Best BON to go through when RN (Child) UK trained

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Specializes in Neonatal nursing (paediatric trained).

Hi, just wanted to clarify a few things for myself.

Background: US citizen, lived in the UK for 6 years, just completed RN (Child) training in UK - awaiting PIN, to work on neonatal unit (I'll be able to take and complete the neonatal course in the next couple of years - definitely will be done by July 2010, if not November 2009).

Right, so I don't plan on moving to the US anytime terribly soon (at least two years away). But, since I don't need to worry about the immigration side of things and only actually the N-CLEX and getting licensed, I'd like to get that process out of the way.

From what I understood from posting before, I:

1) need to contact a BON, which may require CES

2) if CES required for particular BON, get uni to send transcript to CES / if CES not required, get uni to send transcript to BON

3) If any shortages highlighted, take further courses to get me up to par (I think I was told this could be done in a semester in the US?)

4) Take/pass N-CLEX, get license

Is all of the above correct? Please let me know if any isn't.

And, is there anyone who's UK RN (Child) trained who has gone to the US - which BON (since I seem to remember I can't find out from the BON themselves) is best (i.e.: less/no extra classes to take) for a child branch nurse?

I'm not sure where I'd like to move back to when I do move, likely the East Coast. If I have to take extra classes, I'd likely do so in Georgia or East Texas where I have family. Any suggestions of places I could take classes in those areas if I have to (so I can start looking into it)?

Thank you in advance for your insight!

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

The likelihood of you not taking any catch up courses is in my opinion low as most BON have the same or similar requirements. The best thing to do is get CES full course by course done and that will give you a good indication on what is required. I catch up is required would suggest contacting local nursing schools to where your family is and see if they will accept you as a guest student to just do the courses which are required

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It would be a point of one or two courses and they can be done at local community colleges.

You may not need to worry about immigration, but licensure is completely separate and for that you would always be considered a foreign grad and have to meet all of the additional requirements to get licensed.

The requirements are essentially the same when it comes to specific requirements for the basic training; the US requires that one is trained as a generalist, therefore hours will be needed in all of the required areas.

You are unable to do a thing until you have actually graduated and have a completed set of transcripts that can be submitted and evaluated. CGFNS will be unable to give you any type of answer without the actual transcripts being submitted.

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Specializes in Neonatal nursing (paediatric trained).

Thanks, Silverdragon.

Suzanne, I get that I'm considered foreign-trained and would likely have to take further courses, which is why I asked about that specifically. I was never under any illusion that I'd get special treatment for being American. I don't think I alluded to that whatsoever. I merely mentioned that I was American so I wouldn't have people telling me about retrogression, etc.

And I have completed my course. I'm aware that I have to wait for my transcripts to be made available - I mentioned that as well. As in my original post when I joined the forum and the original post to this thread, I'm pretty sure I made it clear that I know I cannot proceed until I've my transcript but am just trying to gather information for when I can proceed.

As for taking the one or two courses at local community colleges, what would I need to ask for (and, yes, I'm aware I'd need to wait until I had CES/BON lacking requirements back) as far as what courses they offer? I'd done a bit of nurse training in the US and don't seem to recall foreign-trained students dropping in for a class or two. Is there something that would be stated on a college's prospectus? I just need to figure out what type of thing to ask for to scope out the community colleges in the areas my family lives in - would hate to plan on going there to find out their colleges don't offer it.

Thanks in advance.

Edited to add: I also thought I'd better ask if me having a diploma, rather than a degree, will matter at all. I plan on taking the degree version of the neonatal course, however.

I guess I'd just really like to hear from someone who has gone to one of these colleges to get the extra hours to hear how they've done it, etc.

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What I am trying to explain to you is best is to wait until you have the CES done. With doing the child training, chances are that you have enough hours that were completed during your general studies to meet the requirements here.

But they will not be able to tell you a thing if you meet the requirements without having the transcripts sent to them. No sense in signing up for courses that you may not need at all.

The only hours that are usually needed is in either peds or maternal health. As well as mental health, so suspect that you have them covered already.

This is why I am telling you just to wait, you may find that you do not need to take anything. Each state in the US requires the same general courses, so not a point of one being easier or not. It makes the most sense to get licensed directly where you think that you will be working.

Sorry, if I misread your post but it was after working a long 12 hours last night. We get many threads here from people that have not even come close to finishing their training. Some also post that since they are US citizens that they should just need to take the NCLEX and that is it. I always try to point out everything in a response since many others are reading it as well.

This is why the CES is always the best way to go and it will tell you directly if your curriculum is excepted as it is.

Whether a degree or diploma really does not affect anything, what the specifics of the courses were does.

Best of luck to you.

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Specializes in Neonatal nursing (paediatric trained).

Thanks, Suzanne, for going into more detail. Don't get me wrong, I certainly wouldn't sign up for any classes until I had the CES through - that'd just be silly. I was just wanting to know, in case I do need to take extra courses, what I'd need to ask for from the community colleges, as I can't seem to find much online regarding courses offered to top-up foreign trained nurses.

So, I won't sign up for anything until I have the CES through detailing what, if anything, extra that I need. I would, however, like information on what I would need to ask for from a community college, what to look for on their prospectus and/or some recommendations of community colleges that offer what I might need in Texas/Georgia. That way, should the CES reveal that I need anything further, I'll already have an idea of where to go or whether I need to look further afield.

Again, many thanks.

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If the classes are needed, then you would contact the community colleges that are in your area and see if they accept guest students. You are not going to need regular enrollment since you will not be attending their actual nursing program and getting a degree from them.

There are usually openings that come up when someone drops from a program.

I know of programs that are available in California, but not specific program in one of those two states.

Best of luck to you.

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Specializes in Neonatal nursing (paediatric trained).

Exactly the sort of explanation I was looking for! :yeah: Thanks, Suzanne.

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You are quite welcome.

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