Future nursing from UK to USA

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Okay, so I'm about to begin doing my BA (Hons) Nursing Degree in the UK but my life long ambition is to nurse in Texas (Dallas area). I know I need to do my degree and the NCLEX test but what else do I need to know in order to make this life long dream of mine a reality? I know my degree is going to take 3 years but what sort of time scale am I looking at for this to make it actually happen?

Any help or advice would be hugely appreciated

Many thanks

Specializes in Women's Health.
Okay, so I'm about to begin doing my BA (Hons) Nursing Degree in the UK but my life long ambition is to nurse in Texas (Dallas area). I know I need to do my degree and the NCLEX test but what else do I need to know in order to make this life long dream of mine a reality? I know my degree is going to take 3 years but what sort of time scale am I looking at for this to make it actually happen?

Any help or advice would be hugely appreciated

Many thanks

I studied in London and I had to "upgrade" my degree to be able to qualify to sit for the NCLEX-RN in California.

I was lucky to have come in contact with an agency that put me in touch with a program at City University. It is a kind of bridge program that helps you make up the hours you need.

Good luck and let me know how it goes.

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Specializes in ICU,ANTICOAG,ACUTE STROKE,EDU,RESEARCH.

have you thought about doing your BSN in the USA?

It's much easier (as baby RN said) to get a RN license in the UK having trained in the USA than vice versa.

Additionally you will probably be entitled to OPT- which is a period after your degree ends when you are entitled to work in order to gain practical experience.

Not sure if this would make it any easier to get a visa though. You would at least be able to sit NCLEX though and get some exp to put on resume. 6 months experience wouldn't be enough, however, to qualify for most positions that require a BSN as that's usually at least 2 yrs. I say this because in order to get a temporary non-immigrant work visa the job has to require a BSN.

In the meantime maybe your father will get his LPR and be able to sponsor you, OR you might meet an American man , or you could register in the UK and get some nursing experience there.

As SD says- don't put all your eggs in one basket. We tried one route (through nursing) and still have around 15 months to wait for my GC, but got here through husband getting a Masters degree and work visa. He is now also applying for GC-but EB-2 which until recently was "current" ie no wait except for processing times. GC for non-nursing has longer processing times due to the PERM DOL requirement.

Unfortunately, despite the fact that I have a Job offer, I'm not allowed to work.

Just out of interest it's worth mentioning that one of the best and easiest ways to get to the USA is with an intercompany transfer visa ie you work for a company in your home company as a "manager" and they transfer you to one of their locations in the USA.

They apply for an L1 visa for you -or the company may have "blanket cover" for certain job titles.

There are no limits on visa numbers available, no educational requirements, and no PERM requirement and spouses are allowed to work.

If you meet the criteria then when you apply for GC you automatically go into EB-1 category-which never has a backlog.

Most companys that do this are IT ,engineering, scientific/clinical/pharmaceutical research etc, but with any company who has a presence in the UK and UK it's a possibility.

100s of 1000s of people get visas like this every year, however most are from India and China.

If someone is really serious about getting LPR in shortest possible time via employment and hasn't yet embarked on training for a career, then I would be looking at something like this.

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Specializes in ICU,ANTICOAG,ACUTE STROKE,EDU,RESEARCH.

Also- if you're not absolutely stuck on being a RN- physical therapy is Bachelors required profession in the UK and USA, so easier to get a H-1B work visa. The wait time for a Green card would be the same as for nursing ie E-B3, but once you have a work visa if the hospital sponsors you for a GC then thye can keep extending your work visa indefinitely once your GC petition has been approved.

Physical therapy pay is higher here too-start on around $28 per hr in NC compared to $20 for RN. Physical therapy is also a schedule A shortage occupation, so no PERM for Green card.

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I studied in London and I had to "upgrade" my degree to be able to qualify to sit for the NCLEX-RN in California.

I was lucky to have come in contact with an agency that put me in touch with a program at City University. It is a kind of bridge program that helps you make up the hours you need.

British Bulldog !!! I am looking for a way to bridge the gaps in my Adult Diploma in order to be eligible to take the NCLEX. I already have a US passport. Can you tell me more about the study you did at City University???
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Hiya...I was reading this as I'm in a,similar situation...tho I'm an American living in Scotland and also on an adult nursing course. My husband is Scottish and we have discussed moving to the states once I finish my degree. I was wandering if anyone could tell me exactly how much more university I would need to meet the requirements to sit the nclex??

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

You would have to contact the BON in the state that you want to work in and find out how many hours of theory and clinical hours you need in each area.

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Specializes in Women's Health.
British Bulldog !!! I am looking for a way to bridge the gaps in my Adult Diploma in order to be eligible to take the NCLEX. I already have a US passport. Can you tell me more about the study you did at City University???

Hi there,

I just sent you an email. Let me know how it goes.

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I studied in London and I had to "upgrade" my degree to be able to qualify to sit for the NCLEX-RN in California.

I was lucky to have come in contact with an agency that put me in touch with a program at City University. It is a kind of bridge program that helps you make up the hours you need.

Good luck and let me know how it goes.

G'day BB,

I'm looking at various strategies to "make up" units as well

Please tell us more about this program?

Many thanks

regards,

Joel

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Hi there,

I just sent you an email. Let me know how it goes.

Dear BB and ALL: I am a recent grad of Adult Diploma and want to practice nursing in USA, as a new member unable to post private message so if British bulldog can share knowledge on my email: [email protected] would love to know more about the course you took at City-how long did that take? I will probably need additional theory and practice placements in peadiatric, mental health and maternity. Did you already have your BSc? I need to top up to degree as well probably before I try to get licensed. I am wondering what agency you used to evaluate your credentials. AZ allows the use of four different ones including a Consulting Agency located in Florida that looks good as an alternative to CGFNS. I appreciate any assistance to find out more regarding qualifying to take the NCLEX with my training ie. how to get the further training I will need. This forum is very helpful thank you all for contributing.x
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Specializes in Women's Health.
Dear BB and ALL: I am a recent grad of Adult Diploma and want to practice nursing in USA, as a new member unable to post private message so if British bulldog can share knowledge on my email: [email protected] would love to know more about the course you took at City-how long did that take? I will probably need additional theory and practice placements in peadiatric, mental health and maternity. Did you already have your BSc? I need to top up to degree as well probably before I try to get licensed. I am wondering what agency you used to evaluate your credentials. AZ allows the use of four different ones including a Consulting Agency located in Florida that looks good as an alternative to CGFNS. I appreciate any assistance to find out more regarding qualifying to take the NCLEX with my training ie. how to get the further training I will need. This forum is very helpful thank you all for contributing.x

Hello americanrose,

So how did it go?

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I have submitted my forms to be accredited but it appears that I am 75 hours short in microbiology and humanities, something which our nursing programme did not cover. Has anyone else experienced this? Does anyone know of any distance learning courses I can take to male up the hours??

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Specializes in Women's Health.
I have submitted my forms to be accredited but it appears that I am 75 hours short in microbiology and humanities something which our nursing programme did not cover. Has anyone else experienced this? Does anyone know of any distance learning courses I can take to male up the hours??[/quote']

Hello Nursejojo30,

Have you tried looking for an Oversea's Nursing program? Are you still in the UK or have you moved to the US?

I had to do one of those but the Uni I did it at no longer provides that as a course.

What state did you apply to?

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