Australian nurse missing obstetrics nursing

[Jinnykim1026]

I am currently working in Australia as RN. I undertook some prereq courses in the states initially. After I moved to Australia, I started again from the 1st year in Australia then completed my bachelors degree. I am currently studying Master of Advanced Practice Nursing, hoping to get a job easily in America once I get my registration there.

I've submitted the application to CA board of nursing last year.

They firstly told me they didn't receive my police check, so I sent it again. then, They told me they are missing my SSN information, which I sent the copy twice already, so I sent it again. Then they sent a letter saying I was missing, A+P, General science classes, Microbioligy, English writing, General psychology and so on which were all covered in the bachelor's degree, so I sent another breakdown of the study from both university (Au and USA).

Now they are saying I am missing Obstetrics nursing. I've been looking into a course that provides clinical placement and theory, but unless I am enrolled as a student in the program, I can't take any of the classes as a guest student.

Do I really need to apply for a midwifery course (grad diploma), which requires me to quit the current job and work as a student midwife while I finish the study? I am also a bit worried once I complete my midwifery course, they may say I am missing other things in other area.

I understand that unless I have a valid visa, I wont be able to take any course in USA. I won't be able to get a student visa either as student visa requires a full time study and also having a Bachelor's degree in nursing wont make it easy for me apply for a visa to study at a community college. any help will be appreciated....

[SueH39]

Hie JinnyKim1026

Hie am an aussie nurse too and have been researching about all this lately as planning to move to use once licensed.

Contact deakin university, you can do single modules to match USA requirements without having to do the whole midwifery programme. OR check out this link explains it further:

Nurses are you coming to America? • Health Times

[Miriam80]

I have a Bachelor of Nursing from an Australian university. I am working as an RN in the USA.

From my experience it really depends on which state you apply too. Each state seems to have different requirements. I have heard California is one of the toughest states to apply too.

When I applied to the Virginia Board of Nursing I was found to be lacking clinical practice in obstetrics. I was already living in the US so I arranged through a school of nursing at a local university to do 24hrs of clinical practice in the obstetric unit at the hospital. The Board accepted this and issued my license.

[Jinnykim1026]

Hi sueh39. Yes I have. But unfortunately the program is no longer provided by Deakin University. Previously they used to provide a maternity nursing course with clinical placement but they dont provide it anymore.

[Jinnykim1026]

Hi thanks for your comment. I have applied to CA board. I didnt want to go through CGFNS cuz they are really hard to deal with before even I submitted application. It was impossible to contact them. Maybe i really should do a midwifery course to fulfill the requirement

[Melbournnurse]

Hi @Jinnykim1026,

How did everything go with you? Are you working in the states now? I'm also looking at moving to work in America after completing my bachelor degree. I'm currently in Melbourne. I'm doing pediatric as an elective, not obstetric. Would love to hear how you went about it all. Any information would be appreciated! Thanks in advance.

[espaghet, BSN, RN]

Hi Jinny kim1026, did you find a school that allowed you to get your required obstetrics and pediatrics hours? How many hours in theory and clinical did the CA board of nursing say you needed to make up? I'm in New Zealand and running into the same deficiency problems.