Independent practice in CA?

[M.I.]

Hello, I am a Nursing student, currently studying in the UK. I have dual citizenship- US and EU. Upon graduation from my nursing course I am planning to pass the NCLEX and any necessary state exam(s) and hopefully move to California to work as a nurse. I would like to find out if there is any way for me to become a Dermatology Nurse Specialist in the UK and have my dermatology specialist certificate accepted in the USA as well? It would be a waste of time to get a specialty in the UK if I would not be able to use it in the USA. I might just opt to work as a nurse and pursue a further training in dermatology in the USA, if this is the better alternative. What would be your advice?

Second, I would like to find out whether registered nurses can practice independently or only in a medical practice under the supervision of a MD? What about Nurse practitioners or dermatology nurses? Can they have their independent immunization clinic, for example, or a dermatology and laser center? Can they do injectables like Botox, etc. Any information will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much:)

[elkpark]

Are you going to meet the requirements to be eligible for NCLEX? A lot of UK nurses have posted here that they applied and their educations were found insufficient. The US educates and licenses all RNs as generalists; you will need to have didactic (theory) and supervised clinical hours (as part of your education, not work experience) in adult med-surg, OB, pediatrics, and psychiatric nursing on your school transcripts.

I do not recognize the term "Dermatology Nurse Specialist." I'm not sure that's a credential that we have in the US.

Best wishes!

[M.I.]

I actually did not know that about UK nurses. I hope my education is sufficient...I am only in the beginning of my studies so I am now beginning to look into the NCLEX... but I will be a RN in the UK when I graduate.

The ¨specialist¨ nurses are nurses who have additional training and education and have earned a specialty, like a Diabetes Nurse specialist, Anaesthetist Nurse, etc. I am interested in gaining further education and training in Dermatology but my concern is that such training may be obsolete if I decide to move back to the USA.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

I don't think there's any such thing as a "Dermatology Nurse Specialist" in the US. At least I've never heard of it in 9 years of being a nurse.

[M.I.]

I see. Maybe it will just be best to get my RN, pass the NCLEX and move to the USA. Any additional training I guess should be undertaken there. Thanks so much!

[LeChien, BSN, RN]

Everyone wants to come to California, it's really not all that great.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

I think the term in North America is aesthetic nurse, not dermatology nurse.

[M.I.]

:)

Maybe itś just the nostalgia... but I used to live in Walnut Creek, CA. I mean, Napa and Sonoma, Marin county with Sausalito, the bay with the cafes and the boats passing by... I haven´t been further south than Cambria/Santa Barbara I must admit, but Solvang, Carmel... man, these are some great places. Not too shabby for me:)

[elkpark]

:)

Maybe itś just the nostalgia... but I used to live in Walnut Creek, CA. I mean, Napa and Sonoma, Marin county with Sausalito, the bay with the cafes and the boats passing by... I haven´t been further south than Cambria/Santa Barbara I must admit, but Solvang, Carmel... man, these are some great places. Not too shabby for me:)

Yes, those are all beautiful areas (I used to live in the Napa Valley). The problem is that everyone thinks so, half the US wants to live there, the cost of living is prohibitively high and the employment market is flooded. Have you looked at the unemployment statistics for new graduate nurses in CA?

[M.I.]

No, I haven´t... but if it doesn´t work out I suppose there´s always Hawaii:)

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Hawaii is just as bad as CA. Many HI residents get stuck working as aides until nursing jobs open up. CA has a >40% unemployment rate for new/inexperienced nurses.

Most UK nursing education is specialized and therefore does not meet the standards for licensing in the US. US is generalist trained with school based theory & clinical in adult, geriatric, psychiatric, pediatric and obstetric nursing. Several UK nurses were also found deficient in co-requisite coursework such as microbiology

[M.I.]

...Texas?...