American nursing student in Australia?

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I was wondering if its possible for an american to be a nursing student in australia? After I separate from the military, I think it would be great to live outside of the US for a while, and think Australia would be great, however I want to still pursue my RN (which is my plan either way).

So, the big questions are...

1) Is it even possible? I know some programs in the US dont let non-citizens pursue the programs.

2) Are the programs in AU as impacted as they are here in the US?

3) Im assuming that I can take an AU nursing license and use it in the US?

4) Are there any main problem areas, concerns, etc. that you can think of?

Thanks for the help ahead of time.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Should image you will have no problems but will probably be looking at paying International fees. Also you need to discuss and make sure your training covers all areas as US training must be generic and you will have to meet requirements of state BON on returning to the US of a foreign trained nurse. This includes passing NCLEX

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Specializes in CTICU.

If I were you, I wouldn't do it. Rather I'd find a US program which has "study abroad" opportunities. To start with, Australian bachelor of nursing degrees are 3 years, not 4 like the US equivalent. Then we tend to train as specialists, not generalists like the US does. This often means the training will not have adequate hours in each area, specially pediatrics/psych/maternity.

It can be a long and painful process to become eligible to work in the US.

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acutually I was registered to attend the University of Sydney for their BS/MSN degree, it was pretty hard core and you had classes/clinicals all year except for two weeks. My research showed that all would be fine for you to get your degree in Australia, you would just need to take a maternity course to get you license in the state. So if you're thinking about it, check out the University of Sydney web site. the faculty were extremely helpful and i constantly think about if i made the right choice for school.

http://www.nursing.usyd.edu.au/

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If you dont mind me asking, what made you change your mind?

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I just thought that NYU would be a better educational experience than Sydney, but i'm still not sure! I would much rather live in Australia and i'm sure that the education is excellent. It was just one of those decisions that was changed every day and NYU ended up winning.

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Specializes in CTICU.

When you say you "just need to take a maternity course" - that can be easier said than done. I personally trained in Australia and then became licensed in the US, so I have experience in this. I am not commenting on the quality of the education in Aus/US - it's just set up differently.

In order to get adequate maternity, you'll have to complete additional theory hours at a university (if you take Deakin's PDU after you graduate as an RN, it will cost around $1000 and 6 months).. then you have to organize your own maternity clinical experience.

I say do whichever you want, but just be aware that for the rest of your career, presumably in the US, you will be treated as a "foreign graduate" and have to jump through a lot more hoops than a locally trained nurse.

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thats good information. i wonder if it's possible to take a maternity course in the states if you get your RN elsewhere?

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Specializes in Jack of all trades, and still learning.

answering your questions to the best of my ability:

1) is it even possible? i know some programs in the us dont let non-citizens pursue the programs.

you will have to apply to individual universities. you will also have to go through the immigration dept. http://www.immi.gov.au/students/index.htm

2) are the programs in au as impacted as they are here in the us?

having never worked in the us i really don't know, but check the australian nursing and midwifery council site for competencies etc. http://www.anmc.org.au they also give information re: international requirements

3) im assuming that i can take an au nursing license and use it in the us?

different requirements re: training in both countries.

4) are there any main problem areas, concerns, etc. that you can think of?

as someone said here earlier, we don't have an nclex at all. if you have passed university, you are an rn, but it is desirable plus plus to have a graduate year as well, which you are paid for. you are still a nurse, but there are times where you are supernumerary. in my hospital, we did three rotations. i did two different surgicals, and a paediatric. each time i had a weeks supernumerary period, where i had a buddy watching/assisting and showing me the ropes of that ward. then i had my own patients, but nevertheless help was always there. other hospitals may have different routines.

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I am an American student studying nursing in Australia, and it is way different then the states. It might be difficult to find a school that will accept you, because we are international students. However University of Western Sydney, University of Technology Sydney, and I believe Newcastle University does. You need to write each school and ask them if they accept nursing students into their programs for other countries. Good Luck!

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Specializes in Jack of all trades, and still learning.

You could try Charles Darwin University in the Northern Territory as well...

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I am also an American thinking about attending the University of Griffith in Australia. I wanted to get my BSN but wasn't sure if the classes were compatable in America. Would I be licensed as the same thing id I tried to get a job in America?

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