NZ Student, US Citizen - Advice

[EmilyFutureRN]

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

[Cali_Kiwi]

Hi @EmilyFutureRN! I am in the same situation as you. I am a US citizen (from California), and also a NZ citizen, about to enter a two-year accelerated Masters of Health Science in Nursing from the University of Canterbury.

My goal is to become registered in both NZ and either California (which is extremely rigid) or Oregon. I am not as familiar with the requirements for becoming a foreign trained registered nurse in Oregon, but interested in knowing more if you have any information. I read somewhere that both California and Oregon are considering becoming compact states (and I believe Washington is already), so an avenue could be to become registered in a state with less requirements around paediatrics and obstetrics (ensuring the state is compact) then transfer over.

I am hoping to request hours in maternity and women's health for clinical experience, but I've heard that they can be very reluctant to let student nurses in those wards. How did you approach your school about your situation?

I have also thought to look into whether any of my hours at school in NZ would transfer over to a LVN program/registration, then look for LVN to RN programs in the States.

Regardless, please let reach out if you would like to discuss and work together on finding solutions, as we are both in relatively unique situations. 

[EmilyFutureRN]

Hi @Cali_Kiwi glad to hear from you! it's a unique situation for sure. CA does seem to be more strict because of the requirement for concurrent clinical/theory. 

As far as transferring between compact states/licensure by endorsement, I know that in WA if you're already licensed in another state, but you were educated in a foreign country, they'll still want to review your education including CGFNS report when you apply for licensure, regardless of having that other license in another state. But everything varies state to state so I'm not sure about CA.

My program doesn't have a specific class for pediatrics or maternal/infant, but they have incorporated maternal/infant/pediatric theory into our other coursework. So thankfully those subject areas are covered for me. I'm not sure about other programs in the area, though. Definitely worth talking to them in advance, so that if you need to sign up for an extra course, they can help you get that set up.

As far as clinicals, I met with the clinical coordinator and director of my program, and I brought printed out forms for OR/WA/CA licensure requirements for nursing programs in foreign countries. We reviewed these specific requirements together and they're arranging my clinicals so that I'm not deficient in any hours.

Our program has clinical placements in medical/surgical nursing, mental health, and aged care as well as the complex care and consolidation placements. I told them I was worried about lacking antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum, infant, and pediatric clinical hours. So they put me in Gynaecology ward at Chch hospital for medical/surgical placement, which includes general medical and general surgical patients as well. In that ward there are lots of antepartum and postpartum patients so I got plenty of hours and exposure to those populations.

Next year they're arranging my "complex care" placement to be Pediatrics which will be five weeks. And my consolidation placement (final nine weeks) will be in NICU. They're also going to arrange additional days within that placement spent in birthing suites/labor and delivery, so I'll get infant and L&D clinical experience at the same time.

I was really worried about all this at first, but once I talked to them they definitely made it sound like it wasn't a big deal and felt so sorry for me that I had been stressed about it! I think the reddit and allnurses forums made me freak out haha but honestly if you're preparing in advance, remember that your school wants you to succeed and wants to help you! Getting the conversation going as early as possible will make it easier for them and for you.

Would definitely love to stay in touch though, especially as we're both in Chch - let me know if you'd want to meet up for a coffee to chat at any point!!

[Cali_Kiwi]

Hi @EmilyFutureRN ! Wow, thank you so much for the positivity. It's honestly been a nightmarish week for me trying to figure everything out, and the people I've been most afraid to speak with directly are my program and clinical directors! I am worried about causing offence due to my desire work both in NZ and in my home country. My understanding was that many of the programs in NZ are sensitive to training nurses who then leave. Reading about your experience has given me some hope. Hopefully my program directors are as supportive as yours!

I'll see if I can send you a private message so we can connect. I am based in Queenstown but will be traveling to Christchurch regularly for courses.