I am a UK educated and trained nurse looking to move over to the USA. i have passed my NCLEX and have applied for a load of jobs but I still work and live in England so they are obviously reluctant to employ me. I was just wondering if anyone had made the same move and what the differences between british and American nursing are? I understand there is more of a diagnostic aspect and the assessment process is more in depth than it can be here. If anyone could share their day-to-day duties and responisbilities that would be super helpful!
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Theory - yes, v minimal & brief summary. Not practical training. Was told that the CGFNS exam (if passed) was supposed to get foreign nurses equivalent to the level of US nursing graduates.
Who told you that? All states require clinical and theory hours in Paeds, Mental Health, Obstetrics and Adult before eligibility to sit NCLEX.
1/ I was talking about my UK training in that the degree covered the above 3 specialities very briefly & only theory.
2/ if CGFNS exam is passed, it'll give eligibility to write the NCLEX exam (putting us at the Same level as a nurse from US, after completing 4 years of the nursing education).
1/ I was talking about my UK training in that the degree covered the above 3 specialities very briefly & only theory.
2/ if CGFNS exam is passed, it'll give eligibility to write the NCLEX exam (putting us at the Same level as a nurse from US, after completing 4 years of the nursing education).
Silverdragon didn't misunderstand you. Only a few states (if there are still any at all) still use the CGFNS exam. Every US state BON requires applicants to have (whatever number of specific hours it requires) of didactic (classroom) and supervised clinical (as a student, not work experience since you graduated) in adult med-surg, pediatrics, OB, and psych nursing on their school transcripts in order to be eligible for licensure.
There are a bunch of existing threads here about UK-trained nurses having difficulty getting licensed in the US because of this requirement, and the UK using a different model of nursing education and licensure. You might want to take a look at them.
Whoever told you that the CGFNS exam is all you need is significantly out of date (or misinformed).
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Passing the CGFNS will not magically qualify you for a nursing license if your transcripts are deficient in all mandated areas of clinical theory for a generalist nurse. You definitely cannot work in CA, NJ, VA, NY and other states unless your transcripts show sufficient clinical and theory hours in adult, pediatric, psych, OB/GYN, and geriatric nursing. Passing the rarely used CGFNS exam does not eliminate the minimal educational requirements and hasn't for years now.
UK nurses are specialist trained and have a significant amount of clinical hours. North American nurses are generalist trained.
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
You misunderstood me entirely.
1/ I was talking about my UK training in that the degree covered the above 3 specialities very briefly & only theory.
2/ if CGFNS exam is passed, it'll give eligibility to write the NCLEX exam (putting us at the Same level as a nurse from US, after completing 4 years of the nursing education).
i did not misunderstand you.
1. Here is one problem. The US requires both clinical and theory hours on your transcripts.
2. The state gives eligibility to sit NCLEX once your application and transcripts have been reviewed and deemed same or similar to the training in that state. CGFNS has nothing to do with it
We we have seen it posted again and again of UK nurses failing to meet state requirements and struggle to find anywhere in the US to make up the hours. Currently there is nowhere in the UK to make these hours up post graduation
UK nurses do not have to write the Cgfns qualifying exams. My Univeristy was able to provide Cgfns the required clinical hours. UK nurses do more hours; theory and clinical than the US nurses, that should suffice. Be open minded and be willing to go to any state. You can always move after you are grounded in US. Good luck all UK nurses.
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
UK nurses do not have to write the Cgfns qualifying exams. My Univeristy was able to provide Cgfns the required clinical hours. UK nurses do more hours; theory and clinical than the US nurses, that should suffice. Be open minded and be willing to go to any state. You can always move after you are grounded in US. Good luck all UK nurses.
Some states require CGFNS exam regardless on where you trained however there is only a small handful of states that require CGFNS exam to start with and one way is register with one state and then endorse.
May i kindly ask which year and university you graduated? I am also willing to take the NCLEX but after reading all the requirement for credentialing it has mention about the hours for both theory and practice in areas of paed, obstetric and mental health which we did not take at all in my university. I completed my degree in adult nurse in west london. After carefully reading the required credentialing in all these areas that has given me worries on how and where to make it up. Hence, i would like to know which year and university u finished. I have not tried applying with CGFNS yet for credentialing coz of this potential issues. Your statement that your university has provided what the CGFNS required is such a flicker of hope for me to pursue my application. And if deficient, does anyone know where to make this up? Any school in UK that has such course or programme to meet those hours.
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Hi Bertha17, RN
May i kindly ask which year and university you graduated? I am also willing to take the NCLEX but after reading all the requirement for credentialing it has mention about the hours for both theory and practice in areas of paed, obstetric and mental health which we did not take at all in my university. I completed my degree in adult nurse in west london. After carefully reading the required credentialing in all these areas that has given me worries on how and where to make it up. Hence, i would like to know which year and university u finished. I have not tried applying with CGFNS yet for credentialing coz of this potential issues. Your statement that your university has provided what the CGFNS required is such a flicker of hope for me to pursue my application. And if deficient, does anyone know where to make this up? Any school in UK that has such course or programme to meet those hours.
Many thanks for any input. Will mean a lot������
Westnurs
If your transcripts do not show hours in Paeds, Obstetrics and Mental Health you will have issues. A letter from your nursing school I doubt will help. As for places in the UK to make up hours I don't think there are any universities that offer this
Im looking into using a company to support me with the licence CGNFS and the NCLEX training. I wondered if anyone else had used one of these companies O'Grady Peyton or Nurses4America and if you found it helped.
They are not cheap and wonder what the success rates were in actually getting a visa and employment in America before I had over my cash.
Hi, my boyfriend is in the navy and will be posted to America in 4 years time for 2 years. I am currently a nursing student in the UK with 1 year left of my Adult Nursing Honours Degree at University. Could anyone help me by telling me what I need to do to to work as a nurse in America, and how long of a process this would take?
Silverdragon102, BSN
1 Article; 39,477 Posts
Who told you that? All states require clinical and theory hours in Paeds, Mental Health, Obstetrics and Adult before eligibility to sit NCLEX.