NZ Student, US Citizen - Advice

World Registration

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Hey all!

I've found some great info on here already, but I'm wondering if anyone has insight/experience that could help my situation...

I'm a US citizen currently studying in New Zealand for an entry level Master of Nursing program. The program is uniquely accredited in the US by the NLN CNEA, but I've recently learned that this does NOT mean the education program will be approved by state boards for licensure in the US.

It looks like, depending on the state, I will likely be considered deficient in maternal/infant and pediatric clinical experiences. I'm looking at OR, WA, & AK.

I've reached out to my university and requested clinical hours in maternal/infant and pediatric settings; fingers crossed they approve that (I still have about 14 months left in my program). My hope is that if I'm able to get those hours in, and with the CNEA accreditation, I should be able to meet requirements to register in one of those states. 

I've also been reading about how some foreign-educated nurses register in NY or other states that have lower clinical requirements, and then they apply for licensure by endorsement in other states. 

One other issue..... I'm graduating next year, and then will have the opportunity to sit the state exam and register as an RN in New Zealand. My plan was to take the NZ state exam, register in NZ, and then move back to the US straight away. However, the Oregon State board of nursing told me that if an applicant is licensed as an RN in another country but has less than 400 hours of WORK experience, they WON'T be eligible for licensure!! 

If I don't register in NZ, I can apply in OR as a new graduate of a foreign education program, assuming it's within two years of graduation. I just don't know what other states' implications or work requirements are for individuals that are educated and registered in other countries.

The timelines for new grads complicate things, too. For example, new graduate jobs in US often require that new grads completed their program within one year of applying. So I'd have to apply for education evaluation, get back to the US, take NCLEX, etc AND fulfill any remaining requirements within one year... Agh, it's just so stressful!! Maybe my best bet is to get the license here, work 400 hours as an RN somewhere, and then go back and figure it all out... 

Does anyone have recent experience with this? If so, how'd it go for you?

Thanks,

Emily

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