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?

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Okay, so I have just found out I cannot register with my bon until I have a ssn? This can't be done until I'm actually in nj. I'm at a bit of a halt now because I can't get a ssn for about 6 weeks, to which I then need to register with bon, and my nmc has asked me to pay a fee to send my nursing PIN over but to ensure I have registered with the bon first! So again, am I right in thinking I can't do any of this now until I'm there in 6 weeks or so. I am so so confused with this whole process ������ help!

If not already done you can start your CGFNS process and once in the US with your US SSN you can submit application to the state. NMC can send PIN information to CGFNS

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Ok so there's nothing I can do as of yet? I've started cgfns just awaiting documents to be sent etc. Is it possible then to ask nmc to send pin details to cgfns? Because in the email it specifically says before making payment- ensure you have registered with your bon. Therefore I suppose it would confuse things if I asked to send it to cgfns instead?- and maybe delay.

Thanks a lot for your gelp

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Hey wondering how did you get on with the move ? Thanks

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Specializes in ICU.

Hi Guys,I have to say that this is all helpful information.The whole process takes a long time,needs a lot of patience and follow up . It took me 20 months to get to the stage where I could finally do my NCLEX-RN.Don't despair,lets see what happens next.I would love to hear from rosiealice ,hope it got sorted.

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Hello :)

I'm new to allnurses.com, so hope this is okay to post here. I'm due to qualify as an adult nurse this summer and am very keen to move to the US (I have family out there, including my Auntie who's an RN).

I've found King's College, London are running a "Gateway to nursing in North America" its a 16 week course, where you make up hours in all the different nursing branches, help with the nclex, etc.

Gateway to Nursing in North America - Overview - Short course programmes - King's College London : Online prospectus

Just wondered if anyone knew anymore about it?

Thank you in advance :)

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Hello :)

I'm new to allnurses.com, so hope this is okay to post here. I'm due to qualify as an adult nurse this summer and am very keen to move to the US (I have family out there, including my Auntie who's an RN).

I've found King's College, London are running a "Gateway to nursing in North America" its a 16 week course, where you make up hours in all the different nursing branches, help with the nclex, etc.

Gateway to Nursing in North America - Overview - Short course programmes - King's College London : Online prospectus

Just wondered if anyone knew anymore about it?

Thank you in advance :)

It says clinical aspects but no mention of theory and some BONS may require that both clinical and theory hours are done together.

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Clearly there is a need in the Market. That is why King's College has come up with this course. It wont be long before more courses in other institutions crop up. This course is on to something because they talk about helping one with credentialing, NCLEX and finding employment in North America. l do believe with the reputation of King's College students of this course who are serious about going to US will surely do just that.

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Thank you both for your prompt replies! I've emailed King's for more information, so shall see what they say. Sounds promising - it's nice to have options :)

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I'm here! It's taken around 9 months for the cgfns report to come back and as thought- I am lacking pediatric hours. I need to now find out if there is any way to make this class up?? Does anyone have any advice or has done this. I am in the NY/NJ area. My Bon have said I can't sit the NCLEX until I make this childcare module up. I am so upset I feel I was told wrong info so many times from the bon and cgfns!!! Who works these phone lines?! So annoyed

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Did you speak to them? I've emailed now too and wondering if I can do this course remotely but not holding out hope! Why isit so hard to transfer to the states? I feel so grateful I was able to complete my degree but as I'm sure many of you also feel, I just feel useless not being able to use it and wasting my time and money more importantly !

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Hi rosiealice, I am in the same position as you. I am a UK RN currently living in SC on a NATO visa. I have had my CES report issued to the BON (FINALLY!, what a horrendous company CGFNS is to deal with!!), and am deficient in clinical hours in OB, peads and psych. Have you managed to find a university where you can make up these hours? I'm finding it extremely difficult! If I cannot find a university in SC to assist me making up these clinical hours I may have to look out of state, as SC is part of the compact states. But am currently having no luck, and my NATO visa is causing a bit of an issue even getting enrolled in a university as they only take international students on an F1 visa. I was also told false information by CGFNS and the SC BON that my degree would transfer without any problems to a US equivalent, only to now find out I'm lacking these clinical hours and they can't accpet me without them. If I had of known this 2 years ago when I started applying I could have had these clinical hours made up by now!! There is very little information and help out there for UK nurses transferring to the states in terms of making up clinical hours. I'd love to hear your experience and if you have any tips and advice!

Thanks,

Leah :)

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

For over a decade it has been hard for UK nurses to meet US requirements. There have been some that get through but for most they are short on Paeds and Obstetrics. Really started when UK changed from general training to specialist training. At one time a few UK universities did offer make up courses but when retrogression happened back in 2006 and nurses where waiting for years for a immigrant visa the universities dwindled due to lack of demand.

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