need sound advice,pls...

[ALBY]

I'm 30 y.o.,a U.S. immigrant.I came from the Philippines,my husband petition me & our son & we just arrive here in the U.S.A last March 25.I'm a BSN graduate & a R.N. in the Philippines. 1994 is the last time I practice my nursing profession.Since I got married & get pregnant I become a full time housewife for 8 yrs. And now I'm here at the U.S.A. & planning to take the NCLEX exam this July.If I pass,where do you think must I work? My sisters-in-law who live on the next state offered me to work in their big hosp.They are willing to train me for 2 wks.& I can start at their Med-Surg. Telemetry unit.She said their hosp. atmosphere is warm & friendly & most of the nurses working there came from the Philippines and they are paying $17 starting salary for R.N..My problem is,I'm feelin insecure right now,8 yrs. is a long time for not practicing the profession,adding the fact that I'm a foreign grad.The pressure was so big on me,the doubt of, "What if" I commit mistakes,surely rumors will spread around easily,coz everybody knows everybody!(or I'm just bein paranoid here?)The state where my husb. lives & he works in this small hosp. as material mgt. supervisor (comp. work) pays $13 as a starting salary for R.N. There's a big differrence salarywise & hosp. experience.(Am I right in thinking the bigger the hosp.,the more I will gain hosp. experience?)Also the universities in here don't offer refresher course for foreign graduate like me & I heard it's costly & I can't afford it.I really do want to go back practicing again & I do love the profession.I don't know where to start & what to do right now to gain back my self confidence.All of these stuff bothers me & havin a hard time concentrating on my self study for my NCLEX exam.Surely, all the sound advice you'll give will be highly appreciated.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

You need at least 6 weeks orientation with the option to extend, and a committed preceptor- not tossed from hand to hand. I would put money concerns aside for the first year, you want education in the field of your choice and a supportive environment, then you can make a more informed decision and a more permanent choice.

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

You need to contact the Texas State Board of Nursing.

From their web page: http://www.bne.state.tx.us/rr217.htm

and scroll down to rule 217.4. There are the rules for foreign nurse graduates. Make sure that they will allow you to take the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) certificate test and the NCLEX.

[Brownms46]

I think if I have read this correctly...ALBY has been of out the practice of nursing for too long to take the NCLEX in Texas. I maybe wrong...but I don't think so. ALBY have you contracted the board of nursing in Texas yet?

As for where to work...I would be looking for a hospital that had an internship program......because I don't think 6 weeks is enough time after not working in the field for 8yrs! I sincerely hope things work out for you....no matter what decision you make. Good Luck!

[Zee_RN, BSN, RN]

As nurse recruiter, I would offer a 12-week orientation with a dedicated preceptor similar to the Graduate Nurse's orientation -- simply to get you accustomed to working again and relearning time management skills and all the new medications and procedures that have developed over the last 8 years. If you were to enter a critical care field, I would enroll you in our critical care class.

I would hope you could find a place in TX that will offer you similar accommodation.