Clinical and theory hours?

Published

Specializes in NICU, Med/Surg.

Hi

I´m a swedish nurse trying to figure out if it would be possible to work in america. I know that my first problem is that I need clinical and theory hours in specific areas, but my question is how many hours do I have to do?

I have already worked as a nurse for 6 years and I´m not doing one unpaid hour more than I have to.......:o

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hi

I´m a swedish nurse trying to figure out if it would be possible to work in america. I know that my first problem is that I need clinical and theory hours in specific areas, but my question is how many hours do I have to do?

I have already worked as a nurse for 6 years and I´m not doing one unpaid hour more than I have to.......:o

Lets back-up for just a minute. What type of degree have you completed and how many years of schooling? Are you a registered nurse in your country? If so, and you have completed four years of schooling and have a B.S. degree then you shouldn't need anything extra. The ones that do are from the UK and Australia because they training is now considered specialist instead of generalist, which both the US and Canada require.

Hope that this helps...........

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, Med/Surg.
Lets back-up for just a minute. What type of degree have you completed and how many years of schooling? Are you a registered nurse in your country? If so, and you have completed four years of schooling and have a B.S. degree then you shouldn't need anything extra. The ones that do are from the UK and Australia because they training is now considered specialist instead of generalist, which both the US and Canada require.

Hope that this helps...........

Hi Suzanne

I have a BSN in nursing (january 1999) and trained 3 years fulltime (plus 1 year separately to get my pediatric nurse certificate).

In Sweden my license is as a general nurse. That´s the only kind of license they are giving out. We can take several kinds of post education courses, for example pediatric, midwife, intensive care and so on but that ends with a certificate not an additional license.

In Sweden all universitys that train nurses are approved and follow the stipulated rules of teaching from the state. Once you finnish school you simply apply to the board, pay a fee and you have your license for life........

No test or checking what kind of clinical hours done.

I don´t have clinical hours in mental health or medical nursing. At the time my university believed that it was better to go back to the same ward (in my case a surgical ward) and same supervising nurse several times instead of seeing multiple areas of nursing. Ofcourse I have theory in all areas (depending on how much needed) but simply not the clinical hours.

But when I ´ve seen the request for academic records (VisaScreen) the school seem to provide hours/days of clinical hours and theory of all areas. Do you meen it´s not necessary to have all areas covered?

I have talked to Ogradypeyton but after reading all of your inputs decided to proceed on my own. But they said that I couldn´t seek license in USA unless all areas were covered!

Anna

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hi Suzanne

I have a BSN in nursing (january 1999) and trained 3 years fulltime (plus 1 year separately to get my pediatric nurse certificate).

In Sweden my license is as a general nurse. That´s the only kind of license they are giving out. We can take several kinds of post education courses, for example pediatric, midwife, intensive care and so on but that ends with a certificate not an additional license.

In Sweden all universitys that train nurses are approved and follow the stipulated rules of teaching from the state. Once you finnish school you simply apply to the board, pay a fee and you have your license for life........

No test or checking what kind of clinical hours done.

I don´t have clinical hours in mental health or medical nursing. At the time my university believed that it was better to go back to the same ward (in my case a surgical ward) and same supervising nurse several times instead of seeing multiple areas of nursing. Ofcourse I have theory in all areas (depending on how much needed) but simply not the clinical hours.

But when I ´ve seen the request for academic records (VisaScreen) the school seem to provide hours/days of clinical hours and theory of all areas. Do you meen it´s not necessary to have all areas covered?

I have talked to Ogradypeyton but after reading all of your inputs decided to proceed on my own. But they said that I couldn´t seek license in USA unless all areas were covered!

Anna

Med-surg is a joint area in many programs, I am sure that you covered patients with diabetes, hypertension, heart problems, etc. You should be set with that. And for psych, you didn't do any type of hours on a unit taking care of these types of patients? Perhaps they called it something else. If you actually have a BSN you should be okay. Best thing to do is just apply, CGFNS makes individualized decisions on each nurse. Sounds like you will be okay.

Good luck................

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, Med/Surg.

Hi Suzanne

First of all, thanks for your replies. I´m still not getting it....

On the form for VisaScreen 6 subjects are mentioned; medical nursing. surgical nursing, maternal/infant nursing, nursingcare of children, mental health and community health. In my education I have clinical hours in all but mental health (have about 1 week in mental health community care) and medical (have worked for about 1 year at a medical ward but no clinical placement). Ofcourse patients with diabetes, heartproblem and mental health problems were seen on the surgical ward (and in community care) were I did my placement but do you mean that would be enough?

How do the school break it down for the VisaScreen? All areas are written down separately. Can I simply instruct the school to divide them up? What happends if CGFNS don´t approve, do I have to start over with a new application? Do they then instruct me on what I need to pass?

One other thing I have been thinking about is the translation of my transcripts. Since I´m not allowed to send any papers (including translations)my self from my school to CGFNS, how does it work?

Thanks, Anna

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hi Suzanne

First of all, thanks for your replies. I´m still not getting it....

On the form for VisaScreen 6 subjects are mentioned; medical nursing. surgical nursing, maternal/infant nursing, nursingcare of children, mental health and community health. In my education I have clinical hours in all but mental health (have about 1 week in mental health community care) and medical (have worked for about 1 year at a medical ward but no clinical placement). Ofcourse patients with diabetes, heartproblem and mental health problems were seen on the surgical ward (and in community care) were I did my placement but do you mean that would be enough?

How do the school break it down for the VisaScreen? All areas are written down separately. Can I simply instruct the school to divide them up? What happends if CGFNS don´t approve, do I have to start over with a new application? Do they then instruct me on what I need to pass?

One other thing I have been thinking about is the translation of my transcripts. Since I´m not allowed to send any papers (including translations)my self from my school to CGFNS, how does it work?

Thanks, Anna

Most foreign programs are set up to be able to submit the documents in English. They may require you to pay a fee if they don't for a legitimate translation to be done.

I would just give your school the papers and let them take care of it. It is thier responsibility to do it properly.

I would just get started on the applications and see what CGFNS has to say.

They do each application on an individual basis.........

Good luck................(I wouldn't lose too much sleep over it.)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, Med/Surg.

Hi Suzanne

I guess I´m just worried and a little paranoid about the whole thing......

Thank you

Anna

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hi Suzanne

I guess I´m just worried and a little paranoid about the whole thing......

Thank you

Anna

Unfortunately, all you can do is apply and see what CGFNS has to say when they are processing your documents for the Visa Screen Certificate. I definitely would not take the CGFNS exam, and would go with NY for initial licensure.

I wouldn't worry so much about it, especially since you already have your BSN.

:balloons: :) :balloons:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, Med/Surg.

Hi Suzanne

I have been going through my trancript papers and old school papers this weekend and realised a few things. I actually have training in old age care and ER and I hope that can count towards my medical clinical placement. I´m going to talk to my old school tomorow, just to see how they see it......

The application for Visascreen is on it´s way and I guess we will see how it goes.

Thank you for your kind replies

Anna:rolleyes:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hi Suzanne

I have been going through my trancript papers and old school papers this weekend and realised a few things. I actually have training in old age care and ER and I hope that can count towards my medical clinical placement. I´m going to talk to my old school tomorow, just to see how they see it......

The application for Visascreen is on it´s way and I guess we will see how it goes.

Thank you for your kind replies

Anna:rolleyes:

Good luck and please let me know how things work out for you...............

(Your training in geriatrics, as we call it, definitely counts towards your medical hours)

:balloons:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion