UK mental health nurse looking to move to texas

[babyb78]

HI all, I 'm new to this site and have gone through most of the threads here but haven't had my question(s) answered to yet.

I'm a UK diploma trained mental health nurse with 4 years experience and I will be moving to join my fiance in Texas at the end of the year. I would like to convert my qualification to US and have heard that I need to have hours in all branches of nursing. I did the common foundation programme at university were I did hours (theory/practical) in adult nursing, child nursing, learning disabilities nursing and elderly nursing so I don't know if these will be enough for me to be considered for the NCLEX. The only branch I don't remember doing is maternity/obstaetrics.

I wanted to know that if i'm to move are there colleges/universities were I can make up the required hours? Or is there a course I can do to meet the requirements. I will be getting married to my fiance (US citizen) at the end of the year so I don't think I will need a work visa?

I really enjoy working in mental health and wouldn't want to change to a different field or a take different career path altogether so i'm hoping that I will not have problems meeting the requirements.

If anyone out there has any information on how I can do this, it will be greatly appreciated.

Thanking you all in advance

[Rob72, ASN, RN]

It depends.:) Essentially, you will want to look at a few schools nearby, and have a transcript review done by the admissions office. This will determine the number of credit hours the school will accept in transfer- and how many you will have to take to qualify.

I may have gotten ahead of myself. Check here first: http://www.bne.state.tx.us/ (Texas State Board of Nursing). I would be surprised if you're the first UK licensee coming over. They will be able to tell you what you need to sit for the NCLEX, which in turn, may help you decide on a school (if necessary).

[babyb78]

Thanks Rob, I've recently sent an application to CGFNS for a Credentials Evaluation hopefully that way I will no if I meet the requirements or not. Many thanks for the link, will check it out.

have a great day

[itsmejuli]

I will be getting married to my fiance (US citizen) at the end of the year so I don't think I will need a work visa?

You will need to go through the immigration process before getting a job.

[babyb78]

Thanks itsmejuli. I thought as much. Hope I won't have to wait too long for the process.

good day

[brightlyaura]

I think the best thing to do is just wait for CGFNS to get back to you. I am a uk nurse and have just passed my NCLEX and now living in NY. I was absolutely SURE that i would need to make up hours, but in fact i didnt need to and was allowed to go ahead and sit the exam. I did a lot of research on programs to make up hours and did not find any in the uk. I was going to try doing them at a community college in the states as a guest student, but in the end i didnt need to! good luck

[babyb78]

Wow well done brightlyaura. Yeah i'll just wait for the Credentials report to come back and just hope I don't have to make up any hours. Keep fingers crossed for me please. Just wanted to know how long did you have to wait for your Credential Evaluation to come back?

thanks

beryl

[insa]

babyb78,

You mentioned waiting for the immigration process, and I want to make sure you realize that you should be working on that before you leave for the States. Certainly, don't show up without a visa and say to the immigration people at the airport, "Oh, I'm here and I'm going to get married." That will not go over well at all.

There is such a thing as a fiance visa, if you aren't yet married. I got one of these when I married an American and moved to the US. If you're already married but are living in the UK, you can get a spouse visa.

Finally, if your fiance is living in Texas now, he (she?) might want to consult an immigration lawyer for more detailed advice. The proximity of Texas to Mexico means such lawyers are plentiful and cheap, at least in the parts of Texas I have lived in. Having good advice on this before you arrive can be well worth the $100-$200 a person might spend on an hour of a lawyer's time. (This was certainly my experience. I had no advice, but had to wait nearly four months for work authorization!)

[babyb78]

Thanks Insa, yes I will be coming on a fiance visa and will be applying for that soon. Also thanks for the info about the immigration lawyer will definitely consider that.

[brightlyaura]

Babyb78, I went through CVSNY so it might be a bit different but it took about 9 months for the whole process. It would have been shorter than that though because i didnt fill in the application correctly at first and they sent it back, resulting in a 2 month delay. I know it is frustrating but it will be worth it in the end!

[Nick Fitzgerald]

Hi,

I am also an RMN originally from the UK, although I completed my training in 2000. I've got a copy of my uni transcript that reports that I have completed 150 hours of maternity/ obstetrics and neonatal care. It also reports that I have completed 218 hours of child/ paediatrics. However, there is no mention of med/ surg apart from 450 hours of physical health, including community nursing.

Any advice of how many hours others may have reported on their uni transcripts would be useful to know, so I have an idea of what else I may have to complete.

Thanks, Nick.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

What part of TX? I lived in Austin and the Hill Country (wide area) for a total of 17 years and LOVE Texas :) It's hot in the summers, but nearly everything is air conditioned. People are really friendly, and it's relaxed. Blue jeans are "standard" just about everywhere. If I hadn't had some family issues I'd still be there :)