International Student: In Need Of Help And Advice, Please!

[!80s Love Child!]

Hello, I'm kind of new to this very informative forum. I'm Markus by the way from England, United Kingdom.

I am about to start a Bachelor in Science (BSc) Adult Nursing here at King's College, University Of London - which is a 3 year course. The Florence Nightingale Nursing School at King's is deemed as the best Nursing School in the UK and is the first ever nursing school in the world.

I would like to transfer to a Californian University at Junior level, preferably in UCLA for their BSN Nursing.

My reasons for wanting to transfer/finish my degree there are because:

1. My parents will eventually be working there in California (so by the time I transfer, I will have a 'green card' status. So it will hopefully ease my financial problems as I can possibly get Federal aid, I think.

2. If I gain a BSN degree in the USA, I could use it as an entry requirement if I want to further my Nursing education and training in, say, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Programs.

My questions are:

1. Is this 'transfer from the UK Nursing School to UCLA Nursing school been done before? From their website, they have mentioned that 'Transfer students' are permitted but I think they are referring to the Community College students.

2. How long does a RN to BSN conversion postgraduate program last? And what requirements would I need to have to start that course?

3. Would you advice me to just finish my BSc Nursing degree in the UK instead?

4. Would you advice me to apply to a Community College instead? (But I would be wasting 2 years of my time co'z I'm already 20, and students start their degree in the UK at the age of 18.

Any help, clarifications, suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks in advance!!!

Markus.

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

If your mother did her general training over 18 years ago she should be OK with her training, I trained in 86 and had no problems. Your mother is looking at over 5 years before she will be in the US going by current dates. I have been waiting since Aug 06 with no idea when we will be moving to the US and things may change in the next couple of years.

She does not need an agency to go through the process and will actually have more control going direct hire. If she is on the internet why not get her to join the site or atleast read it. If interested a group of UK nurses meet most Tuesday nights for a chat from 8pm UK time. (to join in chat you need to have over 15 posts and be a member longer than 2 days or upgrade membership to Premium/Platinum)

[!80s Love Child!]

Okie dokie. Sure. I will let my mother know about this very helpful forum and about the UK chat every Tuesday nights. But I doubt it because she has never been into computers, let alone Internet chatrooms ...ever. Lol. But I'll see what I can do to persuade her.

Thank You!

Markus.

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Okie dokie. Sure. I will let my mother know about this very helpful forum and about the UK chat every Tuesday nights. But I doubt it because she has never been into computers, let alone Internet chatrooms ...ever. Lol. But I'll see what I can do to persuade her.

Thank You!

Markus.

You could always join in, we have a student that pops in and also another male nurse, we just have a general chat as not all UK nurses that join in are leaving the UK. We usually have a good laugh

[!80s Love Child!]

Hehe oh cool! Thanks for the invite. If only I could afford to upgrade my membership. I'm just a poor student who hasn't got a part-time job hehe that's why. But if someone's willing to sponsor me then why not. Hehe;)

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Hehe oh cool! Thanks for the invite. If only I could afford to upgrade my membership. I'm just a poor student who hasn't got a part-time job hehe that's why. But if someone's willing to sponsor me then why not. Hehe;)

next chat will be next Tuesday and sure you can post another three times

[!80s Love Child!]

Okie dokie.:) *fingers-crossed*.

Yay two more to go:)

[roberto6464]

Would not plan on transferring mid-program; you will find it very hard to do as most schools do not accept full transfer of hours mid-program. Add into it the fact that the training is done differently over here. Would highly recommend that you complete your training there, and get your RN, then come to the US to complete your BSN. That is going to be the best way for you to do at this time. We also have long waiting lists for many of the programs here for the initial training.

The transfer students that they are speaking of are those that have already completed the RN at the ADN level and wish to continue on with their studies. Not transferrring from another country midway through a program.

Even if trying to transfer to another school here in the same city, they do not accept many of the hours; again, complete your program where you are and then come here for the BSN.

The CRNA programs require at least the BSN, but also work experience as an RN in the critical care arena for at least a year to get into a program. Be aware that it is currently harder to get into the CRNA programs than it is to medical school at this time.

If you have been accepted to a program there, I would complete it there and then go onto the next step. One needs the other, it does not matter the age of the student. But the fact that they made it thru their program and actually graduated.

Best of luck with your schooling.

:cheers:

Suzanne, I agree with you.

