Australian nurse wanting to work in America

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Hello! I am an Aussie RN from Melbourne Australia. I am very interested in working as a nurse in America due to family reasons. Especially interested in Tennessee, Texas, Kentucky, North Carolina, Colorado or Arizona. I have completed a 3 year bachelor course in Australia and am concerned that I may not have the required obstetrics and pediatric hours required. Is there a course I complete in Melbourne or even in the USA to make up these hours? I would love to know where to begin the process of moving to the USA. i would like to add that i was an IV drug endorsed enrolled nurse for 5 years prior to an RN in case that helps. Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you

Specializes in Med Surg.

Hey guys, I wrote a thread detailing my experience and how I was able to obtain eligibility in six months from New York as someone educated in New Zealand (we have very similar programs to Australia). Hope it helps someone!!

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Specializes in Emergency.

Hello ausie RN’s,

Its been years past, I wonder how did your application went? Just happen to see your thread of questions which is applicable to mine.
 

Im currently working here in Tasmania Australia (4years RN) I already passed both NCLEX and cgfns 14years ago, I also had visa screen that time but didn't use it, change of plans. Now I’ve been thinking of starting to process an application to be able to work in US (florida, california, NYC, etc). Aiming to work there for less than 2years contract , basically just want to experience US nursing and also travel. 
Questions:

1. Can I still use my CGFNS? Can I renew it? 
2. do I still need to sit for EILTS exam, is it required for the application of visa? 
3. Any recommendations of a reliable recruitment agency based in US, who can help my application process please. Or can I process it myself? Is there any online website/guide? 
4. can I bring my 2 family member (son and husband) with me to US as a dependent? Will my husband be able to work there legally? 

5. I’ve read that I can still be able to use my old NCLEX result, should I apply the RN registration/ license online? 
 

Your responses will be greatly appreciated? thank you! 
 

Sincerely,

Chlyd AURN

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12 hours ago, Chlyd said:

Hello ausie RN’s,

Its been years past, I wonder how did your application went? Just happen to see your thread of questions which is applicable to mine.
 

Im currently working here in Tasmania Australia (4years RN) I already passed both NCLEX and cgfns 14years ago, I also had visa screen that time but didn't use it, change of plans. Now I’ve been thinking of starting to process an application to be able to work in US (florida, california, NYC, etc). Aiming to work there for less than 2years contract , basically just want to experience US nursing and also travel. 
Questions:

1. Can I still use my CGFNS? Can I renew it? 
2. do I still need to sit for EILTS exam, is it required for the application of visa? 
3. Any recommendations of a reliable recruitment agency based in US, who can help my application process please. Or can I process it myself? Is there any online website/guide? 
4. can I bring my 2 family member (son and husband) with me to US as a dependent? Will my husband be able to work there legally? 

5. I’ve read that I can still be able to use my old NCLEX result, should I apply the RN registration/ license online? 
 

Your responses will be greatly appreciated? thank you! 
 

Sincerely,

Chlyd AURN

I have no experience with the visa side of things; I married a US Citizen so all of that was separate from my nursing applications.

But if you got as far as passing the NCLEX you should have been registered as a nurse at that point in time in a US state? I would reach out to the state board and see about re-activating your registration as a first step!

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Specializes in ICU, Trauma, CCT,Emergency, Flight, OR Nursing.

HI there, CGFNS deletes ALL documents after 4 years (as I discovered when I wanted to get an additional state license in Oregon) so you literally have to start the whole process again . Did you ever get licensed in any particular state ? There is a good chance you will need to get additional licenses if you wish to do travel assignments and sadly that involves getting a Credential Evaluation Report from CGFNS , which means getting your original transcripts of training sent to them from your nursing college as well as verification from your Licensing council /authority in your current country (or where you trained) There are different types of work permits , but if you wish to sponsor your husband and other family members to join you and for them to be able to work here, you will need to apply for a Greencard . I think the best bet is to contact a company like O'Grady-Peyton who specialize bringing foreign RN's to the US to work. 

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Specializes in Emergency.

Thanks for your response Ricky:) 

I do have an expired Vermont NCLEX license. I emailed Vermont board of nursing regarding the renewal, they are asking for my SSN. I wonder how am I be able to obtain one?  Im currently in Australia, I havent got any US visa yet. 
 

With regards of visa application, I learned that I should be able to apply for E-3 visa as an Au citizen wanting to work in US. But I need my NCLEX renewal first. 

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Hello guys,

I finally received my CES report via CGFNS! Although there are:-

- 0 hours of theoretical & practical for Maternal/Infant Nursing 

- 0 hours of theoretical & practical for Nursing Care of Children

What do I do next? Does BON contact me? Or do I apply on their website?

Also, has anyone done theoretical hours in Virginia? DO BON tell me where to go & study for these deficiencies? I called a few colleges. Basically, they told me to do all courses again as they don't provide standalone courses just for paeds/maternity.

Happy Holidays!

