Brazilian Nurses

Williams75 · Jul 23, 2011

The ability to transfer credits relies on the number of hours and the number of credits. Of course if you want to built a career in nursing here be mindful of your grades and your GPA. In Brazil, no body really cares to much about their grades but once you are here its a big deal. I came here in Oct 2000. I got my US nursing license in june 2003. I had to do the NCLEX 3 times and just the equivalence paperwork takes at least 6 mo. Basically you have to send your degree to CGFNS and then they will look at it to see if it is equivalent shortly after you have to do a test(exactly like NLEX but on paper). After you pass their exam they give you OK to sit to the NCLEX. At the time the economy was different and I got a job 2 weeks after I got my license. About foreign grades I would agree that is a myth because you have WES(google it.) They are a service that translates all you educational grades to the American system. I would say that at the time with translations and all the paperwork I spent around 5 to 6K. My BSN was in a public university(FREE!) :yeah: . I think that it was worth it!! But i will warn you, the process really test your persistence and patience. Well, I made it and I am happy with my decision. I hope this is helpful. Good luck!!!

Andreb · Jul 25, 2011

so it took you 1 year a half to get your license and you spent around 5k to do all the process? thats pretty expensive, but of course it was worth it.

so basically if I got D in brasil in a class for example and as long as a graduated there it will be valid here?

another question for you, are you applying for a master degree here? if so, how is the transition? easy?

thanks for your posts btw!

Williams75 · Jul 25, 2011

so it took you 1 year a half to get your license and you spent around 5k to do all the process? thats pretty expensive, but of course it was worth it.

R:I think it was worth it! How much is nursing school+BSN here in the USA?

so basically if I got D in brasil in a class for example and as long as a graduated there it will be valid here?

R:I don't think you can graduate of a good school in Brazil. You have to remember that the is not any school that make the list for equivalence. You have to be careful not to get in a school that will give you below average education because you will not be able to transfer. My nursing school is affiliated with UFRJ that made the difference. Where in Brazil you are planing to live? you will have to endure Vestibular. That itself its not easy. I am not aware of private nursing schools that are good enough to make the cut for CGFNS. You should ask them about that.

another question for you, are you applying for a master degree here? if so, how is the transition? easy?

Yes! It's difficult because you have to learn the way things are done here and it is different from Brazil. I feel that I have to study twice more. I believe that hard work pays off in the end if you are doing what you like. I you are thinking about doing master's here definitely you cannot have D's. Once you are in the program they require you B+ or better. That is what take to have excellence in nursing.:)

Andreb · Jul 25, 2011

I agree with you, I wasn't being sarcastic or anything. school here its way more expensive and it takes longer to graduate, thats why I wanna go back to brasil too and do exactly what you did.

I thought any school would make the list of equivalence. so thats a problem for me. at least in my state D is passing grade even on the best public/federal schools. But of course I would do my best to get better grades.

I was planning to go to private school( universidade do norte do parana) in my state (parana) because i dont wanna waste more time doing preparing for a vestibular for a public or fereral school specially because I have been in the us already 6 years. I just wanna enroll right away.

thanks again for the info!

Williams75 · Jul 25, 2011

No worries! I didn't interpreted you as sarcastic at all. If I were you I would call CGFNS and ask which Brazilian Schools are equivalent to American education. Maybe you will find one that will fit your requirements(private/equivalent to USA). This will keep you on track. After that is just start and finish nursing school.UFA! First phase done. You are ahead of me because you are going to nursing school already knowing you want to come here. On year 2 start to study to NCLEX so when you finish it will be one stop shop.:) Get the best grades you can during nursing school.

Useful websites:

http://www.cgfns.org/

http://www.wes.org/

I wish you all the luck!! :yeah:

Andreb · Jul 27, 2011

I emailed the CGFNS and they said ''GFNS International is not affiliated with healthcare recruiters, schools or institutions'' but I guess its just a auto message. I think is complicated for them to know because I have never seen people here in this forum saying ''CGFNS denied my foreign education'' I only see people from UK from example saying that their bachelor degree was recognized as diploma here etc.. anyway, Im gonna call them and see what they say. I dont wanna go school for 4 years and take the risk of my degree is being useless here.

Williams75 · Jul 28, 2011

They are right they are not affiliated. You need to know not affiliation but which Brazilian schools are in their list. When I did CGFNS I met some people that had their equivalence declined because their schools would not meet American education standards.. This is a good step. Good luck!!

thatchergirl, BSN, RN · Jan 22, 2012

hey everybody! my name is regiane and i'm about to graduate nursing school here in az. i graduate in may and plan on taking my n-clex in june. i'm just worried about the working situation. i'm on a student visa and after you graduate they have an opt (optional practical training) program that you can apply for and work here for 1 year on the same student visa, but after that i have no idea what i'm gonna do. i can apply for a work visa that lasts for 3 years and i can renew it for more 3 years and that's it. do you guys know anything about it? i already wanna have everything planned so i can work it out when it's time and do all the paperwork. i'm also planning on doing the rn to bsn program through western governor's online once i pass the dreaded n-clex. any inputs on what i can do or if someone had a situation that was similar maybe give me some feedback? i'd greatly appreciate it! obrigada :)

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jan 22, 2012

Work visa is usually a specialist visa and as a new grad specialist is not usually the case. Also you can't apply for it, you need a employer willing to go that route. Work visa also requires a minimum of BSN.

You may have to consider leaving the country if you can't find a employer once OPT is finished or maintain student status

RNNurse2012 · Mar 13, 2012

Hello,

I have a general question to all the Brazilian/US nurses. I working on a research project for my last class and we are reviewing Brazil and the nurse licensing and testing. I was wondering if you could help me. I have found online that there is an entry exam to nursing school "Vestibular" but I have not found anything on licensing or testing to get your RN license like we have the NCLEX in the US. I did find other countries are not required to hold licenses because there diploma serves as a permit to practice nursing. Any help would be appreciated. Even websites to view would be helpful.

brazilian_gabe · Apr 3, 2012

Hi... i have answered your questions in another topic.

See ya.

tiasilsil · Apr 25, 2012

Hi there I am a brazilian living in Seattle, WA and would like to get in touch with Nursing Students or nurses to exchange experiences, I know two Brazilian friends who are doing their program right now and I'm doing my prerequisites still. thanks!