nursing in the USA

Hello there,

I'm the first time here and I`ve already got a lot of questions.

I'm a nurse in Germany (it might be, that it's not the best english ) and I'm going to imigrate to the USA (Colorado) and to work as a nurse. Next week I have an interview and I still don't know much about nursing in the USA. Maybe you can give me some information..., here are for example some questions I would like to ask:

- How is the system to study nursing in the USA (in Germany it's far different)

- How does it works with the system of ranks for nurses?

- What are you doing as a nurse in the USA (also this is different in Germany)

- and everything else you can tell me

Maybe someone can give me some information about neurology or some links in learning technical english in neurolgy. I'm also interested in health care (I studied this field at the university), prevention programms and disease management.

I hope you can help me to get the right way and that this is the right forum for it.

I would be also very thankful if somebody is interested in chating with me (to give me information and to practise my english :chuckle )

Best regards

chitzu

Hello Chitzu: Your written English sure looks good, and I'm betting you won't face much in the way of communication problems in the US. (Except that in some regions of our country, folks have thick accents. Even I couldn't understand some people when i moved to the deep south!)

In the US, there are vocational (practical) nurses who can do a great deal, but are generally under the supervision of Registered Nurses. There are two basic programs for qualifying for the RN. A two year, post-high school Associates Degree, or a four year college degree with a nursing major and you graduate with a Bachelors degree in nursing science (BSN).

But here's the important point. Every new nurse takes the same qualifying exam (N-CLEX) and everyone new RN starts out with the same general responsibilities, regardless of their beginning degree.

Within most hospitals, advancement is generally performance related. We have many different types of certifications where nurses can take exams and be accredited as having advanced knowlege. (FOr example, many ICU nurses take an exam offered by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses and get to add "CCRN" to their credentials.) I believe these exams are available to all registered nurses no matter their beginning degree.

You will encounter many nurses who have advanced licensure. They are Nurse Practitioners...commonly called A(advanced)-PN or F(family)-PN or some other variation. In order to be registered by the state to be an APN, you must have a specific course of graduate study that (usually) awards the Masters Degree in Nursing Science (MSN) These nurses can prescribe drugs much like physicians and generally work more independently than any hospital based nurse. (States vary in what supervision they require and what kind of prescriptive privaleges they allow.)

There are some nurses with Ph.D.'s but they're sort of useless. (I'm just kidding!!!! I have a PhD.) They are usually on nursing school faculties, though some may be in research or have leadership roles in administration.

My husband is a neurologist. I don't know of any specific text with neuro-terms and definitions but maybe some other person will. If there is a specific term you want defined, I'll try to find the answer for you.

Hope this gets you started. Welcome to the USA.

Hello Chitzu: Your written English sure looks good, and I'm betting you won't face much in the way of communication problems in the US. (Except that in some regions of our country, folks have thick accents. Even I couldn't understand some people when i moved to the deep south!)

In the US, there are vocational (practical) nurses who can do a great deal, but are generally under the supervision of Registered Nurses. There are two basic programs for qualifying for the RN. A two year, post-high school Associates Degree, or a four year college degree with a nursing major and you graduate with a Bachelors degree in nursing science (BSN).

But here's the important point. Every new nurse takes the same qualifying exam (N-CLEX) and everyone new RN starts out with the same general responsibilities, regardless of their beginning degree.

Within most hospitals, advancement is generally performance related. We have many different types of certifications where nurses can take exams and be accredited as having advanced knowlege. (FOr example, many ICU nurses take an exam offered by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses and get to add "CCRN" to their credentials.) I believe these exams are available to all registered nurses no matter their beginning degree.

You will encounter many nurses who have advanced licensure. They are Nurse Practitioners...commonly called A(advanced)-PN or F(family)-PN or some other variation. In order to be registered by the state to be an APN, you must have a specific course of graduate study that (usually) awards the Masters Degree in Nursing Science (MSN) These nurses can prescribe drugs much like physicians and generally work more independently than any hospital based nurse. (States vary in what supervision they require and what kind of prescriptive privaleges they allow.)

There are some nurses with Ph.D.'s but they're sort of useless. (I'm just kidding!!!! I have a PhD.) They are usually on nursing school faculties, though some may be in research or have leadership roles in administration.

My husband is a neurologist. I don't know of any specific text with neuro-terms and definitions but maybe some other person will. If there is a specific term you want defined, I'll try to find the answer for you.

Hope this gets you started. Welcome to the USA.

Hello,

I'm sorry that I answer that late, but my 3 month old son takes all my time in the moment. I'm very thankfull for your answer and your nice words (it cheers me up). Your information helps me a lot.

When I make my home in the USA I have to pass the NCLEX. As I understand I will work as a vocational nurse when I get overseas, isn't it? Or do I have another stautus, because of my nursing certificate? What do you think, or do you know something about it?

Maybe your husband has some information about neurological technical for me; or do you know some other links about generally nursing-terms to learn some technical english?

I read here somewhere, that there are some universities of health sience. Because I studied already health management in Germany I would be interested in this field. Did you here about this faculty? (I think as a PhD you did)

I would be very happy, if you can find out some information for me or maybe someone else can help me!!!!. (There will be for sure far more questions).