update on UK TO USA

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noticed that there are old threads resurfacing on the immigration from the uk to the usa, so thought that with all the newbies on the site and us oldies who have done it all and are now settled, will start all over again. some of the information has changed so much because of the retrogression and the state of the american economy, the disasters in the areas where you might have been going, and of course the new president that they are going to have. also, theres some of us who have completed the agency thing or come on our own, and we all have different experiences. its really difficult to translate the differences between some things but will try to help, as will madwife, betty boop, silverdragon, rgn1, sue, letina etc, etc

dropped you all in here now havent i ?

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Specializes in Neonatal nursing (paediatric trained).

I feel ok about getting the process started (I want to do it on my own). Luckily, the visa won't be a problem for me, as I'm American - but I am UK trained.

What branch were all of you, if you don't mind me asking? I'm child branch trained and am working on a neonatal unit (plan on doing the neonatal course in a year or so). If any of you are child branch, did you have to do any further training before being able to take the NCLEX? If so, what and how long? And would the neonatal course I'm planning on doing be of any benefit or taken into account when looking to work at a US NICU?

I hope that's what you meant this thread to be used for, Cariad. Just thought I'd add a few questions. If it's not what you meant it to be used for, feel free to have my post moved.

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Specializes in med/surg.

Did old fashioned RGN - got to approved I-140 without an agency & still have a job awaiting in Tampa (at least I think so!) However, retrogression scuppered the plans so decided on Canada - took 8 months & am here in Alberta & very happy!!

Cariad - I don't mind being dropped in it at all!:D

As for the new "branches" - all may have problems - the only way to know is to get your CES done from CGFNS.

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i too did the training the old fashioned way,,,my sen then years later the bridging course for rgn, but it made up for any deficient hours, that was in 2000. so i was lucky enough to have no problems with my hours. i am now doing my rn-bsn, and did have problems with credit hours, as the old original transcripts are hand written and although cardiff university have no problem sending them, no-one can read them. so they gave me credits based on the fact that i am an american rn and must have enough training to do that, but i should have loads more credits if they could only be read.

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Specializes in Neonatal nursing (paediatric trained).
As for the new "branches" - all may have problems - the only way to know is to get your CES done from CGFNS.

Thanks. I know my uni have the official transcripts, but I'm waiting for my PIN to come through so I can do it all at once. I'm thinking of going to NC and therefore going through their BON, and they seem to accept loads of evaluation services.

Anyway, hopefully it won't be too much of a problem, and I'll be able to post my experience in due course. Although I'm American, I will have the joy :chuckle of trying to get my boyfriend (we'll be married by then) a visa to come with me.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

I too trained as a SEN back in 1986 and did bridging 1997 to RN and had no problems with my transcripts. Initially had approval in 2005 but hospital backed out then with one thing and another finally got approval Aug 06 but retrogression popped it's head up. Now in Canada and staying here, we have our dream house in the rural setting we always wanted which would not have been able to afford in the USA. Now in the process to sit CRNE but waiting to hear from the province

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Specializes in Stroke Rehab, Elderly, Rehab. Ortho.

I did the old RGN back in 1989...

I came out to Florida - originally started out with a small agency (which doesnt exist anymore) but I mostly did the journey by myself with little input from the agency (although I am grateful for her insight into a lot of stuff)

At the time for me it took 37 months from start to finish having got here in October 2005 (cant believe I have been here 3 years already) but this was all before Retrogression....

I work Orthopedics in the local hospital and enjoy it there...happy where I live although I dont utilize the beach as much as i could lol

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Thanks. I know my uni have the official transcripts, but I'm waiting for my PIN to come through so I can do it all at once. I'm thinking of going to NC and therefore going through their BON, and they seem to accept loads of evaluation services.

Anyway, hopefully it won't be too much of a problem, and I'll be able to post my experience in due course. Although I'm American, I will have the joy :chuckle of trying to get my boyfriend (we'll be married by then) a visa to come with me.

Best to go thru CGFNS if you plan at all to continue on with your studies. The CES is the one that is accepted in most universities.

Best of luck to you.

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the cgfns, are the institution that the immigration authorities insist on but they are not the best by any means. i eventually paid another company used by the university to get my credits transferred. cgfns, just wrote a little spiel about my training but did not give me credit for any of the sen part, 2 years of education that they would not even consider as they couldnt read them, and didnt even communicate that information to me. i only found out after they were verified by the uni.

life over here can be lots of fun, with a boatload of stress thrown in when you are off sick like i am right now.

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

Hi MandaAnda

I trained the old fashioned way as an RGN in 1989 so had no problem. I do however know that some of the branch training doesnt work as well. In the US they want general trained nurses first, and if you have extra specialised training that works well when you need to work in a specialised area.

Good luck because being from the US has to be an advantage

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the craziest thing is that as a uk trained nurse, the americans want you to have training which includes all 5 areas of nursing, which is why the uk training branched off is great for the speciality, but is not ok for here, yet when their nurses train over here, it is 18 months, with the nurses being able to work a 36 hour week at the same time, and then if they choose a speciality for example paediatrics, and then they work there for years, they are then labeled as a paeds nurse and when they want to go back to adults or mental health or a post that may advance them, but not in paeds, then their all round training doesnt really count for anything. my friend is in this exact situation right now, and is finding it difficult to be employed outside of paeds.

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Specializes in Perioperative Services.

Hi Cariad,

I just joined this forum and wanted to ask you a question about your SEN to RGN program in the UK:

How long was it

What classes (theory/practical) were taught in this conversion program

I got my SEN at the QE in B`ham in 1981, did my Operating Theatre course in 1984, met my American hubby and moved to the US in 1989.

My SEN was deemed equal to the LPN program so I worked as an OR Tech while I got my Associate degree, then my RN to BSN and just completed my Master of Science in Health Admin - feel vindicated after all these yrs!I`ve worked for almost 20 yrs in the US in the Operating Room arena

I just sent off my application to start the process of being registered with NMC so if I decide to work in the UK as a seasonal/traveler/contract nurse, etc. I can do so (work and spend time with parents who are getting older). Is nursing so bad in the UK as I`ve been reading (the wards seem to be scary) and is it this bad in the operating rooms too! I would love input from you and others on here, Bloss

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