I'm new here and have a few questions

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Specializes in ICU, Haemodialysis, acute medicine and s.

Hello everyone, I'm Suzanne and currently live in Scotland.

Myself and my family are looking to start our ambition of moving to the states and I am so glad i have found this site, the information on here is amazing.

Here's a little bit about my nursing experience. I qualified in 1997 from a 4 year nursing degree (BSc) which was based on the project 2000 curriculum so I'm hoping that everything will be okay there with regards to the amount of hours i have done in clinical and theory. Luckily we were the last year to do actual practical obstetrics.

I have worked in care of the elderly for my first year after qualifying, then i have 2 years ICU experience and 5 years haemodialysis experience. I had a 6 month break when we moved up to Scotland and for the past year i have been working as a bank nurse mainly on ICU, dialysis and acute medical and surgical admissions. Unfortunatly as my local trust is about as un family friendly as you can get i cannot work a contract at the moment as i can get absolutely no childcare.

We would love to live in New Jersey or failing that anywhere in the north eastern states, from Vermont down to north carolina. i would even consider Florida. We love going to Florida for holidays but I'm not sure i would like to live their year round. Basicaly I'm pretty easy with where i go.

I was initially planning on using an agency to do all this but reading through these forums I'm considering going it alone to do my NCLEX and get my liscensure, then approach the agencies afterwards with regards to getting a job. Does this sound like a good plan. I just think it seems daft paying an agency hundreds of pounds to fill in forms for me when i still have to meet the costs of all the applications and exam fees aswell. I am planning on starting to study now for a couple of months before applying to the BON, as i want to make sure i am fully prepared and having 2 small children I know i cannot study 24/7

Now here's for my questions

There seems to be a lot of states requiring the cfgns exam, I was led to believe that there was only about 5

As i really want to work i NJ i was thinking of applying for my nclex and lisence through them, have i got it right i need to have the full CES, even though on the cfgns website it says only the health and professional one (sorry not sure the exact title). Do i still need to send the transcripts too

It also says that you need the english exam, is this still the case even if I am from the UK?

What do you do about SSN, obviously i won't have a US one.

Even if i apply for my lisence elsewhere i would still have to have the CES to aplly for a lisence by endorsement to NJ wouldn't I, so it's not going to save me any money by applying elsewhere is it?

With regards the visa screen certificate, Do i need to get this as soon as I have my lisence in order to apply for jobs, or is this something that I leave until I have a position? Is it just me that needs the visa screen or does everyone in my family need one?

The cfgns exam looks to cost the same as the CES screen, is it worth taking this exam and if i have it will it mean i wouldn't need a CES screen?

sorry for all the questions, I am slowly getting my head around this but I want to make sure i know all theins and outs before starting my move.

Thanks so much

Suzanne

xx

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
hello everyone, i'm suzanne and currently live in scotland.

myself and my family are looking to start our ambition of moving to the states and i am so glad i have found this site, the information on here is amazing.

here's a little bit about my nursing experience. i qualified in 1997 from a 4 year nursing degree (bsc) which was based on the project 2000 curriculum so i'm hoping that everything will be okay there with regards to the amount of hours i have done in clinical and theory. luckily we were the last year to do actual practical obstetrics.

i have worked in care of the elderly for my first year after qualifying, then i have 2 years icu experience and 5 years haemodialysis experience. i had a 6 month break when we moved up to scotland and for the past year i have been working as a bank nurse mainly on icu, dialysis and acute medical and surgical admissions. unfortunatly as my local trust is about as un family friendly as you can get i cannot work a contract at the moment as i can get absolutely no childcare.

we would love to live in new jersey or failing that anywhere in the north eastern states, from vermont down to north carolina. i would even consider florida. we love going to florida for holidays but i'm not sure i would like to live their year round. basicaly i'm pretty easy with where i go.

i was initially planning on using an agency to do all this but reading through these forums i'm considering going it alone to do my nclex and get my liscensure, then approach the agencies afterwards with regards to getting a job. does this sound like a good plan. i just think it seems daft paying an agency hundreds of pounds to fill in forms for me when i still have to meet the costs of all the applications and exam fees aswell. i am planning on starting to study now for a couple of months before applying to the bon, as i want to make sure i am fully prepared and having 2 small children i know i cannot study 24/7

now here's for my questions

there seems to be a lot of states requiring the cfgns exam, i was led to believe that there was only about 5

as i really want to work i nj i was thinking of applying for my nclex and lisence through them, have i got it right i need to have the full ces, even though on the cfgns website it says only the health and professional one (sorry not sure the exact title). do i still need to send the transcripts too

it also says that you need the english exam, is this still the case even if i am from the uk?

