Australian Student Nurse wanting to move to USA

[foxyroxy1803]

Hi, I am new to this website so sorry if this is in the wrong place. :typing

Anyways, I am a student nurse in QLD, Australia and I finish my Bachelors in November 2009 but I am wanting to move back to America as soon as I graduate and work as a Nurse over there in either Texas or Florida. I was wondering if I can transfer and become an RN over there. I have dual citizenship (Australian and American) so I know I dont need to worry about visas and I know there is a NCLEX exam. But other than that, if i pass the NCLEX will I officially be an RN over there?

Also if anyone has gone from Australian nursing to American nursing......is it very different?

thanks

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Welcome to Allnurses.

Actually this post would be better served in the International Forum. I'll move it there for you. Good luck!

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

You must have sufficient theory and clinical hours in each area required by the US, including psych, maternity/OBGYN, med-surg, pediatrics. Often the Aussie courses are short in some of these. You will have to wait until you graduate and apply to the state board where you want to work. You may have to apply for the CES report from CGFNS, which evaluates your hours in each subject. If they are ok, you may be approved to take NCLEX. If not, you will have to make up the theory/clinical hours. You can do this via distance ed from Deakin Uni in Melbourne (and organize clinicals yourself).

I believe Florida is a difficult state for initial licensure, but as you are USC, and should have SSN, you may be ok. I'm sure others will comment.

Nursing is nursing in many ways. The practices, names of things, and ways to do it (charting, meds etc) vary a lot. If you're a good nurse there, you'll be a good nurse here. It may be difficult as a new grad to get a supportive job. If I were you, I'd do my grad year through the aussie system while you're working on US licensure, and then try to come over. The experience will only help you. The first year of experience is really the transition from school to professional, and the more support you can get, the better.

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

As mentioned you may be short in hours so a lot will depends on state you are applying to and their requirements for foreign trained. Both states require CES and that can take a few months (average 4 months) I would consider the suggestion in the previous post on gaining some experience in Australis whilst you go through the processing for licensure in the USA, sit NCLEX in Australia and then once all completed make the move to the USA.