I am an Australian and I do not understand the American levels of Nursing

[meme39]

Hello,

I am a RN and I live in Australia and I am unfamiliar with the various levels of nursing in America which makes it hard when I read a thread. If anyone could help me I would appreciated very much.

feeling confused.

[nambour51]

Thanks for that info. Here in OZ once you graduate from uni your results are sent to the nursing council so that when you apply for registration they already have confirmation of your of your qualification. I have also seen HESI mentioned in some posts. What does that indicate?

[kukukajoo, LPN]

Does that mean in QZ once you graduate school you don't have to take any tests to become a nurse?

Do you know what the steps would be for an american to get licensed there? Lots of info for nurses coming to US, but none for other countries.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

Other health care professionals here, (Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Pharmacists, Social Workers), increased thier entry into practice to a Masters, and now, some, Doctorate. Who, by the way, have achieved financial success by increasing their educational entry into practice. They easily earn two to three times than an RN makes.

That is actually incorrect.

Few pharmacists and social workers of my acquaintance make two to three times what an RN makes. I, for one outearn, several pharmacists and social workers of my acquaintance. As I do not bandy pay rates w/PTs and OTs, I do not know pay rates, but know two PTs that left the field to become RNs, and they seem to not have taken major pay cuts, given their lifestyles.

To say that they "easily" earn two to three times as much, seems to be an overstatement. The few that earn more than me, it is not that much more and I have substantially more job mobility.

I believe that the "confusion" that the OP is referring to, is confusion in the Levels of nursing, referred to by our titles/initials and their comparable titles in other countries. As there was no reference in the post to degrees required to obtain those titles, I do not know that there was any reference to educational degrees. But I could be wrong.

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NP - nurse practioner - works usually w/ an MD, has prescriptive powers in most states. Has a master's degree (6 years at college/university level) That requirement may be increased to doctorate level.

CNS - clinical nurse specialist - works in hospitals, research facilities - frequently is a nurse educator. Usually holds a masters degree (6 years college/university)

CRNA - certified registered nurse anesthetist- Bachelor's degree (4 years of college/university) plus 2 years or more working in critical care, then enters the nursing anesthetist programs (do not know the details on this). Administers anesthesia, in conjunction w/anesthesiology.

RN - registered nurse - 3-4years of upper level (university/college) education or a 3 year hospital course - there is a serious misconception that Associate's degrees are two year degrees; However, I have never seen an ADN/AS/ASN program that required less than 87 hours of course work w/the prerequisites, so most (all that I am familiar with) are three years. All nursing degrees (Associate's, Bachelor's, Diploma) require a certain number of hours of practical (clinical) experience. The Bachelor's usually has a more "rounded" curriculum, w/humanties, foreign language, administrative classes, electives, etc. To my knowledge, all RNs (foreign and domestic) must pass the NCLEX -RN to work in the USA as an RN. Until 10-15 years ago, it was a two day (10-14 hour exam) and you had to wait 6-12 weeks for results. Now it is a computerized 75-265 (?) exam - one day, and is resulted in 24hours-2 weeks. The computer monitors your progress and chooses questions and numbers of questions to assess a basic level of knowledge. Some people require a greater number of questions to indicate whether they have that knowledge or do not have the knowledge. Some people do get more questions, or get all 265,at random as they also have new questions that they are "testing".

LPN/LVN - licensed practical/vocational nurse - 1-2 years of either upper level education or technical school. They work in a limited capacity in hospitals, w/an RN supervising, or in a greater capacity in Nursing Homes (elder care), offices, home health, etc. In most places they cannot start blood, chemotherapy, and are limited in IV duties. They must pass the NCLEX-PN.

CNA - certified nurse aide

HHA - home health aide

NA - nurse aide

PCT/PCA - patient care technician/aide

The educational levels vary greatly. Anything from on the job training at nursing homes to a several week course at a technical school. Limited skills, must be supervised by an RN/LPN. They take care of many physical duties, vital signs, feeding, bathing, clothing. They do not give meds. They may be certified but hold no license.

MA - medical assistant - May be certified - works in MD offices and Labs - Has a 6-12 month program in technical schools. Assists MDs, performs phlebotomy. Rarely works as an MA in hospitals.

MA - may be a medication assistant - usually a CNA that has taken a short medication course, and administers limited meds in a nursing home/mental disability care group home, under an RN/LPN's license and with their "supervison". They may only be permitted in a few states.

[Reno1978, BSN, RN]

CRNA - certified registered nurse anesthetist- Bachelor's degree (4 years of college/university) plus 2 years or more working in critical care, then enters the nursing anesthetist programs (do not know the details on this). Administers anesthesia, in conjunction w/anesthesiology.

Nurse anesthetist programs issue a master's degree. Looking at the accredited programs on the AANA site, they range from 24 to 36 months of additional schooling after one has completed the bachelor's degree and completed 1-2 years of critial care nursing.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

Thanks

I thought it was a master's but wasn't sure.

[australianrn]

HI I am an Australian RN and yes that is correct, when we finish university ( college ) we do have have to take any tests whatsoever to become registered. We have met the requirements by completing our degrees

I dont know much about what an american RN would have to do to come and work here but one agency, Geneva, deals with this.

[sunnyjohn]

......

[smk1, LPN]

"HESI" is a test that some students take during the last phases of their nursing classes. I am not really familiar with it but that is how it was explained to me.