Hi all

I am a 1st year Student Nurse in Scotland and my future plans are to immigrate to California after I have qualified, unsure where at the moment but San Francisco or South California interests me most.

My questions are:

1. Not sure if some may be aware but in the UK we study either Adult/Paeds/Midwifery (Maternity)/Mental Health. I have chosen to study Adult as this gives me the best all rounded knowledge. I am aware however that I must have a certain amount of clinical and theory in Mat/Paeds/Psych. How much am I required to have? Also any advice how I may obtain this? I have placements every 8 weeks, but all of my placements revolve around Adult Nursing.

2. I only know a little bit about the NCLEX exam. I take it I need to wait to qualify before I take it?

3. Is there anything else I need before I applied for immigration?

4. Is there anything else I can do while studying to improve my chances of getting accepted?

5. Also any advice as to where might be a good place to settle down in California? I would be immigrating with my husband, no children.

Thanks in advance to anyone who may respond to this post :rotfl:

Welcome to Allnurses.com............

You are definitely going to need to have the hours in mental health, as well as peds/maternal health before you will be permitted to sit for the licensing boards here. The stipulation with the hours is that they are done in an approved School of Nursing, and not just by working or volunteering on a unit that has those types of patients. It must include clinical as well as theory hours.

You will also need to get a Visa Screen Certificate, once you actually graduate from school and have the required hours, you can do this at http://www.CGFNS.org and download the application from them. Your English exams are waived. So you will only need to pass NCLEX-RN exam.

Be aware that with getting everything done and going thru the proper channels, or having your green card in hand before you come over, you are looking at least at about one year after you have completed the NCLEX exam before you will be able to work here.

You won't be able to get approval for the NCLEX exam until your credentials have been evaluated.

Please check out the International, as well as UK forums for more information about this. There is already quite a bit posted.