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36 minutes ago, Sam2053 said:

Hello guys,

I finally received my CES report via CGFNS! Although there are:-

- 0 hours of theoretical & practical for Maternal/Infant Nursing 

- 0 hours of theoretical & practical for Nursing Care of Children

What do I do next? Does BON contact me? Or do I apply on their website?

Also, has anyone done theoretical hours in Virginia? DO BON tell me where to go & study for these deficiencies? I called a few colleges. Basically, they told me to do all courses again as they don't provide standalone courses just for paeds/maternity.

Happy Holidays!

You can proceed with your application with the BON and if you are lucky they might approve it based on their requirements... (Not likely, but worth a shot when you're this far along and paid for everything anyway)

If you wanted you could go and study midwifery in Aus and it might cover those deficiencies.. or it might not, because they are very specific about the requirements. 

OR, pay for a CVS and register in New York, and transfer over by endorsement to one of the states that allow that (not sure about Virginia)

The BON will likely refer you to the colleges, the colleges will refer you to the BON. Nobody will have an answer I am afraid. Bridging courses don't exist so you'll have to go back to school and start from the very beginning if you want to do it by the book!

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Thanks, Daniel. So should I apply on the BON website? Are they the ones to tell me what courses and where to study? Yes, will do it, hope it's worth a shot. Cuz last time I called them, they said they have no idea.

Also if I pay for CVS via CGFNS now, do I need to do everything from start like tell my school to fill out forms (Cuz they were pretty pissed & had a hard time filling them out). My only concern is that CGFNS will ask me to tell the school to fill out forms again. I would be happy even if I get registration from NY BON. 

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3 minutes ago, Sam2053 said:

Thanks, Daniel. So should I apply on the BON website? Are they the ones to tell me what courses and where to study? Yes, will do it, hope it's worth a shot. Cuz last time I called them, they said they have no idea.

Also if I pay for CVS via CGFNS now, do I need to do everything from start like tell my school to fill out forms (Cuz they were pretty pissed & had a hard time filling them out). My only concern is that CGFNS will ask me to tell the school to fill out forms again. I would be happy even if I get registration from NY BON. 

They won't be able to tell you what to study, but they will be able to tell you if you are eligible or not based on the CES! (And will give you a license if you are haha) 

And no, you won't need to resubmit the forms again from your school or anything else really as long as you use CGFNS for your CES if you do decide to try to register in New York! I did exactly that and I didn't have to resubmit anything - honestly I was so sick of the whole thing and wouldn't have used CGFNS again if I had a choice - but they already had all the forms so I kinda had to!

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Haha, gotcha ! Only if it's my lucky day or something then yeah maybe...

Wow, that's honestly such a relief. So I just pay for the CVS form in CGFNS. Do I contact CGFNS for that or just pay on their website?

 That's all I gotta do right? IKR that was a nightmare. Studying nursing was easier than getting them forms fill out LOL.

 

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Hi, @Daniel Timmons sorry to bother you again.

Could you clarify if paying CGFNS the CVS service ($385 I presume) is the only requirement for NY BON? I am just asking because I didn't want to waste money as I already did for the CES report and received it this week. I am just confused that as my CES report is already ready, they will ask again to fill out the forms for my school? Also, when does this CES report expire if I am able to gain CVS from them?

your reply is appreciated!

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On 12/20/2022 at 9:46 PM, Sam2053 said:

Hi, @Daniel Timmons sorry to bother you again.

Could you clarify if paying CGFNS the CVS service ($385 I presume) is the only requirement for NY BON? I am just asking because I didn't want to waste money as I already did for the CES report and received it this week. I am just confused that as my CES report is already ready, they will ask again to fill out the forms for my school? Also, when does this CES report expire if I am able to gain CVS from them?

your reply is appreciated!

Yes, you don't have to resubmit any of the annoying forms again, just the application for the CVS - CGFNS already has all the stuff they need! Trust me, I did the EXACT same thing you did and worried about the exact same things haha!

You will also have to pay for the NY BON application fees ($143) 

You will have to pay for two courses about mandatory reporting and safety (I don't remember exactly what but it's like $150 or something.. all online based training)

You will have to pay to sit the NCLEX once you get approval. ($200) and if you aren't physically in the US at the time you sit the exam it's an extra $200 to sit it internationally..

And I would HIGHLY suggest studying for the NCLEX with a good exam prep course, it's really finicky and I failed my first attempt because I thought I was going to be fine to just barely study.. it was not fine! I ended up sitting it (and paying for it) twice... These also cost money.. I used U world and Archer review.. Archer review was better overall I think, U world had a higher difficulty to it.

I have no idea when the CES would expire! You might have to call CGFNS and ask!

It's all expensive, the US likes to nickel and dime you everywhere you look and it's how the whole system is set up with private entities having monopoly on government systems.. I paid around $1600 total USD (2,396 AUD but who's counting?!)  To get my US licence.. it's hard to swallow especially when everything is so uncertain.. but I'm working here in Texas now and I'm making pretty okay money.. I still sometimes think I should have gone into computer science instead though ?

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