Determination

Hi LKW, Quick question, are you in ??to stay or visiting for a while? I’m also a British trained nurse (RMN) living in the U.S., however, I’ve decided to go to nursing school for my RN to work whilst I’m in the U.S.

Hi ASPIRING2BGREAT, How is your friend getting on at ANHO? Did you say you were contemplating on attending this school; I'm also doing my research and would like to attend also - what's your contemplation?

Hi Aspiring2bgreat

Hi CLUVRN, I've just sent a PM for you. p.s. I hope you get it as it didn't tell me it was sent.

Good afternoon all, Just wondered if anyone out there has attended ANHO RN Program, in West Palm Beach, FL or do you know anyone who has? Would you recommend the Program? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanking you in advance.

Thank you 'GrumpyRN' for your post and suggestion. Ensure you have a great day!

Hi Chapyi55, Please to meet you. I'm unsure if my post is going to make you feel any better, however, I'm kind of in the same boat you're in (however, the shoe is on the other foot). I have dual citizenship (UK & US); I'm a trained RMN (Mental Health Nurse - 10 years - UK trained). Would LOVE to return back to the US, however, if I want to become a RN in the US - I HAVE TO RETRAIN FROM THE BEGINNING! The one positive thing that would arise (if I retrained in the US), would be I wouldn't just be a mental health nurse, I'd be an 'all rounder' RN. I'm not sure if you're aware but attending a State College in the US is currently a nightmare (due to waiting lists, pre-reqs, satisfying State residency for points and the rest). My only alternative is to attend a private institution, which will cost an 'arm and a leg' (fortune - approx. $50k - $75k). I now pose the question to you, do you have any advice for me? I'm currently debt free, 48 years old, married, however, my husband does not want to live in the US as he loves the UK, however, I love Florida and I'm dying to relocate back. Do I divorce my husband and return back to US, qualify for student loans, etc., and finish by 'new nursing career with a $50k - $75k debt?' I haven't posted this comment to be facetious, I'm really in limbo and just need to put my 'situation' out there. Until next time. p.s. I welcome any other comments and/or suggestions from anyone else.

Hi there, Personally, if I were you I would go for it (the nursing). Is there anyway you could do the nursing course part time and work full time? If so, then you don't have to get into debt. If not, focus on paying off some of your debts before you get into school. I left a very WELL paying job (here in the U.K.) to become a student nurse - currently, I'm schooling full time, working part time and raising a 16 year old ON MY OWN. I spent a year paying off all my credit cards (because I was focused and didn't want to be a broke 40 year old student). Currently, I pay my mortgage, utilities and other bits and bobs, etc. I know I don't have the pets, etc., but anything is possible if YOU REALLY WANT TO DO IT! Sometimes or should I say all the times the answers lie deep within us - but at times we're looking for affirmation. The fact that you're doing your pre-reqs shows that there is a desire. Have faith, follow your heart and go with it. If you have a supportive partner then things WILL fall into place - TRUST ME!!! Good luck with whatever you decide. Until next time.

Hi staff nurse r, I've just sent you a private message.

Thanks for that. Do you know of anywhere a bit closer to the West Midlands? I've contacted Dundee and there going to send some information - but it's kind of too far but I guess the information won't hurt. By the way, how did you know that Dundee did the course?

Hi all, Out of curiosity, are their any U.K. dual trained (and registered with the NMC) nurses on the forum? If so, could you please give me a shout and advise me where you did your conversion/transition training at. I'm sure I've called almost every university in the U.K. and I just keep hitting a . It's looks like the universities doesn't want to offer this 18 month course anymore. The only transition course I keep finding is the RGN to Midwifery which quite a few universities still offer this on an 18 month programme. I've contacted the NMC and they said that they don't have a directory and that I would just have to keep calling around. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Hi H. Thanks for writing back. I know about Avant - they were really helpful and gave me some information regarding an agency in both Aus & NZ regarding making up clinical/theory hours for the USA. So, I take it you did the Project 2000 Nursing? Was you able to get all your 5 elements of nursing (med, surg, peds, ob/gyn & psych)? If not, where did you make up these hours in NZ? I contacted Otago Polytechnic in NZ because Avant told me they did a distance learning course (if you're not in NZ) to enable folk to make up theory/clinical hours. The rep from Otago said that there have been a alot of NZ & Aus nurses who need these additional hours to go to USA. So, I'm seriously contemplating, if I can't make up the hours in the U.K. then I'll have noooooooooooo choice but to head to NZ to get them. Hey, keep plucking away at that DARN NCLEX - you've still got time as you said you're still in the early stages. I can't believe UCE (or should I say BCU) - why on earth couldn't they put the clinical hours - they're having a :chuckle (laugh) of course they've got the flippin clinical hours. Like you said its in the placement document which we have to tear off (after its been signed by our tutor) and then we have to hand it in to Department of Practice Learning. They're just being DIFFICULT!!! Furthermore, if they didn't have it how on earth did they pass your information on so that you could give your registration/PIN from NMC???? Ooooooh I'm getting really cross now just thinking about it. Anyway, enough of that - good luck and please keep in touch. I will send you my email address via private message - look out for it. Take care,