what do you do about ssn, obviously i won't have a us one.

even if i apply for my lisence elsewhere i would still have to have the ces to aplly for a lisence by endorsement to nj wouldn't i, so it's not going to save me any money by applying elsewhere is it?

with regards the visa screen certificate, do i need to get this as soon as i have my lisence in order to apply for jobs, or is this something that i leave until i have a position? is it just me that needs the visa screen or does everyone in my family need one?

the cfgns exam looks to cost the same as the ces screen, is it worth taking this exam and if i have it will it mean i wouldn't need a ces screen?

sorry for all the questions, i am slowly getting my head around this but i want to make sure i know all theins and outs before starting my move.

thanks so much

suzanne

xx

there seems to be a lot of states requiring the cfgns exam, i was led to believe that there was only about 5

there are not many states requiring cgfns exam but do require some sort of evaluation of your transcript (ces)

as i really want to work i nj i was thinking of applying for my nclex and lisence through them, have i got it right i need to have the full ces, even though on the cfgns website it says only the health and professional one (sorry not sure the exact title). do i still need to send the transcripts too

your university has to send the transcripts but would recommend arranging for ffedex or ups to collect from university to cgfns

it also says that you need the english exam, is this still the case even if i am from the uk?

waivered

what do you do about ssn, obviously i won't have a us one.

leave blank as you won't get one until you are in the us

even if i apply for my lisence elsewhere i would still have to have the ces to aplly for a lisence by endorsement to nj wouldn't i, so it's not going to save me any money by applying elsewhere is it?

if you already have ces you can apply to other states but always better to go to the state you want to work in. although there are a few states which will not give you a hard license until you provide ssn they will give you a letter saying you meet criteria as rn

with regards the visa screen certificate, do i need to get this as soon as i have my lisence in order to apply for jobs, or is this something that i leave until i have a position? is it just me that needs the visa screen or does everyone in my family need one?

better to do visa screen once you have passed nclex and it is only you that needs it.

the cfgns exam looks to cost the same as the ces screen, is it worth taking this exam and if i have it will it mean i wouldn't need a ces screen?

no need to take cgfns exam unless the state requires it.

also want to add that you will need a police clearance for every member of the family which will be required for your interview at the embassy, i would suggest doing this once you have received approval of your i140 as they are only valid for 12 months. all you need to do is complete forms from the local police station and pay a small fee

welcome to the site :groupwelcome:

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

also meant to add you should be OK with your training but the only way to find out is CES

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Specializes in ICU, Haemodialysis, acute medicine and s.

Thanks so much for your help and welcome to the site. This site is so great my eyes are hurting from reading so much.

can i ask another queation. If at this stage I really am not bothered where i end up working is it better to apply to say Vermont where i don't need the CES and fingerprinting etc. I know I will possibly need the CES at some point but once I have my NCLEX and we make a decsion where to go and i get a job offer, can i then apply to endorse and apply for the CES at that point. I guess that i will know where i am going because i need a job to get my green card sponsored and due to the length of time it takes for the GC application I will have the time to get the CES or any other things i need to endorse at that point. Or will a hospital require that i already am liscensed in that state before i can get a job offered?

Does the NCLEX supercede the cfgns exam? So if i apply for endorement to a state which would initally require the cfgns exam before applying for ATT, would i not have to have the cfgns exam once i have passed the nclex? (sorry if that doesn't make sense)

Thanks again for your help

Suzanne

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

It would probably be quicker to apply to the state you really want to work in. At the moment there is a retrogression and nothing is moving for all nurses, hopefully things will improve soon. There are a few threads/discussions on going the Vermont route

TO work in the US as a RN you have to pass NCLEX but some states do require CGFNS exam but as said before there are not that many now. You need a job before your GC application can progress

I would suggest a good think on where you want to live and have a good read on here about the various things you can do

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