Nursing Programs Abroad?

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Does anyone know if there are any international nursing programs outside the US?

I am looking to go back as a second-degree student. I am currently applying to US schools, but am interested in going abroad.

Any advice?

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Most countries have nursing education programs, but these programs prepare you for nursing licensure in that country only.

Where do you want to practice as a nurse? Each country has their own RN licensing requirements, and there are additional steps that you must undergo if you are educated in Country A and want to practice in Country B. It might take an additional 1-2 years of paperwork and waiting to qualify to sit for the US NCLEX examination if you do your nursing training elsewhere.

I would encourage you to consider where you want to work as a nurse first, and then select an appropriate school in that country first. For example, if you know that you want to live and work as a nurse in New Zealand, then it makes little sense to go to nursing school in Alabama.

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Specializes in Forensic Psych.

I would only consider going to school where you want to work. Take a look at the international nursing forum for some of the battles and barriers people have faced trying to practice in the US. There are some great programs in other countries, but as someone else said, you're being trained to practice THERE.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

If you plan on working in the US you would be best to go to school there.If you go to school in another country you will always be considered a foreign educated nurse and that brings a lot of problems.Some nursing educations do not meet the US requirements as well(e.g. the UK)

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Thanks for the advice! I did some more research on it and you are right.

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If you graduate from a foreign program, you will have to go through the same steps any other foreign graduate faces in order to get licensed in the US. But if you go through the US education system, you will go through an easier licensing process all the way around. I would not want the added burden. Just do some reading in the international forum and you will get a good idea of the plights of the graduate of foreign programs. Who wants that?

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Has anyone ever done a BSN program abroad and then taken the NCLEX back here in the states?

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