Newly qualifed UK nurse wanting to emigrate to US

Silverdragon102, BSN · Mar 2, 2005

Hey there, I was wondering if any of you could help me or know of anyone who i could contact who can.
I am currently studying for an Advanced Diploma in Adult Nursing leading to RN registration in the UK, I am nearing the end of the second year. My partner is an American citizen and his visa runs out the month I qualify and he has asked me to return to California with him.
I am aware I have to sit the NCLEX exam but do I require any experience to work in the states or can i obtain a newly qualified RN position over there? Is there a course I would have to or could complete instead of having experience?
I do not want to have wasted three years and give up a job I love but I also do not want to stay in the UK when my partner will be going back to the States. I would be grateful for any help or advice you have on this matter.
Thanks
Midgetgems!

the issue with training in the UK arises because we over the last few years have had the training changed and you don't gain experience and theory hours in all areas. To nurse in the US you have to have theory and practical hours in mental health, paeds, maternity as well as general. There are a couple of threads on here and the international forum re a few nurses who are having this problem. There are ways apparently of gaining relevant hours studying at credited schools in the US but there will be a fee. Then once you qualify it will still take approx 2 yrs or more to get out there to work.

Have a look on the international forum. there are a few places for info plus Suzanne4 gives excellant advice but she is going to be offline for a few days taking a well earned break

Midgetgems · Mar 3, 2005

There are ways apparently of gaining relevant hours studying at credited schools in the US but there will be a fee. Then once you qualify it will still take approx 2 yrs or more to get out there to work.

Thank-you for your help, if you have any idea which schools in the USA do this programme. I may as well take a look.

Also would this all be the same if I obtained a job through an agencies? Also do I have to be a graduate rather than a diplomat? I would only have 60 credits as level three to make up to obtain an honours degree, is this worth doing?

Also how many hours in paediatrics etc do I have to undertake?

Sorry for bombarding you all with these questions, starting to feel a bit stressed now.

Take care

MG xxx

Silverdragon102, BSN · Mar 3, 2005

Thank-you for your help, if you have any idea which schools in the USA do this programme. I may as well take a look.
Also would this all be the same if I obtained a job through an agencies? Also do I have to be a graduate rather than a diplomat? I would only have 60 credits as level three to make up to obtain an honours degree, is this worth doing?
Also how many hours in paediatrics etc do I have to undertake?
Sorry for bombarding you all with these questions, starting to feel a bit stressed now.
Take care
MG xxx

the only real way to find out is look on cgfns website and see if their is any info. There is a uk nurse on here going through the same thing and the link to her thread is https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56744

I am not sure on the hours required by the US but I did 75 hours theory and 75 hours practical in mental health and maternaty when I did my conversion course from EN to RN Paeds was covered in my initial training so didn't need to do hours in that but would imagine it would be a similar time. Getting a job through an agency would not make any difference as you still have to go through CGFNS for either exam or CES report and visa screen.

Anna

expatnurse · Mar 31, 2005

Thank-you for your help, if you have any idea which schools in the USA do this programme. I may as well take a look.
Also would this all be the same if I obtained a job through an agencies? Also do I have to be a graduate rather than a diplomat? I would only have 60 credits as level three to make up to obtain an honours degree, is this worth doing?
Also how many hours in paediatrics etc do I have to undertake?
Sorry for bombarding you all with these questions, starting to feel a bit stressed now.
Take care
MG xxx

I am a USA student nurse in the UK. Good luck the hours needed is a 40/40 split. 40 hours theory and 40 practice. Check out O'Grady Paton nursing agency. I have found them to be very helpful.

kermit27 · Apr 19, 2005

I am a USA student nurse in the UK. Good luck the hours needed is a 40/40 split. 40 hours theory and 40 practice. Check out O'Grady Paton nursing agency. I have found them to be very helpful.

Hi expat,

not sure I understood you correctly...are you a US citizen studying nursing in the UK?

I've lived over here for 15+yrs with a Brit hubby, and decided to become a nurse a few years ago after many years in office jobs. I love it, but I'm addicted to these US/UK discussions, because I keep wondering what would it be like to go back, how best to do it, will I be qualified enough? I keep reading about US nursing students and their course work sounds lots more technical than ours...

Any thoughts appreciated.

expatnurse · Apr 20, 2005

Hi expat,
not sure I understood you correctly...are you a US citizen studying nursing in the UK?
I've lived over here for 15+yrs with a Brit hubby, and decided to become a nurse a few years ago after many years in office jobs. I love it, but I'm addicted to these US/UK discussions, because I keep wondering what would it be like to go back, how best to do it, will I be qualified enough? I keep reading about US nursing students and their course work sounds lots more technical than ours...
Any thoughts appreciated.

