Nursing US with Australian Registration

[lana25]

I have qualified in Australia and have since worked for one year. I want to try and work in New York and have just started to look into the process.

My understanding is I have to apply to the New York board then apply for CGFNS to have my degree certified then I will get an oppurtunity to apply to sit the NCLEX.

I want to know if this is the correct order to proceed.

1. Do I need to apply for Visa before i begin this process or can i wait until i know my course would be certified?

2. Once i have the oppurtunity to apply for NCLEX how long do i have to sit the test before the time line expires?

3. I have noticed that there seems to be a special visa for australian nurse called the E3 visa, is this visa affected by the retrogression? (I have dual citizenship with the UK, are there special considerations for UK citisens?)

4. Are there even any jobs going in the US at the moment???

It would be much appreciated if anyone could help me or give me advice. Im hoping to move by about April 2010.

cheers

lana

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Hi there

Boy am I glad to have found this thread, I too am in the process of tryna move to the US and have been finding the whole process really overwhelming and almost gave up. I guese even more so for me because I am a UK trained nurse and specialised in Psychiatry. Ghillbert, how difficult is it to get mental health jobs in PA? I have family based in PA and that is my first choice, then New York.

Also, does anyone know how many hours exactly are required for the Peads and Obst, because even though I chose the Psychiatry specialisation, I do remember having placements in Peads as well as on the labour ward.

E3...wow, there's a bit of light there, I will have completed my nurse practitioner training end of this year, do you think that will qualify me for the E3?

I have started studying for the NCLEX, DVSBEC, how are you finding the preparation and any tips? I havent done General Nursing for so long and some of the sample questions I am coming across are totally freaking me out. I have been told that one would realistically need 6months study to pass it, is this a realistic estimation.

Thanks guys for all the information.

Are you a Australian citizen? E3 is only for Australian citizens otherwise you will be EB3 and have a long long wait currently ahead of you. If you can get a job as a NP then you may meet EB2 requirements however you may find it hard to get a job as a NP. Hours vary slightly with each state on what clinical and theory hours are required

[chantelle2010]

hi Siverdragon102

I am an Australian Citizen, but I guese my first obstacle will be to get registered first right. Anyway, the forum has made me a little more optimistic about my chances to move.

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Yes I would say your first obstacle is getting licensed with a state first. Employers I think much prefer that you either have eligibility to sit NCLEX or have passed it before offering a job

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

Thanks guys for all the information.

1. No idea on mental health jobs; I don't work in that area. Looks like there are lots of jobs where I live, which is Pittsburgh. PA is a big state so you'd have to narrow down where your family live.

2. They purposely do not tell you how many hours are required in each specialty, just has to be "enough" for them. Only way to know is to apply for say CES and find out.

3. PA requires CGFNS exam for initial licensure for overseas nurses. I would apply for another state that doesn't and transfer over (I did VT, maybe you should do NYS if that's your next preference).

4. Difficult to know if you will get an E3. Sounds like you yourself will qualify as long as you have a bachelor degree - but you need to get a job that also requires a bachelor degree and most nursing jobs in the US don't. You will not be able to work as an NP in Pennsylvania - you have to have completed a certain % of the training in PA in order to qualify to sit the NP certification exam. You may be able to do what a friend of mine did - she has a masters degree from Aus and was able to get registered as "Advanced Practice Nurse" but not NP specialty.

5. For NCLEX, I studied about 2 months all the time, just did lots of practice questions. Didn't really study content. I had worked in ICU for many years tso had a good overall knowledge. If you've been in psych all the time, maybe take some more time. There's no way to advise you on time because I don't know how good you are at exams or how you study.

[chantelle2010]

Thanks for that ghillbert, you have been very helpful.

[LEEROY82]

Warning - I have been trying to get my paperwork throug CGFNS since May. It is a NIGHTMARE. I would allow 12 months just for that part of the process. They are do not help and do not want you to be involved in trying to pull the paperwork together for them

If anyone has any advice on how they navigated CGFNS it would be greatly appreciated

Thank you