Australia to USA

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I am an Australian RN and want to work in USA. Sadly my qualifications do not include 2 courses required by NY State, ie Pediatrics and Obstetrics/Midwifery. Since I can't find any place here in Australia to do these (40 hours theory and 40 hours clinical each), I am now thinking about moving to USA, and while working (perhaps as an LPN?) I could do the required courses there. Can anyone tell me if this is practicable/possible? are there any colleges/universities (preferably in upstate New York) where I could do them?? I would be extremely grateful for any advice/information/suggestions. Visa is not a problem, I already have one.

well maybe not - 5 years sounds like long enough.....what is your plan?

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yeah but im still studying so i have to graduate, do my new grad year and then the extra semester for the USA.

well depending on if the USA is happy to have me after my new grad then 5 years would be ok, but i read somewhere they want you to generally have a few years full time experience which yeah i figured would at least be a year full time after new grad...

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It is not a point of a new grad year at all, and that is also where you are going to have problems. First, one needs to make sure that their training meets US requirements. Then one must meet the requirements for the E-3 visa and that includes taking and passing the NCLEX exam as well as having a Visa Screen Certificate. So that is going to take most out of the running for first year out to be able to work in the US. It takes om average about 4 to 5 months to even get approval to sit for the NCLEX and you cannot even apply until you have a completed set of transcripts to be abble to submit. Next step would be in writing the exam. Visa Screen Certficate can take up to about 4 months to get, so all in all that takes one up to about a year before things get done.

A specialist is usually considered as one that has several years of experience in an area and is not a new grad or recent new grad. You are just starting to feel comfortable with things by the time that you finish your first year. An dif you need to make up the needed courses, then be aware that without those being done and on a transcript, you cannot even apply for licensure until then. So you are now speakimg of more than two years from when you graduated from your program at the earliest.

Just wanted you to be aware of the actual timeframe for things. But more importantly it will also depend on how the economy is doing here as well, the employer still needs to document that they are unable to hire an American for the job.

Best of luck to you.

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Yeah i understand how long it will take to get visas and organise employment as well as sitting the Nclex.... thats why im predicting 5 years... instead of say 3 - which i could be out and nursing in a number of different countries other than the US.

About the Economy i have faith your President Elect will be able to get it fixed.. and i think 5 years should bring it close to where it was. If its not there thats fine, i will go to another country.

Thanks again for your advice tho!

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Casserooni, when are you planning to move to the US?

Any new updates on your plans? Have you taken any courses? Studying for the NCLEX?

Ciao :)

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hi, it's horrendously complicated yes? i've now enrolled as distance education student at deakin university to do the missing subjects (pediatrics and midwifery) - i then have to organise clinical placements to do the required hours....aaaggghhh!!! the good news for me is that i've just managed to get my green card (my father has american wife), which i'm very excited about, given that it's taken SEVEN years for my application to be processed and finalised!! the bad news is that in order to activate/validate the green card i have to enter usa by early june 2009 - i'm doubtful i'll have the courses and clinicals completed by then but fingers crossed cause if i have, i can get some job/live with my father while i wait for the rest to happen (ie credential verification, ny licensure application, nyclex exam).....

i can't believe how extraordinarily difficult and complicated it is (do we give their nurses coming here so much grief??) and if the republicans had won the election i think i would have given up ... but to be there in barack obama's presidency is very exciting - best wishes, hannah (aka casserooni)

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Hey Hannah,

Yes, it is so insanely complex and we absolutely do not give US nurses the kind of grief we are getting!

Can you possibly tell me what they expect in terms of paediatrics/maternity courses and how many clinical hours you need to be approved? I did some of that in my course, I hope it was enough...I'm sooooo not in the mood to go back to Uni.

I am moving to New York in March...Regardless of Nursing, I am moving to be with my boyfriend.

I really really hope this credentials verification thing doesn't take forever. I am so frustrated!!

Anyway, it's great to have someone in my situation and to bounce ideas off:)

I'm Anna by the way!

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hi anna

according to my info we need in both pediatrics and midwifery/obstets.....30-40 hours theory and 40-80 hours clinical - i'm planning to do the minimum for each/all - doing the 2 courses via deakin is costing about $3,000. so lucky you if these subjects were included in your rn degree here!! the other requirement that is apparently often an extra for australians is psychiatry (same hours as above) - this one i did...yipppeee!! since you're moving to usa anyway, and i guess know where you will be living, maybe you could look at doing any extra subjects/clinicals you need when you get there? and also my info is for new york state, apparently there are different requirements in different states - well of course there are, that's a great way to make the process even more difficult and complex!!

take care, hannah

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Hey Hannah,

Yes, it is so insanely complex and we absolutely do not give US nurses the kind of grief we are getting!

Can you possibly tell me what they expect in terms of paediatrics/maternity courses and how many clinical hours you need to be approved? I did some of that in my course, I hope it was enough...I'm sooooo not in the mood to go back to Uni.

I am moving to New York in March...Regardless of Nursing, I am moving to be with my boyfriend.

I really really hope this credentials verification thing doesn't take forever. I am so frustrated!!

Anyway, it's great to have someone in my situation and to bounce ideas off:)

I'm Anna by the way!

Just wondering how you are getting a visa to be with your boyfriend?

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Oh, I'm not getting a visa to be with him. I am just going on a holiday as a tourist in the meantime.

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Specializes in CTICU.

Hannah, you can enter at any time to activate your PR visa (before the expiration date obviously). At that time, it would be wise to get a bank account, get a SSN, get a drivers license...make some moves to show that you are establishing your PERMANENT residence in the US. You are then free to go back to Oz and complete your nursing requirements if necessary. If you are going to be out of the US longer than 6-12 months (as a general rule), you can apply for a reentry permit to keep your PR active. The main thing is not length of time out of the US, but showing intent to maintain your residence there.

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Many thanks ghillbert for this heaps helpful info - Hannah

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