Nurse making the jump from UK to USA, needing a bit of advice

World Immigration

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Hello all,

I am a UK educated and trained nurse looking to move over to the USA. i have passed my NCLEX and have applied for a load of jobs but I still work and live in England so they are obviously reluctant to employ me. I was just wondering if anyone had made the same move and what the differences between british and American nursing are? I understand there is more of a diagnostic aspect and the assessment process is more in depth than it can be here. If anyone could share their day-to-day duties and responisbilities that would be super helpful!

Thank you in advance!

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Hi, my boyfriend is in the navy and will be posted to America in 4 years time for 2 years. I am currently a nursing student in the UK with 1 year left of my Adult Nursing Honours Degree at University. Could anyone help me by telling me what I need to do to to work as a nurse in America, and how long of a process this would take?

You need clinical and theory hours in Paeds, Mental Health, Obstetrics and Adult. Process can not start until you graduate and takes approx 4-6 months. The issue is getting visa allowing you to work and live in the US and that currently is not easy to do

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I think the main problem is that current UK training doesn't cover the spectrum of specialties required for state approval to take the NCLEX, specifically psych, paeds & obstetrics. My advice to anyone who overcomes this hurdle & obtains NCLEX Authorization to Test is to take a preparatory course, which can be done remotely online. Kaplan is a reliable option.

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Hi,

as a uk trained nurse, how did you find all the requirements that the usa wanted? did your three years as a student suffice? as i understand we need maternity, child, mental health etc and its got me worrying!!

any help and response would be appreciated

x

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In my case I trained under the old apprentice style (non degree) system which included psych, paeds & obstetrics. Perhaps one of the agencies that places overseas nurses can advise on how to meet these requirements under the current UK training system. My other suggestion would be to research which US state has the easiest licensure requirements & apply for licensure in that state. Once you obtain licensure in one state you can apply for licensure by endorsement in the state/s of your choice. It's worth noting that about half the US states have a compact agreement meaning that if you reside in one of those states your licence will be valid in the other participating states.

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Hello! Im new on here and wanted to ask if anyone knows the minimum hours required from the board of nursing? Also, I just wanted to encourage nurses who trained in the UK to push their universities to look into their hours properly. My first verification letter from my uni was terrible and it looked like I had no hope but, I pushed them to double check and the numbers look better. Im hoping it will be enough to sit the NCLEX. I really want to know what the minimum requirments are if anyone knows? Especially for NJ

Thank you!

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I think it depends on the individual board of nursing. Requirements differ according to the state. You could contact NJ BON and ask them. You may need psychiatry and paediatrics which I don't think are part of the UK curriculum anymore. (They were when I trained.)

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Thank you I've been trying to get hold of the board of nursing for 3 months now with no luck. Does anyone know the minimum for any state?

Thanks in advance!

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I've often heard that NY is easy. But when I lived there 15 years ago, the NY Board of Nursing never answered the phone! Here's a contact link to all the Boards of Nursing: Contact a Member Board | NCSBN.

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I am also a qualified mental health nurse who live in uk but want to migrate to USA to work. I haven't done my nclex exams please advise

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
I am also a qualified mental health nurse who live in uk but want to migrate to USA to work. I haven't done my nclex exams please advise

You need to meet state requirements before they will allow you to sit NCLEX so starting point would be ensuring your transcripts show clinical and theory hours in Paeds, Obstetrics, Mental Health and Adult and checking out the state website

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Thank you for replying I will look into it but I have only done clinical hours in mental health settings

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Thank you I will look into it. I have only done clinical and theory hours in mental health. Even thou 1st year was foundation so I did study generalised nursing

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