Its Amazing

[gracieuk]

......... what happens when you go on holiday and meet someone who you nursed with, years before. A conversation took place which can then turn your life around, even at 53 years of age.To explain.... I have been a SRN for 33 years working in a North west English town in A & E, amongst other units.I trained in 1968 and in 2003 the chance meeting took place in France.My friend works in North Carolina in the USA and suggested that why not try to get to the USA to nurse.I'm too old,but maybe it could happen.After the holiday my husband and I returned to the UK and then fate took a hand.Now I'm not a great believer in faste but certain happening fell into place by pure chance.A week after coming home I picked up a local newspaper to see an advert saying that a company was looking for experienced nurses to work in the USA and there was seminar in two weeks time.Go on, go and have a nosey.Which is just what we did.So many questions, but, well maybe, it can be done. And so the long road began.The Company, O'Grady Peyton.Now before anyone jumps on this, let me tell you what took place.Everything was explained to us in detail and due to my age and number of years service it did not hold a bar to the proceedures.However I was lucky to get my transcripts, as they were on microfilm.I sat the exams in Birmingham and eventually had to go to London for more tests to prepare for the Nclex.Now remember I have not studied or had an exam for umteen years so it was quite daunting.With a lot of help and often telling off, off hubby I was finally cleared to take the Nclex in Sept 05 which after some trepidation that I was going to fail,I passed on 75 questions. You have never felt so much panic when that damned machine switched off with me shouting in a room full of people "Come back, you cant switch off, I've not finished "So out into the London air to find hubby after and hour and a quarter who was visiting the British Museum to pass the time.We sat on the steps of the Museum with me blubbering "I've failed I've failed".Hubby being used to stressful situations with other people consoled me and we left London wondering what next as the next 7 days before the result became known, were hell.OGP were very supportive and within minutes of finding out telephoned me and congratulated me.Now for me,everything then progressed routinely,when asked by OGP for,either documents or information I produced them asap.(ncluding the increase in the cancellation fees,We had no problem as we werent going to try and get out of it) Forthose who made certain comments about this company we have had nothing but help and cooperation at every turn.Everything seemed to going too well and as usual something had to go wrong.Its called 'Sod's Law'.Your right Retrogression just when we didnt want it.So we wait,patience is a virtue and a pain in the rear end.But what can any of us do.A window opened in July and Yes,we got our medicals and the scheduled interview.Ours went very similar to everyone's ese.Do as you are told to do bring every letter,report,originals and copies that is requested.It went like clockwork with one exception,which we wont go into,but just to say it wasnt our fault!

Today was a happy day in the household our passports were returned with the visa stamped inside and with the knowledge that OGP have got us the area we wanted,in a hospital,which by the sounds of it,is perfect for where I wanted to work.I have decided to place this on Allnurses as an example of how dreams can come true and to openly praise OGP,but in addition to praise a number of the regular contributors.Madwife,English nurse,Silverdragon,Cariad,Belinda Wales to name but a few and everyone at AllNurses.For those I have missed I apologise, but you all kept our spirits up with your threads and all the useful information as a result of your experiences,it made ours more bearable.You are all very special.To each and everyone of you, not in the final stages, keep the faith and we wish you all the very best.We now start the harder part of this long journey and that is getting across the pond and adapting to a different lifestyle.This is meant as informative not critical of anyone or any thread which may have come before.My personal advice, read all comminications carefully and if in doubt ASK.

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

we all have experiences to tell

Good luck on your move and I hope everything goes well for kyou and your family

Hope to see you continue to post, always nice to hear peoples experiences whether in the UK or moving abroad

[letina]

Congratulations.......

Where in the North West are you from? I'm from St Helens.

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

What a lovely journey thank you for sharing that with us. I wish you all the love and luck in the world.

[gracieuk]

Where the River Mersey starts in the borough of Stockport !!

[Belinda-wales, RN]

Well done and good Luck- we are still loving it we live in a great place fab weather work with great people- there are the normal lifes ups and downs but what an expeience ith as been for meand mine! I hope you get as much out of it.

[JCR.UK]

Congratulations :cheers:

Just goes to show with patience and perseverance we can get there in the end!

Best of luck with the new job, which area of nursing will you be working in?

Please let us know how it all goes.

JCR.UK

[gracieuk]

thanks, I will be working in E.R. in N.C

[JCR.UK]

I am from England about to start a job in the E.R. here in CA.

I'm really nervous If you like will let you know how it goes, differences etc...

[cariad]

congratulations and good luck, we also had a good track record with ogp, and sailed through my 18 months, at 40 hours a week, with no problems. i even took a couple of travel assignments with them last year and still had no problems with them, one or two minor niggles which were sorted out and werent entirely their fault. you will have a great new life ahead of you.

[ICU_JOSIE, MSN, RN]

well done and congratulations!patience indeed is a virtue. :balloons:

[pizzalover]

Thank you for posting your story,I have not yet started my Access to Nursing (hopefully this September) and feel down sometimes as my journey will be a very long one,before I can even apply for a job in USA,but your story cheered me up today.I am 37 yrs old and feel that by the time I will be a nurse,I might be too old to be considered for a job in USA,but reading your story.....I feel a bit more positive.

I wish you all the best in your new life in USA.