Advice required for Australian going the E3 path

grantsally1 · Jan 12, 2012

Hi, any help out there?

Have any Aussie nurses recently been through this same painful process?. Also a question for Ghilbert. You stated you got an equivalency report from 'trustforte'. Was this just for your employer?. As I understand it the CES report is primarily for the State BON's and later used for the visascreen report and not so much for the employer.

thanks

rosie&albee · Jan 19, 2012

Oh my God I am so glad to hear other people are having as many problems as I am;

So... Started my CGFNS almost a year ago, had to do a paediatric subject which I did through The College of Nursing and got a secondment to the Paeds Ward for six weeks for the clinical experience.

CGFNS accepted all the other stuff but not the paeds clinical (?) said it wasn't part of a scholastic program. They told me that it would be reviewed by Vermont.

Vermont tells me my application is denied because I don't have paeds clinical, microbiology or HUMANITIES!!!! Then they tell me they're not in the business of verifying anything because that's CGFNS' job!

I read on this website that all the clinical hours have to be apart of a scholastic program, so now I'm thinking that the subject I did was just a massive waste of time and $1500!!!

Now I'm not sure what to do. I have sent in a letter appealling the ruling, but still have to prove that I studied Microbiology and humanities... The whole process is so demoralising, as though the last 6 years I've worked as an RN/Midwife have been somehow fraudulent in their eyes. And QUT (where I did my undergrad) have been NO help in verifying that I did do Microbiology.

It all just sucks...

grantsally1 · Jan 21, 2012

Yep, a very slow frustrating ride made worse by the lack of information supplied along the way by others you are paying for and not doing there job properly. My Uni did not fill out the micro hours which i have completed so that either means another expedited CES report $385 plus $150 for Vermonts review or try another State Board $200 to forward existing CES report. My CES came back with my training the same as a general first level nurse.

It is costly and like completing a jigsaw puzzle with not much help along the way. But a challenge is good when you look back and have succeeded. With Vermont requiring humanities, ie history, language this is years 11 and 12 High School subjects. If they don't accept the NCLEX licensure application due to missing humanities only, well try another Board. I just took advice from a recruitment company when I first started this process 12 months ago I should have applied with New Mexico then as they are part of compact license with many other States which I am looking to move. Also I believe Arizona don't require a SSN.

This is the most frustrating part from what I have read. Once you get a Licence and visascreen using the E3 visa and experience should be a plus. I am not looking to make the move until early 2013. There are advertised positions in magnet status hospitals requiring bachelors degree for experienced applicants which would meet the E3 visas conditions working in labor/delivery jobs. Using an agency down the track or not is another thing altogether. You just have to way up the option as things progress ie travelling with family, kids and settling in schools. Getting NCLEX approval and passing for now and worry about the rest later. I have also seen somewhere Vermont was looking at introducing the SSN requirement to get licensed in one of their board meetings. Whether it happens or not?

allnurses Guide · Jan 22, 2012

The compact license is of no use to foreign-trained RNs - you still will always have to fulfil a state's requirements for licensure, and for foreign-trained, that is not usually just endorsing from another state. Some let you, but not many. ie. I am licensed in VT and PA, but if I wanted to move to California, they want all the original stuff again, I can't just endorse it across. Total pain in the orifice.

I was lucky in that my university correctly completed the paperwork the first time (I called and spoke to someone personally and explained what I needed) so I didn't have any problems with CES. They also stated that my 3 yr bachelor degree was equivalent to a "diploma" program here. I then got a degree equivalency report from Trustforte Corp which also took into account my experience and my postgraduate studies and stated that I had more than met the equivalent of BSN. I've never heard of being denied for not having "humanities" - *** does that have to do with your nursing qualifications? I can't see how getting an equivalency report from a company accepted by the state you're applying to would hurt - at the minimum it would give you background for your appeal.

