advice needed

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Hi, this would be a lenghty post/thread but i certainly do hope anyone out there could help/enlighten me on some few things given my current situation.

i am in the US already,married and hold a gc. i am a foreign grad, i have BSN degree. I have sent my application to CGFNS for my credential eval and i am good to go to take the Nclex exam. I applied for the NY state licensure. I have yet to take and sit down and take it.

Here are some of my questions and concerns.

1. i am very much willing to sit and take the exam, however, i do feel that i am not ready for it. i am very much interested in doing a refresher course or go back to nursing school. I know it is expensive but i do believe that passing the exam and having the license doesn't make me not vulnerable to for mistakes. that is the MAJOR reason why i am interested in immersing myself back to nursing school because as a foreign grad, the method and care here in the states is different from what i was used to. :idea: so my question is, is it best that i go back to school or is it a silly move? should i just take the exam?

2. even if let's just say i have taken the exam already and passed, one of the req's in most hospitals is experience and i don't really have 'hospital experience' because i wasn't able to work in the hospital because i went straight to a school nurse and did some other jobs. :idea:so another question is, should i do a refresher course or start doing volunteer work or what?

3. to follow up my no.1 situation, if i were to go back to school will my credentials in my foreign school be credited given that i have my CGFNS credential evaluation already at hand? I also have the ID no. for it.

any advice or inputs regarding what i should do will be highly appreciated... oh and if it helps as well, i am an active military dependent and i am currently based in the west coast. thanks in advance for the advices and inputs everyone!!!

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1.Most refresher courses require a license. Why not take an extensive review course, then apply for refresher course.

2.Volunteer work won't expose you to hospital nursing. A refresher course once you pass the NCLEX will allow you to get some experience.

3.If you choose to go back to school, get an advanced degree, first you have to get your license.

Many US grads are finding it very difficult to get a job, don't be afraid to apply to skilled nursing homes or home care. Many have to wait years to get their first nursing position and you have a reason for deferring working.

Good luck.

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I have to agree with Gingers Mom. Take the refresher course because you will see the nursing style here in the US. You can also take some courses that are geared towards critical care, ER etc. Focus on studying for the NCLEX while you wait. Good Luck

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Hi 22841,

I'm kind of in the same situation as you. Where are you from? Did CGFNS give you a BSN?

Good luck on everything!!!

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1.Most refresher courses require a license. Why not take an extensive review course, then apply for refresher course.

2.Volunteer work won't expose you to hospital nursing. A refresher course once you pass the NCLEX will allow you to get some experience.

3.If you choose to go back to school, get an advanced degree, first you have to get your license.

Many US grads are finding it very difficult to get a job, don't be afraid to apply to skilled nursing homes or home care. Many have to wait years to get their first nursing position and you have a reason for deferring working.

Good luck.

Thank you for this response! How long does a refresher course usually would take? any idea? When you mentioned "extensive review course" is that the same thing as a refresher course or is it geared toward me taking my Nclex exam. I am looking at skilled nursing homes but eventually I have to start using my using my Nursing degree. Don't want to waste the money and time I put in to it. :)

I really appreciate the response and help here. it is just hard and confusing on where to start with things. I am very determined and it just is time consuming and mind boggling to figure out where should I start on my career path. Some will ask for minimum experience and I just need an idea to know where I should put my foot in first. aaaah..

:( hubby will be deployed for A LONG time so I am really motivated to get things going or I will just be spiraling with depression.

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