Advice required for Australian going the E3 path

[grantsally1]

Hi,

My CES report was finally issued after 12 months of delays. CGFNS states that my 3 Year Bachelor of Nursing Degree is equivalent to a (first level) trained Nurse or 3 year diploma and my diploma of midwifery is equivalent to a certificate of midwifery in the U.S. I have completed all the required degree content areas in med/surg, mental health, obs, ped, etc in 1993 but I didn't study subjects as 'humanities'.

My concern relates to when applying for jobs with hospitals that require a BSN my CES report will not show BSN equivalence. At this stage I am planning on taking the NCLEX through Vermont BON after approval and plan to work in Labor and Delivery or similar in early 2013. I have 14 years experience as a Registered Midwife in Australia and 6 years general nursing prior to that. If Ghilbert could give my some light on this subject that would be much appreciated. Should I be contacting CGFNS to enquire to why they didn't equate my Degree to a BSN or not worry about it?

thanks

[Dixie9]

Hi grantsally1,

yeah, thanks for great reply. In answer to your ques. re NCLEX, I sat it first in Florida, failed by 2 marks, then

returned to California, where successfully passed. I did the travel, application etc on my own. At the time, there

were agencies around to assist, but then you were committed to the agency. This was way back in the early 90's.

I did get a lot of brick walls along the way, as you describe yourself.

Study wise, I used books from unis in Sydney, as I was at the time working as a clinical facilitator, and so had access.

I might add, the text books, I think "Saunders", were very dated. I did untold revision using mainly question/answers.

with rationale. The main principle I remember from the whole exam and

fact craming process, is to think idealistically as a US RN, which is difficult if one has not lived or worked there.. A lot of the wordage of questions are culturally biased, and, as having the best possible senario at hand. I hope this is not too confusing...

I continue to work in the clinic setting back in oz.

Any more queries, I'd love to be on hand. I also had a young family, while'st in US. Wonderful work experience and great colleagues,

who I still keep contact with...let me know how things go, ok.

[grantsally1]

Thanks Dixie9 no doubt I will have queries pop up along the journey.

[CocoClicquot]

Hi Rosie&Albee,

I'll also be a QUT graduate in November and I'm looking to return to Texas.

I'd love to chat with you and hear about your experience? Also where you ended up gaining registration and anything you can help me with in fast tracking my application and registration experience.

Thanks

Coco

[ongmtam85]

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?

Hi grantsally1

I am Adelaide RN, and planning to move to Texas, and I am not how is your RN licensure in US going? Why they did not accept your Ped clinical hours, and you need to require Humanities Subject ? Did you study 12 Years in Primary and High School ? Do you mind to share with me your experience please? Hope you are in US at the moment.

[grantsally1]

Hi there. Not sure who you are referring to regarding hours Cgfns or Vermont? I completed my uni degree in early 1990's when training, education was the same as the U.S (general) covering all subjects and had no problems at all other than the slow CGFNS process. I did complete high school. I applied to Vermont as they did not require SSN back then, they now do. They required 40 hours humanities which we study in high school ie history, language but only college hours are acceptable to them. This is just a Vermont thing that I wasn't aware of when I applied and would have not wasted my time and money if I knew this. I didn't waste more time with an appeal and went through NM instead who issued a license when I passed NCLEX. I then endorsed to CO and happily working in the U.S. now. I suggest you apply direct to Texas if you wish to work there. Endorsing still has issues particularly if you have no prior US nursing experience then you may have to supply your Aussie work history and even go before the BON for endorsement approval. As I mentioned before in other posts the e3 visa is the easy part, it is getting through hospital HR who have not dealt with these visas before which makes it difficult. You will have to stand out with a lot of experience or a specialty or both to be offered a position above others at the moment. Good luck.

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

Grantsally, glad to hear it all worked out for you and you made it to the US okay on E3. How are you finding it? How did you manage to pick the place and land the job?

[grantsally1]

Thanks Ghilbert I was persistent with the Hospital HR and was employed in L&D in CO. Heard many good raps about lifestyle in CO however some areas are expensive by US standards for leasing. Hospital hired external attorney to complete the paperwork as they had not employed prior on this visa type. The consulate only looked at the LCA. Very happy settling in adjusting to the computerized recording systems etc. Glad I did not use an agency. There is diffinetly a business to be had transitioning Australian nurses to the US bypassing agencies however that said it is getting harder with most BONs requiring socials upfront. Thanks again.

