Any Australian trained RNs working in the US?

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Hello, I hope someone can help :). I completed my University degree last year and have been working as an RN since January in Australia. I've been studying for the NCLEX-RN test in hope of moving over soon, unfortunately I didn't pass the test last month, it was so hard! :(. The content we studied at Uni is different and the medications also have different names. Any tips or advice from an Australian who passed the test?? I'm using Kaplan and Saunders as study guides... any help would be greatly appreciated!! Cheers :) .

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Moved to the International forum as per the red banner

There are a few Australian nurses working in the US and I am sure someone will come along soon to post.

I would suggest you check out the NCLEX forum as there are a few threads discussing meds

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Specializes in CVICU, Obs/Gyn, Derm, NICU.

I passed the NCLEX first try, with 75 questions; but haven't worked in the US .... life came along and I decided not to go.

Only used Saunders Comprehensive NCLEX Review and really studied it cover to cover. Knowing the different medication names and lab values is very important ....you really need to know these to pass. Carefully read the exam questions and make sure you understand the US gist of things....there are subtle differences with comprehension and language.

With Saunders, make sure you have the most current edition. I think I ordered mine from

Amazon. Do the practice questions and identify your weaknesses.

Good luck

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

I don't know how you could actually contact anyone, but I do know that there is a sigificant ANZAC community here in Houston. There are some large apartment complexes near the Med Center that are referred to as "Kangaroo alley". I have worked with some over the years - great nurses, superb clinical skills and I loved their assertiveness.

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Specializes in CVICU, Obs/Gyn, Derm, NICU.
I don't know how you could actually contact anyone, but I do know that there is a sigificant ANZAC community here in Houston. There are some large apartment complexes near the Med Center that are referred to as "Kangaroo alley". I have worked with some over the years - great nurses, superb clinical skills and I loved their assertiveness.

LOL

That pesky assertiveness can get us into trouble though :lol2:

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Specializes in CTICU.

Yeah no kidding on that, I don't think my surgeon boss loves my "assertiveness" haha.

OP, how did you study the first time? Obviously the drug names and lab values etc are different, but that's the whole point of studying, right? I went through Saunders taking the end of chapter tests. If I got over 75% right, I moved to the next chapter. If I didn't, I read the chapter and did questions until I did get 75% right. If there was an area I knew I didn't know (psych, OB, gyne, peds) then I concentrated on that. It's tempting to concentrate on the bits you do know but fairly useless!

I did a lot of questions on the cd, often doing 100 at a time and then really reviewing the answers and the rationale, even if I got them right - so I could work out why it was wrong or right, and what they wanted me to know. I then went through Kaplan doing more questions for review. I probably studied 3 months total, quite a lot each day.

In the end, I passed with 75 questions in about half an hour and found it reasonably simple.

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