Med/Surg experience in USA

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Specializes in not qualified yet, ask me soon! x.

Hi all, well im a second year student nurse at the moment and OGP have invited me for an open day on the 30th September. I have dreams of becoming a NICU nurse but they told me today that i would need to have 2 years post-qual experience before even starting the 18-24 month immigration process with them!!!....AAAARRRRGH. I want to get to the states asap. They said to me that they would accept me on to their books if i have 6 months post qual med/surg!!...They said it is easier to put me somewhere with med/surg experience, and im looking at some of you ex -uk nurses experience and you seem to have 'med/surg'. What is med/surg nursing like in the USA?. I want to eventually do NICU, as i have a particular goal in mind. Is it hard to branch out of med/surg, once ive done my 18 months. On the med/surg forum, they are like you start med/surg..you die med/surg..i hope this is not true!!! Is Med/surg exciting place to work, and im thinking of getting a rotation post after qualifying to get the med/surg experience but they said USA likes us to be generalists and not specialists. Thanks for all your replies in advice..love monique xxx:nurse:

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Specializes in Telemetry/Med Surg.

Med surg would be a great place to start out and will even give you a leg up when you want to move to more specialized areas. You get a little of this, a little of that and is a good place to get your skills, time management, etc. up to speed. Some starting out in med surg find they like it so much, they will just remain there because the cases vary so much.

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Specializes in not qualified yet, ask me soon! x.

brilliant, thanks suzy!!. ill keep your advice in mind..

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

why go with OGP can do it without them and have more control where you live, Whilst at uni make sure you get both theory and practical experience in general adult, paeds, mental health and midwifery as UK training at the moment doesn't always meet the US requirements (which does vary from BON to BON)

Good luck

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Specializes in not qualified yet, ask me soon! x.

Thankyou, i have thought about doing it myself, but i wouldnt know where to start..

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Thankyou, i have thought about doing it myself, but i wouldnt know where to start..

decide where you want to live, once complete training apply for CES with CGFNS and then complete instructions as per chosen BON instructions for foreign trained nurse, they will decide if you meet their requirements OK ATT for yu to sit NCLEX, once passed that apply to local hospitals where you want to live and see if they will petition you for greencard.. Have a read on the primer at the top of the international forum, may give you a bit more info

Although using a recruiter have done a bit myself and more control where I am going to live

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What is med/surg nursing like in the USA?/quote]

I work on a med/surg floor, these are a few examples of patients we have...

general medical

general surgery

med/tele

gynae

ENT

bariatrics

psych

orthopaedics

GI

GU

Today I had a patient with post-op C-section problems, breast-feeding her newborn, so you could say we even have obstetrics also.

It's hard work and very fast-paced, but it's definitely the place to gain experience and time management skills.

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

How are you being trained in the UK? Are you paeds?

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Specializes in renal,peritoneal dialysis, medicine.

i signed my ogp conract 1 year after being qualified but was on their books after 6 months

they like you to be med/surg as its easier for them to get you a job

but i have a friend who has just got a nicu placement with them in texas

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Specializes in med/surg.

Please take note of the posts here telling you about the training requirements. To be eligible to take N-CLEX & nurse in the USA you must have a certain number (varies very slightly from board to board) of hours in both theory & practice in all areas. You will almost for sure be lacking in maternity, paediatrics (or adult if you're paed branch) & psychiatry. Otherwise your dreams will be over before they even had a chance to begin, thanks to the NMC!

You need to find out what hours you need & try to get them while still in university. Check with the Boards of nursing in States you are interested in.

Also if you don't have any luck with finding a hospital willing to file I-140 for you (& I haven't) any agency you go with is most likely to want 1-2 years post registration experience in an acute clinincal setting.

Finally I really suggest you check out the OGP threads here as you may want to change your mind about which agency you use. They are not the only one. At the very least, even if you stick with them, you'll go in with your eyes fully opened.

I wish you all the very best.

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Specializes in not qualified yet, ask me soon! x.

Hi, ya sorry i havent replied all....i work as a care assistant in a nursing home, done my back in..went to A&E today and strained my L1 lumbar spine!!...been on thalium, codiene phosphate and god knows what else, drugged up to my eye balls is an understatement!!! Bk to the thread, madwife im going to be a R.G.N and im sorting out with my uni, when i do go back now how to add in my psychiatric training, becuase i know there will be a deficit there. I have decided to go with an agency cos if the wait is going to be between 18-24 months or more, it kind of suits me fine because i will be topping up my diploma to a degree in that time period, so i will be a busy but excited girl!..Been invited for an open day with OGP in the 30th Sept in South Kensington for an open day...It seems like MED/SURG will put me on the right path which im really happy about and i just hope it easy for me to get into the ICU or NICU afterwards...Thank you for all your replies..xxx

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Hi, ya sorry i havent replied all....i work as a care assistant in a nursing home, done my back in..went to A&E today and strained my L1 lumbar spine!!...been on thalium, codiene phosphate and god knows what else, drugged up to my eye balls is an understatement!!! Bk to the thread, madwife im going to be a R.G.N and im sorting out with my uni, when i do go back now how to add in my psychiatric training, becuase i know there will be a deficit there. I have decided to go with an agency cos if the wait is going to be between 18-24 months or more, it kind of suits me fine because i will be topping up my diploma to a degree in that time period, so i will be a busy but excited girl!..Been invited for an open day with OGP in the 30th Sept in South Kensington for an open day...It seems like MED/SURG will put me on the right path which im really happy about and i just hope it easy for me to get into the ICU or NICU afterwards...Thank you for all your replies..xxx

Sorry to hear about your back, take care and rest it.

Good luck

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