Graduate UK nurse making move to USA

World Immigration

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Hi,

I'm a graduate trained as an adult nurse in the UK! I currently have a job on an acute medical assessment ward and I'm looking at moving the USA in approx 1 year.

I spoke to a London based agency and they have advised me to apply to the CGFNS for credentials evaluation and apply to take my NCLEX.

They then told me to give them a call when the above is completed, and they contact hospitals/agencies in the USA to secure me a contract and visa!

I asked about making up of theory/practice hours and I was advised he has never come across a british adult trained nurse who has had any major issues with the credentials part. He did mention he had a woman who needed 20 hours extra mental health nursing, but was able to use her learning disabilities placement hours to cover this also.

Has anyone here made the move to the USA as a UK trained adult nurse and if so, how has the process been for you?

Thanks for all the advice off you guys, I really appreciate it!

I've decided to go ahead with the CGFNS - CES

Checking my theory modules and practice experience - it is looking hopeful that I may meet most of the requirements

In order to register with the NMC in the UK the board state

"Adult nurses must be able to carry out accurate assessment of people of all ages usingappropriate diagnostic and decision-making skills. They must be able to provide effectivecare for service users and others in all settings. They must have in-depth understanding ofand competence in medical and surgical nursing to respond to adults' full range of health anddependency needs. They must be able to deliver care to meet essential and complex physical andmental health needs.Adult nurses must also:• be able to recognise and respond to the needs of all people who come into their careincluding babies, children and young people, pregnant and postnatal women, people withmental health problems, people with physical disabilities, people with learning disabilities,older people, and people with long term problems such as cognitive impairment."

In my training I have recieved a bit of everything when I delve back into the three years....

I have seen job advertisements in the nursing standard and reputable journals such as the nursing times here in the UK etc. I've also spoken to people who have made the move themselves. It does sound like a long process, and I'm not saying it will be easy.... But there are jobs in the US for UK nurses advertised. My recruiter doesnt ask for a single penny and so far theyve been really helpful with guiding me in how to approach my application and how to study for NCLEX etc.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

I would see if you can get a copy of your transcripts and double check that both clinical and theory hours are shown in Paeds, Mental Health, Adult and Obstetrics. Anything missing may be difficult to make up as currently no courses are available in the UK and many struggle to find acceptable courses in the US as many school do not want to take people for just certain courses.

Yes it will be hard and long but if determined and willing to wait the goal can be achieved

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Specializes in ER.

Unless you trained pre 2000, its unlikely that you have the hours in peds, psych and OB, as Silverdragon has already explained.

The majority of nurses trained since then are not eligible to take NCLEX, and any agency telling you otherwise should be regarded with a lot of suspicion, as their information is likely to be very out of date!

Many agencies have stopped trading, the market for UK nurses in the US just does not exist anymore.

You would also need to be clear which visa path you intend to go down, and if necessary find a sponsoring hospital. There are very few that will still do that, recruitment has not been an issue for several years now, and they are not going to sponsor a foreign nurse instead of recruiting locally.

You don't need an agency to submit transcripts and apply for the NCLEX, but if you are turned down on clinical hours, you cannot get your fee refunded. That might be your best option right now, at least then you only lose the fee, and they will advise you on the missing hours.

The best states to apply to when overseas are CA, FL, TX and VT.

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Hi lou1991, how is the process going? Are you still planning on moving to the states? Ive just started the process this month! Its long!

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Hello everyone

I am in the exact same position Lou and LClaire

I am working in an Emergency Assessment Unit in England, and have just paid CGFNS the money to check my uni credentials. Currently the form is with my uni and they need to send the CGFNS my transcripts.. quite nervous of the hours issue - will keep you guys updated :-)

I have also paid the money to NMC to get them to verify my pin to the CGFNS.

I am also applying to Texas BON as you don't need SS number. My agent is also not charging a thing and has spent hours chatting to me on phone/email about the process.

Trying to revise for NCLEX also!

My agent reckons about a year and I should be in the USA... I am anticipating doubt and skepticism on this site, however I am remaining positive and putting my faith in my efforts and in the system..

I too see adverts all the time in the back on RCN journal and Nursing Times; anyone who says there aren't vacancies is misguided because some hospitals clearly do want UK nurses.

Remain positive Lou and Claire, we will get there!

Helena

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Specializes in ER.
Hello everyone

I am in the exact same position Lou and LClaire

I am working in an Emergency Assessment Unit in England, and have just paid CGFNS the money to check my uni credentials. Currently the form is with my uni and they need to send the CGFNS my transcripts.. quite nervous of the hours issue - will keep you guys updated :-)

I have also paid the money to NMC to get them to verify my pin to the CGFNS.

I am also applying to Texas BON as you don't need SS number. My agent is also not charging a thing and has spent hours chatting to me on phone/email about the process.