H expat, I've gone ahead and PM you. I didn't realize that I had done 15 posts already but was chuffed when I found out that I had. Worked the grave-yard shift last night and was able to get on the web so I took full advantage of it!!! Until next time,

I'm with you Flgr8, I absolutely :redbeathe Florida and from England! I plan on returning back to live in a few years and just hope that the 'sun is still out for when I get there so I can top up my tan':chuckle. Enjoy life whilst you can:D

Hi Expatnurse, Maybe you could PM me and then we'll be able to exchange email address.

I'm in the West Midlands; yourself?

Hi Expat, I'm doing my RMN training here in the U.K. I lived in the U.S. for 19 years and will be returning back once my son has finished his education (been as he started it here first; I didn't want to move him around). I actually like both here and the U.S. but I would like to settle down and retire back in the U.S. Until next time,

Hi SmithH75, I'm also at UCE or should I say BCU as that's the new name now. I would be truly grateful if you could let me have access to the form you're referring about. Where did you obtain it from, the admissions office? What's the form called, is there a form number on it? Any information would be very helpful so when I ask them for it, it can cut down some of the confusion. So, do you have all your clinical/theory hours in all the 5 areas of nursing that the US requests before you take the NCLEX? Thanking you in advance, Until next time.

Hi Expatnurse, Thanks for getting back to me. I'm currently doing my RMN training, once I'm done I will be doing the RGN; once I've completed the RGN I know I'll still be missing the ob/peds theory and clinical hours. My ultimate goal is to head off to the USA - like you said in order to satisfy the USA you have to have all 5 areas of nursing. I was basically looking for any trained U.K. nurses who had made up any clinical/theory hours (whether here in the U.K. or USA). It sounds like you eventually plan on going back to the USA? Could you give any information on which establishment you did the transition through as that's what I'm going to need in order to make up the hours in ob/peds. Feel free to PM me and leave me your email address. Thanking you in advance for your time.

Hi all, I understand where you're both coming from but I actually got the website from Florida BON and for my situation it was very helpful. I just thought that I would post and it to give ideas, (maybe another avenue for folk to try when they come across a brick wall ). My post wasn't intended to give folk a solution; it was merely just an idea and something that I had experienced and thought that I would share it (as I thought that, thats what this forum was all about) (my bad for posting it in the wrong area; thanks for moving it). I'm sure we are all aware that "one size doesn't always fit all, but remember nothing ventured nothing gained". Personally, I would still expect folk to check out and do their own research when it comes to any new information that they may receive from this forum and/or any where else as a matter of fact. Until next time, Have a great day:D

Hi all, Just wanted to share that this link http://www.jsilny.com/ is equivalent to CGFNS - obviously, CGFNS was one of the first agencies to do this service for foreign nurses and more than likely has the monopoly at the moment (that's why they're sooooooooooooo overwhelmed and bogged down with application requests); but now other agencies are jumping onto the 'band wagon' (which is good news for us). Check out the website as it gives the fees (which are a little cheaper than CGFNS) and from their website there processing time seems to be much quicker. I have actually contacted them myself and they were very pleasant and gave alot of information and answered my queries over the telephone.

Eternalsunshine, I stumbled across your post on google - by any chance did you find out where you could make these hours up from? I'm trying to find out the exact thing. I will be a RMN shortly and I know I'm missing probably what you're missing minus the psych bit. I'm assuming your a RGN? Believe or not I also want to go Florida.

Hi expatnurse, I see your UK trained but live in the US - by any chance did you have to make up any clinical and/or theory hours before you got our license in the US? If so, where did you go to make them up? I'm getting ready to obtain my Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN) qualification but I already know that I will be missing clinical/theory hours in ob/gyn & peds to qualify for a license in the US. I'll get the other areas because I'm going on to do the RGN course after I graduate which will give me the med/surg (and I've just done 3yrs of psych). I contacted a community college in Florida which does a nursing programme but they said that you can't just jump on the course to make up clinical/theory hours and that I would have to do the WHOLE programme from the beginning:cry:! Are you able to shed any light on where I can obtain these darn clinical/theory hours. Thanking you in advance.

Hi there, Are there any U.K. nurses in the U.S. who were lacking any clinical and/or theory hours to be licensed (in the U.S.) and actually went to an accredited college (in the U.S.) to make up these hours? If so, how long did it take you and was it expensive?

Hi Silverdragon, Out of curiosity what states have actually accepted the british RMN? Could this be because they were dual qualified in RMN/RGN or are you saying solely from their RMN qualification?