Honestly for the E3, this has never been an issue. They ask what you did your degree in, but I've never had them even check the transcript, let alone ask for the CES report or Visa Screen Certificate. Not that I'm worried if they did because I clearly meet requirements (in fact for the E3 you don't even need a bachelor degree, if the position requires a bachelor degree and you have "equivalent experience", which usually means 3 years experience for every year of uni education you don't have).

I can't see any point using an agency, apart from giving them a bunch of money for not much. With the internet now, you can organize anything you need to yourself with regard to moving, finding an apartment/roommate/school etc.

grantsally1 · Jan 23, 2012

Thanks for the information Ghilbert. With your knowledge you should set up a go between company for Aussie's to the U.S?. I will get the Trustforte Corp completed. Re Vermont well I guess I will lodge an appeal but whether they accept non completion of 'humanities' time will time. I would have thought that Associate degree RN would not even take these non core nursing subjects. I think this may have been introduced by Vermont BON in 2009 which you probably got through earlier. I have applied to New Mexico BON in case all goes bad with Vermont. It's taken 12 months so far so Id rather pay the extra $$ and have a backup with NM to get things moving. Any decent Magnet Status Hospitals in Pittsburgh fitting L&D type jobs BSN required of course?

allnurses Guide · Jan 24, 2012

Associates degree RNs generally have to have plenty of pre-reqs before they are admitted to the nursing core classes.

For Pittsburgh:

- West Penn has obstetric services and is a Magnet hospital: Locations: West Penn Hospital

- At UPMC it's called a "professional staff nurse" position if it requires a BSN. UPMC owns Magee Womens Hospital and Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

I'm not sure who's hiring right now but I have a friend who works in L&D at West Penn so I could ask..?

grantsally1 · Jan 26, 2012

No Problems I will leave it until i get licensure hopefully mid year and check out what jobs are going then. Won't be planning to start until early 2013 if all things work out. Trustforte are very easy to deal with and I have ordered academic equivalency report $85 3-5 days turnaround. I have to get another complete CGFNS report now called (professional report) $385 plus $150 (10 day service) as thats the only way to send a copy of your issued CES to another BON. I might as well get my micro hours added to the re evaluation report. I will keep Magee Womens on the lookout list.

thanks

Dixie9 · Jan 28, 2012

Hi grantsally 1,

I also am persuing the E3 visa avenue.

I have worked as RN in NY and CA for 2 years each duration, only left due to mother and husband dying respectively,

and so returned to aust. on each occasion. I have a BA non related to nursing, which I might add added $20.00 per week to my pay packet at Mt Sinai Hosp. 15 years ago. I still have current CA, RN licence, visa screen & SS #. In both the hospitals, I left on

good terms. Despite this, any job applications in the US, (at my previous employers) are put into the "save for another time" file.

It would be great to get a bite, but understandedly local talent has pecedence. stay optimistic...

grantsally1 · Jan 29, 2012

Hi Dixie9

Thanks for your advice. Sorry to hear about your circumstances. I have seen some of your previous posts whilst searching this site over the last 12 months. I am not worried about gaining employment in 2013 more annoyed at the slow, tedious and somewhat expensive process of getting there. A challenge is good so thats a bonus. Life would be boring if things were easy. I am sure locals are given priority but I'm hoping my 14 years as a midwife may give me an experience edge in Magnet status hospitals in positions that hospitals are advertising for experienced BSN only RN's and I am open to a number of different States for relocating not just one.

Having read many threads you can understand why so many nurses get annoyed at IEN's gaining employment in the economic conditions there now. Not all IEN's have the same intentions as to why they are moving to the U.S. Simply for us taking a young family for 2 year period and gaining an amazing experience, culture, new friends, travelling and to expand my specialty knowledge and also pass on experience and not to mention spending a lot of money in the U.S along the way.

If you have any tips on taking the NCLEX please let me know. Do you study content? or more questions/answers? I left Uni in 1993 so a long time ago.

thanks

allnurses Guide · Jan 29, 2012

I finished uni in 96 so was in the same boat. I got Saunders Q&A book and did practice test questions. If I got

grantsally1 · Jan 30, 2012

I will take you advice onboard.

thanks