Trying to revise for NCLEX also!

My agent reckons about a year and I should be in the USA... I am anticipating doubt and skepticism on this site, however I am remaining positive and putting my faith in my efforts and in the system..

I too see adverts all the time in the back on RCN journal and Nursing Times; anyone who says there aren't vacancies is misguided because some hospitals clearly do want UK nurses.

Remain positive Lou and Claire, we will get there!

Helena

When you talk about doubt and skepticism, that comes across as pretty insulting when you have come here to get advice.

People here are realistic because they have already gone through the process you have just started, and they also know that agents will tell you what you want to hear.

If you trained after 2000 its unlikely you will have the hours in peds, OB and psych.

The current anti-immigrant / fake patriotism being paraded here by Trump and his gang means that recruiting overseas is no longer looked on favorably. There is a reason that most of the agencies have gone out of business and that is because UK nurses are no longer as sought after as before.

If they do recruit from overseas, it tends to be from the Philippines as the training there is far more closely matched to US training, making the transition easier.

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Ok that is quite an aggresive read - signing out of this convo as I have been shut down

All the best to you all

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Specializes in ER.

Not aggressive, but realistic.

If you don't want to hear the reality of the situation, then just continue as you are, paying out good money and believing everything your agent tells you.

But there are people here who have been through this process, and know the facts. Telling them they are full of doubt and skepticism does not change your situation, it just makes it more difficult for you to accept the harsh facts that it is not an easy process, and most nurses in the UK are not even eligible to apply for NCLEX, let alone emigrate.

If you find my approach aggressive, then just stick with your agents fairytales!

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I too see adverts all the time in the back on RCN journal and Nursing Times; anyone who says there aren't vacancies is misguided because some hospitals clearly do want UK nurses.

Please be aware that many US hospitals advertise countless openings on their websites, openings that they apparently have no intention of filling, because people who appear well-qualified apply for positions and don't get hired, and the openings continue to appear on the websites. Within the hospital system I worked for prior to my current position, the HR website always had a huge listing of RN openings. Somehow, none of those openings ever seemed to get filled, despite a steady stream of RNs applying for jobs. We used to joke (at work) that, if they really had that many openings, they would have to shut the hospital down because they wouldn't have enough RNs to staff the floors -- and, yet, the hospital continued to operate just fine. I'm not really sure how or why the hospitals benefit from continuing to advertise apparently nonexistent "jobs," but it is a real and well-known phenomenon here.

And reality is not the same as aggression.

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The nursing job market goes through job surplus and shortage cycles and it doesn't seem to matter whether a recruitment agency or healthcare facility has vacancies or not, for many it is their practice to 'fish' for fresh resumes to keep on file for 6 months. It is a part of human resources planning to prepare for the 'demand' that a nursing shortage cycle will bring, even when the overall nursing job market is in a surplus cycle. The 'fishing' practice also justifies the recruiter's job and keeps them employed.

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Thanks for all the advice off you guys, I really appreciate it!

I've decided to go ahead with the CGFNS - CES

Checking my theory modules and practice experience - it is looking hopeful that I may meet most of the requirements

In order to register with the NMC in the UK the board state

"Adult nurses must be able to carry out accurate assessment of people of all ages usingappropriate diagnostic and decision-making skills. They must be able to provide effectivecare for service users and others in all settings. They must have in-depth understanding ofand competence in medical and surgical nursing to respond to adults' full range of health anddependency needs. They must be able to deliver care to meet essential and complex physical andmental health needs.Adult nurses must also:• be able to recognise and respond to the needs of all people who come into their careincluding babies, children and young people, pregnant and postnatal women, people withmental health problems, people with physical disabilities, people with learning disabilities,older people, and people with long term problems such as cognitive impairment."

In my training I have recieved a bit of everything when I delve back into the three years....

I have seen job advertisements in the nursing standard and reputable journals such as the nursing times here in the UK etc. I've also spoken to people who have made the move themselves. It does sound like a long process, and I'm not saying it will be easy.... But there are jobs in the US for UK nurses advertised. My recruiter doesnt ask for a single penny and so far theyve been really helpful with guiding me in how to approach my application and how to study for NCLEX etc.

HI LOU !!

Ive just graduated in September (2016) also looking to move over to the US this year or next ... Are you any further forward ? Which company did you go with? Looking for some advice my head is pickled reading all the information, seems a bit intense ! X x

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
HI LOU !!

Ive just graduated in September (2016) also looking to move over to the US this year or next ... Are you any further forward ? Which company did you go with? Looking for some advice my head is pickled reading all the information, seems a bit intense ! X x

Make sure your transcripts show both both clinical and theory hours in Paeds, Mental Health, Obstetrics and Adult. Short of any hours will result in you not meeting state requirements and not being allowed to sit NCLEX

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