I need help meeting pediatric clinical requirements to sit NCLEX

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Hi All,

Here's hoping someone can help me! I am an Australian RN. I hold a Bachelors degree in Nursing, a Postgraduate Diploma in Midwifery and a Masters degree in Bioethics, all three degrees obtained from Australian Universities. I am currently undertaking the long and arduous process of obtaining my RN licence in Texas. I have applied to the Texas Board of Nursing, I have had my university transcripts evaluated and my CES Report indicates I am lacking Pediatric Clinical Hours (I have the theory hours). The Texas BON will grant me ATT once I have completed these clinical hours. I asked them if they would allow me to sit the NCLEX on the condition I would complete the Pediatric Clinical Hours prior to being issued a RN licence, however they declined and insist I make up the hours before I take the NCLEX.

And this is where I am stuck! I have contacted practically every university in Australia but none are willing to enrol me in a Pediatric Placement course as a single unit of study. An alternative would be to enrol in a Graduate Certificate of Pediatric Nursing (taking 12 months to complete and costing thousands... which I would do as a last resort). I wonder if any US Colleges offer single courses in Pediatric Nursing that includes a clinical placement in a hospital? Ideally I would need to complete any theoretical component off-campus (online) and would be willing to travel to the US to complete the in-hospital placement, assuming I could do this on a student visa.

If anyone has any advice, suggestions or similar experiences, I would be so grateful to hear from you.

Thanks :)

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical Nursing.

Are you just applying for NCLEX just to literally sit for NCLEX or are you gonna be migrating to Texas? I don't know if Texas BON would allow you to take it outside Texas. If Texas BON would allow you, try contacting Dominican University of California which is located in San Rafael, California (northside of the Golden Gate Bridge). That school has an IEN (internationally educated nurses) program. They accept applicants all year round. This program is specific for some IENs who are also stuck because the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) requires them to take 1, 2, or 3 courses just like Peds, OB, Med-Surg, Psych, etc. One course would take 10-12 weeks. You have to be physically present for both theory and clinicals. I have to tell you. I heard a few of Australians who finished their required courses there for California BRN. Why not for Texas? E-mail them at [email protected]. You might be able to get in this Summer 2018 or Fall 2018. Good luck!

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.

Internationally Educated Nurses — Dominican University of California

Link to program that prior poster mentioned

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Thanks for your help. I have contacted Dominican University CA, they are willing to accommodate me in the course if Texas BON approves. I also found South Dakota State University have a RN Refresher course consisting of online theory plus a clinical placement. They are also willing to take international applicants. I will be exploring these two options further and will provide an update with my progress. Thanks again :)

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I am an Australia RN currently living and working in the US. When I applied to sit for the NCLEX I was lacking in OB clinical hours. The BON allowed me to sit the NCLEX before I completed the clinical hours. I contacted the Nursing Department of a large university (I was already living in the US) and asked for assistance. They were so helpful. They allowed me to enroll in an "independent study course" and they arranged my clinical hours in the local hospital. I completed them and was given my US license.

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pls which BON

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