french nurse who hasn't work for 5 years like to work in PA

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Specializes in PHRN, ICU, CCU, ER, NICU, Flight Nurse.

Hi,

I really need your help. I was graduated as a french RN in 1997. I worked for 5 years (in France) mostly in CCU and as a flight nurse. Now I'm a legal resident in the US (Pennsylvania) and would like to start to work again as a RN in those same field and then as a travel nurse (to be able to work when I want in order to have time to travel to France a few month per year). I have been told that it won't be possible to work as a travel nurse right away.

I know I would need to get my NCLEX and I will do it through a Kaplan school.

Now my problem is the fact that I haven't worked for so long. Does anyone know what I will be required to do. Or what I should do? Do I need to get back to school for a while or get an internship in a hospital. I am not very familiar with the US system and I don't know what to look for or where to start (NCLEX, scholl etc). My biggest concern is not really about the nursing knowledge but mostly about the routine of a nurse working (especially considering that french and american works quiet differently different language, drugs names etc., CCU equipment etc.).

I have been told to check the Montgomery college. Does anyone knows what they can offer suitable to my case.

And what about the CCU course, or flight nurse course where can I get them.

It is a lot of funny question I know but any answers would help tremendously.

Thanks again.

Stephane

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Specializes in ER, ICU cath lab, remote med.

Bonjour Stephane! Bienvenu!

I would think the first place to start is your State Board of Nursing. They will be able to evaluate your French education and decide if you qualify to take the NCLEX. If they give you an Authorization to Test, then you may be able to get by with an NCLEX-RN review course like Kaplan or Drexel, etc. As far as learning American English terms for meds, etc., I bet you could pick that up by taking a Medical Terminology course at your local community college and maybe just doing a home pharmacology review with an American pharmacology textbook. You'll pick up on our equipment and general critical care culture during orientation (time varies by hospital). Also, many hospitals have critical care courses for new grads...not sure how that would work out for you with your considerable experience.

Sorry, can't help with the flight nursing/travel thing. I ADORE flying in helicopters though so it's always been a bit of a fantasy of mine to do flight nursing. I'll be interested to see where other posters lead you.

Bonne chance!

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Moved your thread to the International Forum since it concerns licensure for a foreign grad.

Check with the BON for the requirements for the foreign-trained RN, they are quite specific and will list them there. Licensure and immigration are two very different things and you will have to meet their requirements for licensure with the additional items that are needed.

Suggest that you check out the NCLEX Forum that can be found under the student tab before doing anything to prepare for that exam. Some excellent tips can be found there.

To get a travel assignment in the critical care areas, you are going to need at least one year of work experience in the US, if not more. Refresher courses that you may wish to consider require that you have taken and passed the NCLEX exam and have a license first.

Best of luck to you, please let us know if you have any more questions.

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Hello,

I am a french nurse working in NY. As you've been told you need to go for the CGFNS and NCLEX-RN. Usually french nurse don't have any problem getting an authorization to take the NCLEX-RN (but be prepare to be patient because it's taking quite a while..). Once you're done, you're not going to be able to do travel nursing, you need to get experience in a regular unit and I can tell you that it takes some times to adjust yourself depending on the unit you're working in and especially if you havn't work for 5 years. Medical language is not that far from the french as they both are coming from latin and meds are not too different from France either but you definetly need to learn the "familiar" name of lot of stuff!

If you need any information, just PM me, I'll be happy to answer you

C.

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Specializes in PHRN, ICU, CCU, ER, NICU, Flight Nurse.
Hello,

I am a french nurse working in NY. As you've been told you need to go for the CGFNS and NCLEX-RN. Usually french nurse don't have any problem getting an authorization to take the NCLEX-RN (but be prepare to be patient because it's taking quite a while..). Once you're done, you're not going to be able to do travel nursing, you need to get experience in a regular unit and I can tell you that it takes some times to adjust yourself depending on the unit you're working in and especially if you havn't work for 5 years. Medical language is not that far from the french as they both are coming from latin and meds are not too different from France either but you definetly need to learn the "familiar" name of lot of stuff!

If you need any information, just PM me, I'll be happy to answer you

C.

Salut,

I'm back to that old thread. Since you're french I thought you might be able to answer some of my questions. I am about to start the cgfns process. I am a little worried about the part where my nursing school have to fill up some form (you know how french are good english speaker!). I was wondering what was your experience with that? Also, I suppose you had the same numbers of hours than I had since, I think, the DEI is a national diploma so i suppose all french nursing schools have the same amount of hours. I was graduated in 98 in Paris. So How was is it for you? did you have enough "hours of Theoretical Instruction". Do you know where I can find those minimums required for the CGFNS? And what about the: Request for Validation of Registration/License Forms to the licensing authority in your country of nursing education. Where the heck am I suppose to get that and what is it? And final question, what did you use to study for the cgfns? I bought their study material, do you think I need to dig into my old notes and books from nursing school? As for information I worked for 5 years but didn't work those last 5 years. Thanks for your help. Stephane

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I responded to your other post with the same question. Every single program in France has had graduates go to other countries, so they are used to having to submit the required documentation in English.

I would not worry about it. Just look for my response in the other thread.

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Since you haven't worked as a nurse in years you're considered "outdated"...It would be interesting to see how the state board handle this situation since you're not currently practicing as a nurse, and nursing is constantly changing....Is your license in France current? Do you have to renew it every so many years or is it valid for life? Good Luck...

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