Yes I am US citizen studying nursing here. If you want to go back you will need to meet the same requirements as a US nurse then sit the NCLEX. Remember just having a dip/degree in nursing does not allow you to sit the test. What area of nursing are you studying? It is true US nurses do more theory than we do In UK we do more hands on. When I was in the states I did A&P as separate subject and had to disect stuff. Like you I enjoy the discussion sites. I too thought I was the only US person studying here. Good to hear from you. Where are you at in your studies at the moment? :)

kermit27 · Apr 20, 2005

How nice to know I'm not Alone!!!

I'm a 2nd yr, just over half way, and about to start my acute placements -- ITU, theatre and recovery during the summer. can't wait.

What do you mean 40/40 hours? for the UK course I thought we needed something like 2300 hours, evenly split, theory/practice? And do you know what other requirements there are?

I found a book called Nursing in America on Amazon, which I've bought. I've not gone over it in detail, but I think it's sponsored by o'gradypeyton. I've thought about contacting them for info, but figured they'd only want to talk to me once I've qualified.

Hey..I'll send you a smilie on Thanksgiving...

expatnurse · Apr 20, 2005

How nice to know I'm not Alone!!!
I'm a 2nd yr, just over half way, and about to start my acute placements -- ITU, theatre and recovery during the summer. can't wait.
What do you mean 40/40 hours? for the UK course I thought we needed something like 2300 hours, evenly split, theory/practice? And do you know what other requirements there are?
I found a book called Nursing in America on Amazon, which I've bought. I've not gone over it in detail, but I think it's sponsored by o'gradypeyton. I've thought about contacting them for info, but figured they'd only want to talk to me once I've qualified.
Hey..I'll send you a smilie on Thanksgiving...

I know that they will talk to you before you qualifiy because they talked with me. I have found them very helpful. Basically in the USA you study every branch of nursing peads, having babies etc. In USA you do not choose one area of nursing until you have finished nursing school. What I mean by 40 40 split is in order to take the NCLEX you have to have completed 40 hours theory 40 hours practice ( could be higher) for every branch in order to take the NCLEX. It doesn't matter that we are USA citizens our govt. doesn't care that is the rules. Also the NCLEX is very hard if you look on other websites you will find sample questions have a look. Furthermore in USA you do a separate pharm. class. Is the nursing in America book good? How have you enjoyed your studies so far? I really like the hands on. look for to hearing more from you.

kermit27 · Apr 20, 2005

Well, that's all pretty interesting... I've been reading student comments here over the last many months and thinking they all sounded pretty stressed out and high powered, and wondered whether they were just taking things pretty seriously or whether the course work was a lot harder and more specific. I had suspected it was the latter and from your reports, that's right.

I had been hoping part of it was just cultural. Brits, my husband's always reminding me, like to pretend that things come easily, and do tend to be less cathartic, and I was hoping that there wasn't much difference between what we were being taught here, and a US training programme....

I mean, how many UK nurses do you know carry palm pilots around to check drug calculations or normal values??? I used to have a palm, because I used to work in business, and most other nursing students had never even seen one before...

I've also noticed that so many of our textbooks are US based, and the quality levels and expectations seem much higher there. This has worried me, because I feared that I might not be being trained adquately to cope over there.

expatnurse · Apr 21, 2005

Well, that's all pretty interesting... I've been reading student comments here over the last many months and thinking they all sounded pretty stressed out and high powered, and wondered whether they were just taking things pretty seriously or whether the course work was a lot harder and more specific. I had suspected it was the latter and from your reports, that's right.
I had been hoping part of it was just cultural. Brits, my husband's always reminding me, like to pretend that things come easily, and do tend to be less cathartic, and I was hoping that there wasn't much difference between what we were being taught here, and a US training programme....
I mean, how many UK nurses do you know carry palm pilots around to check drug calculations or normal values??? I used to have a palm, because I used to work in business, and most other nursing students had never even seen one before...
I've also noticed that so many of our textbooks are US based, and the quality levels and expectations seem much higher there. This has worried me, because I feared that I might not be being trained adquately to cope over there.

What does your book suggest you do about this difference in level to prepare for the test and work over in USA? I have a palm but I have not figured out exactly how to use it. Any suggestions. Also when ever I show up with it others look at me like I am a nut. I believe we can get ready for the test but we have to know what we are facing. What part of the states are you from?

suzanne4, RN · Apr 21, 2005

There are already many, many threads on this topic. Do a search on this site and you will find everything that you need ot know. But if you also readt the threads, you will see that you should stay as far awar as possible form OGP. Do some reading and you will see why.............

Check out the International forum also, it will be helpful to you........... :) :)