As my Australian RN degree does not meet USA requirements I am currently doing the 2 extra courses I need (Pediatrics and Obstetrics/Midwifery) as a Distance Education student, including 80 hours Clinical in each course. Today I was informed by my university that one of their students has just been refused a license in California because the subjects she did as a Distance Education student are not acceptable. I'm devastated ...... can anyone give me more information about this?? (I am planning to apply for licensure in NY).
Specializes in Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ortho..
I am also doing my Obstetric Nursing course through Otago to make up my missing midwifery hours. I have just completed my 80 hours of clinical (all in my own time with no pay) and am now completing the theory workbook. I know for a fact that the BON in CA are denying applications for people who have completed courses through Deakin. During my time researching which course to do, I spoke with the director of the course at Deakin and she was about to have a telephone conference with the BON in CA to justify the course. This process will take months as Deakin have to send course work and paperwork etc to BON in CA. It is my understanding that the BON in CA does not accept any on line or distance education courses completed to make up missing hours. I do not see any other way to make up these hours and so I guess this rules out working in CA. I am finding this whole situation/process:banghead: EXTREMELY frustrating and keep reading different information as I research the visa options. The agency I am thinking of signing up with has told me I can get an E3 visa and as long as I am open to go anywhere in the US they will be able to get me work as a RN. Are they giving me the 'rosy' version? Do I continue my application or is it a losing battle at the moment to be able to get work as an foreign nurse in the US?
I have heard about one person being accepted by BON in CA who did their make up hours through the Otago Course. However, things are constantly changing and the only way to find out for sure is contact the BON in CA. This is something I have not done as of yet and even though CA in my first choice, I am willing to go anywhere!!!
Specializes in Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ortho..
I am also doing my Obstetric Nursing course through Otago to make up my missing midwifery hours. I have just completed my 80 hours of clinical (all in my own time with no pay) and am now completing the theory workbook. I know for a fact that the BON in CA are denying applications for people who have completed courses through Deakin. During my time researching which course to do, I spoke with the director of the course at Deakin and she was about to have a telephone conference with the BON in CA to justify the course. This process will take months as Deakin have to send course work and paperwork etc to BON in CA. It is my understanding that the BON in CA does not accept any on line or distance education courses completed to make up missing hours. I do not see any other way to make up these hours and so I guess this rules out working in CA. I am finding this whole situation/process:banghead: EXTREMELY frustrating and keep reading different information as I research the visa options. The agency I am thinking of signing up with has told me I can get an E3 visa and as long as I am open to go anywhere in the US they will be able to get me work as a RN. Are they giving me the 'rosy' version? Do I continue my application or is it a losing battle at the moment to be able to get work as an foreign nurse in the US?
I have heard about one person being accepted by BON in CA who did their make up hours through the Otago Course. However, things are constantly changing and the only way to find out for sure is contact the BON in CA. This is something I have not done as of yet and even though CA in my first choice, I am willing to go anywhere!!!
I would like to clarify that I know of one application that the BON in CA has denied due to the making up of hours through the Deakin course.
zonnenschijn I feel your pain! I am so frustrated with the whole process I can't understand why they make it sooo difficult to work in another country.. I just did 80 hours mid clinicals, and now I've still got to do paeds as well! paying for both the courses along with a month of leave without pay, along with all the HUGE costs associated visa screens CGFNS forms, NCLEX etc is sending me broke! I am now like you getting stuck into the workbooks, I just need to get them done ASAP because nothing else can be done until I get that academic transcipt!
Are you sure you wanna go through an agency rather than finding a hospital where you actually want to go? Which agency are you thinking about going through? I am going in October on a tourist visa and am going to search for places to work then - hopefully a hospital is willing to sponsor me!
I'm heading to Colorado - the CO BON require you to go through CGFNS for a full course by course report, and I've been informed that CGFNS accept Otago courses in terms of make up hours, so if your keen on Colorado then you can go there! Check out the CA BON website tho - they should have all the info on international nurses on there.
Like you I've been tossing up whether going through all of this is worth it.. But if you really want to work in the US then whats a year (or 2 or 3!? in getting your reg) In the end it will be worth it!! And you'l have it for ever. I know someone and they go over for 2 months of the year and work in the US and then come back to Oz cause they earn good $$$
And they LOVE australian nurses, so i'm sure once all the paper work is done finding a job wont be too hard. I know lots of people are advising against going to the US right now and that there a few jobs around, but I say go for it! there are always means and ways around everything
Specializes in Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ortho..
