Passed the NCLEX - Foreign educated Nurse

[Miriam80]

Hi Everyone

I have often come to this site looking for help and so I wanted to post my NCLEX story as I thought it may help someone else.

I have a Bachelor of Nursing from an Australian University.

I just sat the NCLEX on Wednesday and found out the next day from the BON that I had passed!!!!!

I have to be honest and say I did very little study. I borrowed some old NCLEX textbooks from a friend (2013) and used some free online resources. I have three kids 6 and under so I don't get much quiet time at all.

I found the exam tough but I got through it.

I am really looking forward to starting work now.

[peaceandjoy]

Hi

Anyone can help me ? I am really struggling to find the courses (Pediatric and obstetric) to make-up my theory and clinical hours in Australia. I have searched for weeks and contacted many universities with no results. Some of them provide under graduated or post graduated degree that takes at least more than 1 years, and often that can cover only one subject either obstetric or pediatric. I found there are some online courses but I am not sure if online study can be accepted by US nursing board. because I read a lot of posts that informs online study has been denied. Is there anyone has good information about the courses ?

[Miriam80]

Hi Steve

Yes, our experience sounds very similar. Did you get your CES? I did my obstetric prac through the University of Virginia (UVa). Are you living in Richmond?

[Miriam80]

Hi peaceandjoy

I am not much help as I did my makeup clinical hours in the USA.

My only suggestion is to contact the BON and specifically ask them what they will accept. I was only required to do 16hrs of clinical to meet their requirements. Two 8hr shifts and I was done.

[Sanshu]

Hi

No, you don't need to take additional courses to have your degree evaluated by CGFNS.

However, when you receive your CES Report it may say you are deficient in certain areas.

For Australian educated nurses these areas usually are pediatrics, mental health and/or obstetrics/maternity. Whether or not you are deficient in certain areas depends entirely on what theory courses you did at university and in what areas you did your clinical practice.

What State Board do you want to apply too? Each State Board have different requirements.

This is my story.....

I applied to CGFNS for a CES Report. I applied to Virginia State Board.

I was found to be deficient in clinical hours for OB/Maternity.

I contacted the Virginia State Board and spoke to them at length about my situation. They were extremely nice and very helpful.

Despite lacking the OB/maternity hours clinical hours I was given permission to sit the NCLEX on the provision that when I passed it I would be issued a provisional license so that I could arrange to do the clinical hours I required. Once I completed these hours I would be given my full license.

I passed the NCLEX, was issued the provisional license and I arranged to complete the clinical hours with the assistance of a local university.

By the time I received my CES Report I was already living in the USA so I was able to complete the clinical hours I needed here in Virginia.

My advice to you would be just apply for your CES report and see what it says.

Hope this helps

Hi,

i I am an internationally educated nurse I received my BSN from India and MSN from Australia. Do you know whether I have to send my masters credentials to CGFNS or not? Or just my BSN transcripts will do?

[lana25]

Did you find anything? I'm having the same issue with California

[emmalc]

Hi, just wondering how you went finding courses? I have no experience in Obstetrics and Paediatrics so I am assuming I won't be eligible for registration in America. I am trying to find out if I can take units at University while avoiding a post grad as they take too long. Please let me know if you have had any luck :)

[ChelseaE92]

Im trying to find the same thing, for OB, i think my child client elective at uni will suffice for the paeds part, it was a whole semester just on children! im wondering if the best thing to do is the first semester of midwifery? apparently otago polytechnic college in NZ does some make up courses but i cant find it on their website. I also found this through Flinders uni here in aus, but not sure of the clinical hours as it does not state that it does prac just theory, i have emailed them though. Obstetric & Neonatal Nursing - Flinders University

Anyone else find the solution?

[Perlas]

Hi i stumble in this thread..how did u go guys regarding your application in the US?where did you guys make up for the deficient theory and clinical hours here in Australia?because i'm planning to take nclex too,thank you.

[espaghet, BSN, RN]

Hi Peaceandjoy,

How did you get on finding pediatrics and obstetrics courses? Out of curiosity how many hours in each category (theory and clinical, peds and ob) did NM say you needed to make up? Did the NM nursing board say you could do online study or did they say "we can't tell you until you send your transcript to CGFNS, after you've completed the study" as they have been saying to me? So frustrating as one doesn't want to do the extra courses then hear they don't count!!

Your response is very much appreciated :)