[ongmtam85]

Hi there. Not sure who you are referring to regarding hours Cgfns or Vermont? I completed my uni degree in early 1990's when training, education was the same as the U.S (general) covering all subjects and had no problems at all other than the slow CGFNS process. I did complete high school. I applied to Vermont as they did not require SSN back then, they now do. They required 40 hours humanities which we study in high school ie history, language but only college hours are acceptable to them. This is just a Vermont thing that I wasn't aware of when I applied and would have not wasted my time and money if I knew this. I didn't waste more time with an appeal and went through NM instead who issued a license when I passed NCLEX. I then endorsed to CO and happily working in the U.S. now. I suggest you apply direct to Texas if you wish to work there. Endorsing still has issues particularly if you have no prior US nursing experience then you may have to supply your Aussie work history and even go before the BON for endorsement approval. As I mentioned before in other posts the e3 visa is the easy part, it is getting through hospital HR who have not dealt with these visas before which makes it difficult. You will have to stand out with a lot of experience or a specialty or both to be offered a position above others at the moment. Good luck.

Congratulation grantsally1 !!!! I am very happy to see you get through the painful process, and enjoy working in US at them moment.

I dont have any Pediatrics, and Obstetrics theory and clinical hours as you might know. I am not very sure that how many Uni Units your BSN (back in 1990s) covered, and how many clinical hours placement you had to complete when you were a nursing student. The reason I am asking because I live in Adelaide, and fortunately Flinders Uni is happy to make up 2 Pediatrics and Obstetrics theory courses for me, but I have to contact a hospital to make up clinical hours. Therefore, I would like to make sure that I will have enough number hours of theory and clinical placement. I am very appreciate it if you are able to share with me about your situation.

Also, my Uni did not have Mental Health clinical hours placement, only 3 Units of theory which was not that much(18 Units for all subjects in 1 semester). I am sure how about yours back in 1990s?

I am looking to ERES AND IERF agency for my CES, because I hope they have a quicker process than CGFNS.

Lastly, I would like to ask you about job hunting, I have only worked in Surgical Ward for 5 yrs, no specialty exp. I know you work in L&D, but I am very keen to get advice from you in this matter. Also, I cant image how general Med/Surg RN work in US hospital ? I heard the pay are very low compare to Aus, too.

Thnax grantsally1 !!!!!

[grantsally1]

My degree was a Bachelor of Nursing Degree (3 years) but it included everything required for general nursing under U.S requirements. I did not compete a 4 year BSN degree. I don't have specific clinical hours with me they are back in Aust. but I think I may have completed about 90 hours obs and peads each however I completed extra obs with midwifery training etc. Mental health about the same. Vermont BON used to have minimum required hours for theory and clinicals listed on their website and I exceed those expect the humanities theory subjects most theory so check out their website under Nurse Licensing.

Each BON is different however I would assume them to be similar to Vermont, excluding humanities. CGFNS will basically give you an indication once they issue your CES report. If your are training is the same as a first level general nurse a lot of the BON's will use this to forward you toward the NCLEX. Most BON's have this information on their websites for foreign trained nurses.

I would stick with CGFNS even though they are expensive and slower. You can now get a 10 business day turnaround with them once they have all your required documents but it will cost you more. Most BONS use CGFNS and they will issue you a Visascreen later on using the same information with your CES record so from my experience use CGFNS.

I'm not sure the best approach for you regarding job hunting but I would not even concern yourself with that until you become licensed in the U.S and some others in that area may be able to assist you then. Pay rates vary on where you work and also your experience. My hourly pay here is not much less per hour than back in Australia however I am paying less tax here and the cost of living is exactly 50% less here than where I was living so financially I am better off than back home. But as I said you pay will mostly be a factor of your experience. RN wages in the US are fairly good when you look at the average wages in most States and cities.

Hope this helps

[joeldew]

Congratulation grantsally1 !!!! I am very happy to see you get through the painful process, and enjoy working in US at them moment.

I dont have any Pediatrics, and Obstetrics theory and clinical hours as you might know. I am not very sure that how many Uni Units your BSN (back in 1990s) covered, and how many clinical hours placement you had to complete when you were a nursing student. The reason I am asking because I live in Adelaide, and fortunately Flinders Uni is happy to make up 2 Pediatrics and Obstetrics theory courses for me, but I have to contact a hospital to make up clinical hours. Therefore, I would like to make sure that I will have enough number hours of theory and clinical placement. I am very appreciate it if you are able to share with me about your situation.

