Hi new to the board and needing advice

Tweety, BSN, RN · Sep 4, 2006

Welcome to Allnurses! I moved your post out of the Florida Forum, because honestly we Florida nurses do not really know how to come to the US because we're already here.

There are several UK nurses on this forum that have been there and done that and can help you.

There also might be some general information on the International Forum here: https://allnurses.com/forums/f75/ that you might be interested in.

Good luck.

english_nurse · Sep 4, 2006

firstly i would like to say hi to everyone as i am new to this message board.
i am looking for advice on the requirements for british nurses to apply for nursing positions in the us.
my husband and i love florida :1luvu: and have decided to buy our first home there. i was just wondering if anyone could offer any advice on the requirements. is a minimum of six months experience once qualified or similar required?
i am due to qualify next year and am interested in oncology, palliative care and elderly care. i currently work for a nursing agency and my local hospice to develop my skills and knowledge whilst studying.
any advice greatly appreciated as i am not sure where to start!
thank you very much
eternal sunshine

hello sunshine

can i ask if you have completed any hours in mental health/maternity/childrens nursing?

unfortunately to practice in the usa you must have included some of this in your training. or have made up the hours somewhere.

there is lots of information on here regarding this

good luck with what you decide, its a long haul, but worth it im told

Silverdragon102, BSN · Sep 4, 2006

There is a good primer at the top of the international forum that will answer most of your questions but as Claire mentioned a lot depends on what hours you did/do in your training as US nrses are generic where we are trained specialist

Good luck and welcome to our group

RGN1 · Sep 4, 2006

:yeahthat: Current UK training usually does not have enough paed, maternity or psychiatric hours in it's adult branch. Call the BON & ask what hours they want then see if you can negotiate (it'll cost most likely) to do those hours while still at university.

Also as a general rule you will probably need at least 1 years experience in an acute clinical setting - med/surg/A&E/ICU for example - before you can apply.

Check out all the threads here as there is some very useful information.

I wish you all the best - I'm off to FL next year - but it's been a long old road & it's not done yet!

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Sep 4, 2006

Hi and welcome to all nurses:groupwelcome:

I cant add any more than the folks above, but if you search on the UK forum you will find the answer to all your questions I think between us we have probably covered everything you need to know re immigration. Please ask anything once you have read the stickies and need clarification.

There is sure to be somebody who knows:wink2:

eternalsunshine · Sep 4, 2006

hello sunshine
can i ask if you have completed any hours in mental health/maternity/childrens nursing?
unfortunately to practice in the usa you must have included some of this in your training. or have made up the hours somewhere.
there is lots of information on here regarding this
good luck with what you decide, its a long haul, but worth it im told

Hi all thank you so much for all your responses. Just to answer some points which were raised: I have completed some hours under the new EU directive which included Health visiting which was ante natal clinics etc. for 2 weeks but no actual training in Maternity. I have not done any mental health placements whilst training although I have worked as a health care assistant in these areas such as caring one to one with a young man with Picks Disease in a secure unit, plus a very close relative suffers from Schizophrenia so I have been involved in their care on and off since I was 15.

I was placed on a Surgical ward for my first year and learnt a lot.

RGN1 what is BON? and when you say you need at least 1 years experience in an acute clinical setting do you mean once you have qualified? and are you moving there permanently from the UK?

Great to hear from everyone than you all! and will have a look through all the suggestions given.

Sunshine :wink2:

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Sep 4, 2006

Hi, only the hours you spent as a 'student' nurse in your training count-nothing else matters sorry. You have to have your qualification verified and they your University dont add in anything else only your student nurse training.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Sep 4, 2006

Hi all thank you so much for all your responses. Just to answer some points which were raised: I have completed some hours under the new EU directive which included Health visiting which was ante natal clinics etc. for 2 weeks but no actual training in Maternity. I have not done any mental health placements whilst training although I have worked as a health care assistant in these areas such as caring one to one with a young man with Picks Disease in a secure unit, plus a very close relative suffers from Schizophrenia so I have been involved in their care on and off since I was 15.
I was placed on a Surgical ward for my first year and learnt a lot.
RGN1 what is BON? and when you say you need at least 1 years experience in an acute clinical setting do you mean once you have qualified? and are you moving there permanently from the UK?
Great to hear from everyone than you all! and will have a look through all the suggestions given.
Sunshine :wink2:

as Kay says only training recognised whilst a student counts unless you do top up courses in a recognised uni or school of nursing abroad.

BON is Boad of Nursing and you need to apply to the state where you are going to live and check out what their requirements are for foreign trained nurses, you may have to go through CGFNS. You don't have to have 12 months experience before applying butwould suggest you find a job and gain experience as it will take approx 12 months before you can move.

There are a lot of us presently in the process or have just moved to the USA, nothing against the NHS I personally like to try something different and be paid better

RGN1 · Sep 4, 2006

Hi all thank you so much for all your responses. Just to answer some points which were raised: I have completed some hours under the new EU directive which included Health visiting which was ante natal clinics etc. for 2 weeks but no actual training in Maternity. I have not done any mental health placements whilst training although I have worked as a health care assistant in these areas such as caring one to one with a young man with Picks Disease in a secure unit, plus a very close relative suffers from Schizophrenia so I have been involved in their care on and off since I was 15.
I was placed on a Surgical ward for my first year and learnt a lot.
RGN1 what is BON? and when you say you need at least 1 years experience in an acute clinical setting do you mean once you have qualified? and are you moving there permanently from the UK?
Great to hear from everyone than you all! and will have a look through all the suggestions given.
Sunshine :wink2:

Oh my I've been on this site too long -sorry for writing BON istead of Board of Nursing! It just flowed off the old typing fingers without a thought!

As has already been said only hours spent in an "approved school of nursing" i.e.your university count I'm afraid.

Yes I am going permanently but I trained 1989-92 so did the old style course.

Clever people here have managed to go it alone & find direct placements but I have found it hard to find a hospital willing to file I-140 (the job visa as I've named it) for me but I'm fussy as to where I want to go (have a house already). Therefore, I am with an agency and they did absolutely want 1 year minimum post registration experience prior to even accepting me. This is just my personal finding though - others will have different tales to tell.

Vermont, where I got my license from, wanted at least 120 hours clinical in maternity plus the theory (?what they asked for theory), at least that's what the agency said. The reason I used Vermont was because at the time they were processing the fastest. All I know is my hours were enough, I don't know their complete requirements I'm afraid. So your best bet is to actually contact them and find out.