Australian nurses in USA

itsmejuli · Jul 17, 2014

Take a deep breath. First apply to the BON. Then realize you have little control so just take things one step at a time. But you need your ssn first

babyNP., APRN · Jul 18, 2014

Did you come over on a K1 or a CR1? If on a K1 or tourist visa, have you adjusted status yet? itsmejuli is right, you need your social security number first, but you can get it immediately if you are on a K1 and if on a CR1, it should have been already sent to you.

Do searches on this forum, there is a lot of helpful information. Particularly google "CGFNS" as this will be the place that will assess your nursing course and the BON will let you know if/where you are deficient. Don't know about the colleges in certain courses but I would keep calling once you know what courses you need...but if you're really stuck you could consider doing an associates degree, which would only be 2 years since you probably have most of the pre-requisites done. You could also do an accelerated BSN program, they range from 12-18 months long.

There is a NCLEX forum that you can look at and there are many suggestions. My biggest tip for you is to do as many questions as you can (like 3000+) because you probably know many of the answers, but NCLEX wording can be tricky and it's something that you have to get used to. I would recommend Saunders, but different people like different things.

Finally...this will not be easy or short. It will be a long process, so prepare yourself for that. If you're looking to get some work in and not be bored (my husband came over on a K1 visa and was lonely for a few months while looking for jobs), you could take a nursing aide course, they're usually only a couple of months long and then you could work at a hospital or nursing home while getting your RN licensing together.

Anyway, best of luck to you. Keep us posted on how everything goes: your experience could be invaluable to others reading this.