Also, my Uni did not have Mental Health clinical hours placement, only 3 Units of theory which was not that much(18 Units for all subjects in 1 semester). I am sure how about yours back in 1990s?

I am looking to ERES AND IERF agency for my CES, because I hope they have a quicker process than CGFNS.

Lastly, I would like to ask you about job hunting, I have only worked in Surgical Ward for 5 yrs, no specialty exp. I know you work in L&D, but I am very keen to get advice from you in this matter. Also, I cant image how general Med/Surg RN work in US hospital ? I heard the pay are very low compare to Aus, too.

Thnax grantsally1 !!!!!

Hi,

I am in the same position as you.

I will be returning to my university to study Paeds this year (with clinical placement) but they don't have a maternity course.

Please share which Maternity course you will be attending as I don't want to do a complete midwifery program.

Many thanks

[ongmtam85]

My degree was a Bachelor of Nursing Degree (3 years) but it included everything required for general nursing under U.S requirements. I did not compete a 4 year BSN degree. I don't have specific clinical hours with me they are back in Aust. but I think I may have completed about 90 hours obs and peads each however I completed extra obs with midwifery training etc. Mental health about the same. Vermont BON used to have minimum required hours for theory and clinicals listed on their website and I exceed those expect the humanities theory subjects most theory so check out their website under Nurse Licensing.

Each BON is different however I would assume them to be similar to Vermont, excluding humanities. CGFNS will basically give you an indication once they issue your CES report. If your are training is the same as a first level general nurse a lot of the BON's will use this to forward you toward the NCLEX. Most BON's have this information on their websites for foreign trained nurses.

I would stick with CGFNS even though they are expensive and slower. You can now get a 10 business day turnaround with them once they have all your required documents but it will cost you more. Most BONS use CGFNS and they will issue you a Visascreen later on using the same information with your CES record so from my experience use CGFNS.

I'm not sure the best approach for you regarding job hunting but I would not even concern yourself with that until you become licensed in the U.S and some others in that area may be able to assist you then. Pay rates vary on where you work and also your experience. My hourly pay here is not much less per hour than back in Australia however I am paying less tax here and the cost of living is exactly 50% less here than where I was living so financially I am better off than back home. But as I said you pay will mostly be a factor of your experience. RN wages in the US are fairly good when you look at the average wages in most States and cities.

Hope this helps

Hi grantsally1,

Thank you very much for your very quick reply !!!!! I am very much appreciate it !!!

I hope the BON in US will accept my additional Ped and Obs theory courses, and clinical hours. I think I should stick with CGFNS, because I never know I may need to apply more than 1 BON in US on the future.

I have another silly question would like to ask you. Will critical care and specialty (PACU, OT) nurses usually get pay more in US ? Also, how the hospital system work in US, because I see they have University Hospital, Medical centre etc. They are not the same as Aus, only private and public. If you have some experience in this matter, and give me a brief idea, that will help me understand more about the US health care system, so I can adapt into that easier in the future. Thank you grantsally1 !!!!!

[ongmtam85]

Hi,

I am in the same position as you.

I will be returning to my university to study Paeds this year (with clinical placement) but they don't have a maternity course.

Please share which Maternity course you will be attending as I don't want to do a complete midwifery program.

Many thanks

Hi joeldew, I live in Adelaide at the moment, and contacting Flinders Uni, that is the only Uni helping me at the moment, other Uni are refusing me. They say they will let me to study in Pediatrics and Maternity(Obstetrics) courses in their Midwifery program, they will confirm it with me next week, I hope. They will teach me theory courses only, and I need to contact a hospital for my own clinical hours. When you ask a Uni, you tell them you would like to study a Non-Award Course, this is for personal development purpose(not looking to get a degree).

You can contact Deakin Uni, they have experience with these courses, but they are external course and I worries the BON in US will refuse them. Also, I see some one on this website got their class through "The College of Nursing" through Sydney (http://www.nursing.edu.au/display.as...reenwidth=1280), Otago poly tec in New Zealand. and I prefer in-class courses.

Lastly, Can I ask where do you live? And which Uni are you taking Pediatrics Course? DO you know how many hours of theory class, and hours of clinical placement we need ? And which BON in US are you looking for to apply ? You can send me an email, and we can exchange contact number for supporting each other if you like. My email is

[email protected]