I am almost finished with school....RN in April

The hospital that has agreed to hire me will start the GC process in June, do you know if the bullettin will be made Current again in the next few months. Last time it was made current was in June for a month

Thanks for your reply

[suzanne4, RN]

We do not expect it to become current for sometime, especially since you are looking at the AOS process. There were just 800,000 petitions that were submitted this past July/August and there are only 140,000 green cards issued per year and that includes those under the CP processing. Even with any visas recapped, until you have approval for the I-140, you will not be in the running for a visa. Since last year it has been taking about a year to get approval on the I-140 for those that have gone thru the AOS processing.

Please be aware that the facility will not be able to start the processing for you in June more than likely. You need to take and pass the NCLEX exam and the state has to prepare a letter that needs to be included with your petition, and that takes about three weeks for the attorney to get. Next, you now need to have the Visa Screen Certificate in hand to start the process and that takes about a month or so to get after they receive information from the BON that you have passed the exam.

[suzanne4, RN]

Also be aware that for most states, you do not even write the NCLEX exam until about six weeks after you graduate and your school sends in the required transcripts to the BON.

Just what happened this past summer is proof of that, there were quite a few that graduated in April and May, that were planning on going thru AOS, but did not have the required documents in hand to be able to submit for the I-485 when there was the open window of opportunity. The government here is no longer accepting petitions if anything is missing from it, they will just be returned.

[roberto6464]

sure, I graduated may 4th with my PN and I go my NCLEX on June 8..., and that being proactive. But the fact that last year UCIS made EB3s current in June does not mean that they will be current in June again this year. All that I am saying is that if you look at the history for the past 6-8 years, even in years of retrogressions UCIS made the bullettin current at least for a month. The nursing shortage for RNs is cronic, and it does not matter what legislators do it will stay in most states for a long, long time. Hospitals lobby because they need new RNs from oversees. Particularly in states like CA with mandatory staffing. Now the flow of nurses from oversees came to a stopp since Aug 2008, whether relief will come from a month of Current or through extra visas for Schedule A workers, relief comes periodically. That is why Senator Schumert (NY) and Hutkinson (TX) pushed HR3040 attaching it to a different bill. Now, Pres. Bush vetoed but I am betting that the same amendment will be attached to a different bill soon.

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

sure, I graduated may 4th with my PN and I go my NCLEX on June 8..., and that being proactive. But the fact that last year UCIS made EB3s current in June does not mean that they will be current in June again this year. All that I am saying is that if you look at the history for the past 6-8 years, even in years of retrogressions UCIS made the bullettin current at least for a month. The nursing shortage for RNs is cronic, and it does not matter what legislators do it will stay in most states for a long, long time. Hospitals lobby because they need new RNs from oversees. Particularly in states like CA with mandatory staffing. Now the flow of nurses from oversees came to a stopp since Aug 2008, whether relief will come from a month of Current or through extra visas for Schedule A workers, relief comes periodically. That is why Senator Schumert (NY) and Hutkinson (TX) pushed HR3040 attaching it to a different bill. Now, Pres. Bush vetoed but I am betting that the same amendment will be attached to a different bill soon.

I seriously doubt that visas EB3 will become current this year and maybe into next year. This year was a mistake which when they tried to rectify it there was threats of legal action and forced to make it current until 17th Aug but given that over 800,000 filed and an annual allocation of approx 150,000 says a lot. The nursing shortage I would say is not as much as an issue as you think mainly as there are many nurses registered in the US just that they choose not to practice as fed up with working conditions. I also believe that soon things will take a back burner due to elections and nothing will happen until next year. I also doubt at the moment Schedule A will return soon

[Ironclad]

The nursing shortage for RNs is cronic, and it does not matter what legislators do it will stay in most states for a long, long time. Hospitals lobby because they need new RNs from oversees. Particularly in states like CA with mandatory staffing. Now the flow of nurses from oversees came to a stopp since Aug 2008, whether relief will come from a month of Current or through extra visas for Schedule A workers, relief comes periodically. That is why Senator Schumert (NY) and Hutkinson (TX) pushed HR3040 attaching it to a different bill. Now, Pres. Bush vetoed but I am betting that the same amendment will be attached to a different bill soon.

New grads in many parts of the country have difficulty finding a first job, especially in big cities, California is not an exception. There is a shortage in those (mostly rural) areas where working conditions are bad and nurses are underpaid. Foreign RNs won't stay there for long, that's for sure.

Also, most of the nursing school here in the U.S. have waiting lists, because so many Americans want to become nurses. Senate has to come up with solution for nursing faculty shortage in the first place, this will resolve so-called "shortage".