hi ehic2604. Thanks for reply! I feel for you having to do 2 make up subjects. It's an expensive exercise that's for sure. When I first started researching visa options for the States I was made to believe that most hospitals in the States don't know about the E3 visa (only for Australian nurses going to the States) and sponsoring an international nurse is an expensive exercise for them. I figured going through an agency would help as they know the in's and out's of the E3 visa and put international nurses through an extensive introduction to working as a RN in the states. I am terrified of working as a RN in the states...... their whole system sounds so different and then everything in Farenheit and pounds and ounces?!?!?!?!?! At least with an agency they introduce you to all this gradually and support you. I will also be provided with accomodation for the first few months. I will be very interested to find out how you go in October looking for work and what kind of response you get from the hospitals. I wish you lots and lots of success. I am going to apply to Vermont again once I get my academic transcript for my midwifery. I applied to BON in Vermont to start with and they said I needed more midi hours. I hope and pray that they will accept my academic transcript and that I don't have to start a new application all over again!! Apparently once they deny you the file gets closed unless you appeal. They only gave me a month to appeal and I obviously couldn't do a make up course in a month. I want to work in a State that does not require the CGFNS as that sounds like way too much stress on top of everything else!
Good luck with everything and as I said, would love to hear about your job hunting in October.
It costs the employer zero to hire you on an E3 (unless they hire a lawyer to fill in the online LCA). It costs you $120 or whatever the E3 fee is now (plus the NCLEX, rego, CGFNS etc!). I was able to get a job, a relocation allowance, and a sign on bonus, but it was last year when I started working and things have changed since then. I also do have out-of-the-ordinary, specialized skills. You do have to be very clear with prospective employers that "sponsorship" is not required and that the E3 process is nothing like the more expensive and onerous H1B.
Hi ghillbert,saw all the messages you posted here, they are all very helpful for me,cuz i am going to go through the E3 visa to US as you did before,i got couple of questions wish you can help me:
I have BN and about 11years experience in nursing,can that make me apply for the E3 if i could find employer in US?
Have you had visascreen done?how long does it take?
The years of experience do not count so much as what your experience is in - you need to be a specialist. Are you? You need to be enough of a specialist that you can convince a US employer that they need you.
Visa Screen - yes, everyone who applies for employment-based visas need them. I sent in everything but my US license, and then when I got that I sent that and had the VSC within 3 weeks. Noone has ever asked to see my VSC though which is annoying when it costs so much!!
I am a US citizen studying in Australia because i got sick of California and wanted something different. I am a Second year nursing student at University of Western Sydney, and want to return to the US in 1.5 years. After reading this forum however I am a bit freaked out that, that wont be possible. Can someone please clarify? Will I be missing classes? Clinical hours? Will my degree not transfer? I would prefer to work in California as that is where I have lived my whole life.
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Hi guys,
I am a US citizen studying in Australia because i got sick of California and wanted something different. I am a Second year nursing student at University of Western Sydney, and want to return to the US in 1.5 years. After reading this forum however I am a bit freaked out that, that wont be possible. Can someone please clarify? Will I be missing classes? Clinical hours? Will my degree not transfer? I would prefer to work in California as that is where I have lived my whole life.
Thank you!
Until you have a complete set of transcripts it is hard to predict whether you will have any problems or not. Best thing to do whilst still at university is try to see if you can make sure you have hours both clinical and theory in maternity, mental health, paeds and general adult
Hello to All overseas/ international nurses most especially Australian Nurses wanting to nurse in the US. I am also an international nurse, spent my years in the Middle East and here now in the UK. I just recently got my US RN licence but because of retrogression, i stopped dreaming of US as my next landing. I am eyeing to go to Australia and Canada as next stop as it is one of the best place to live, (so I heard). I am just wondering why and what is the real reason do Australian nurses want to leave Australia for US. Is nursing in Australia not as nice than nursing in US? Are nurses in australia not treated properly or not highly regarded as professional? just curious.
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zonnenschijn
33 Posts
I am also doing my Obstetric Nursing course through Otago to make up my missing midwifery hours. I have just completed my 80 hours of clinical (all in my own time with no pay) and am now completing the theory workbook. I know for a fact that the BON in CA are denying applications for people who have completed courses through Deakin. During my time researching which course to do, I spoke with the director of the course at Deakin and she was about to have a telephone conference with the BON in CA to justify the course. This process will take months as Deakin have to send course work and paperwork etc to BON in CA. It is my understanding that the BON in CA does not accept any on line or distance education courses completed to make up missing hours. I do not see any other way to make up these hours and so I guess this rules out working in CA. I am finding this whole situation/process:banghead: EXTREMELY frustrating and keep reading different information as I research the visa options. The agency I am thinking of signing up with has told me I can get an E3 visa and as long as I am open to go anywhere in the US they will be able to get me work as a RN. Are they giving me the 'rosy' version? Do I continue my application or is it a losing battle at the moment to be able to get work as an foreign nurse in the US?
I have heard about one person being accepted by BON in CA who did their make up hours through the Otago Course. However, things are constantly changing and the only way to find out for sure is contact the BON in CA. This is something I have not done as of yet and even though CA in my first choice, I am willing to go anywhere!!!