
Frequent family video calls (adjustment period)
Exploring new city/finding housing

Month 4-12: First Year Working

Phone optimization:

Assess actual data usage after 3 months
Adjust to Blue 8GB if you're mostly on hospital Wi-Fi
Or upgrade to Unlimited if you're constantly traveling
Establish regular Taiwan calling schedule
Set automatic Nexi Volt recharge reminders