breev

Hi Elsa, It sounds like the Massey lecturer has given you some quite bizarre advice regarding the NCLEX exam, and all I can say is there was definitely maternity education within my course, and you may end up getting placed on a surgical gynae ward - so there is definitely a place for learning gynae/obstetrics. If this is the area you want to get into, if you get NZ gynae/obstetrics experience and then want to work in the US in the same field, your experience will prove invaluable and far superior to supposed clinical and theory hours that you did at uni. I graduated end of 2010 and the CGFNS exam was very similar to the NCLEX. Perhaps the NCLEX was less specific and more scenario based. i.e. - you need to have a more general knowledge base and ways to interpret data/clinical information in order to select the correct answer. However the CGFNS exam was supposedly a way to assess if you have the knowledge to pass the NCLEX. If you are going to be NZ for the next while, I would say go for it - if nursing is your dream. You can worry about the logistics of getting to the states when the time comes to it. It will probably change in a few years any way so what I tell you know may not be relevant in a couple of years :) I would say since you already have US citizenship, then transferring over your qualification eventually will be the easy part. So far my NZ education has not been a barrier as I am officially licensed as a RN in the state of PA, so now am just working on that visa Bree.

Hi Elsa, My partner is based in PA so unfortunately this is where I will be looking for work. My BN studies definitely had a maternity component and CGFNS would have asked my institution how many hours both theory and clinical this would have consisted of. I know of one other NZ'er transferring their qualification to the US and they too did not require any make up hours. From my understanding NZ nursing qualifications more than meet international standards when it comes to theory and clinical hours in each component of nursing. CGFNS took 6 months to process my paperwork and then allow me to sit the exam. The CGFNS exam is only available to sit at 3 times in the year. Once I sat the exam, I had to wait a few weeks for the results, only then could I submit my application to the state board of nursing and this took about 5-6 weeks for them to process my results from CGFNS and give me authorization to test for the NCLEX. (I had also had to sit an online course on child protection) .Once I was able to find an appt for the exam in my city and receive my pass result, did I receive my license. All up I started the process in Jan, and received my license mid November. CGFNS require both your nursing council and the university where you studied to submit official paperwork. Are you in New Zealand now or still in the US?

Hi! So I spent most of last year going through the process with CGFNS who verified my NZ nursing studies. I then had to sit their exam which was like a mock NCLEX exam. Then after passing that, I was authorized to sit the actual NCLEX exam which I also passed and then was able to gain my license as a RN in the state of Pennsylvania. I didn't have to make up any clinical or theory hours as my NZ Bachelor of Nursing was deemed the equivalent to that of the US qualification. I studied my Bachelor of Nursing in Wellington at Whitirea Polytech. Unfortunately my biggest barrier has been trying to obtain a job. I have been trying to find a job sponsor and gain a work visa that way, but employers and hospitals have been quite straight up and informed me that they simply don't hire overseas nurses as it is just too difficult to get work visas approved for them. I applied for over 100 jobs and got the same response from everyone. So I imagine as a US citizen yourself, once you go through the CGFNS and NCLEX process you will have no problem getting a job back in the US one day :) I hope this has answered your questions. Bree.

Thanks for that- pretty much what I already know but still hoping for a Miracle. My partner is a local Philly man... So that's the attraction :)

Thanks for the info- I know it's difficult with my work background- really need to be in an acute specialty. Things are looking dire í ½í¸œ......

Great- thanks! Would love to hear back. FYI I am 29 so may not qualify as my previous research has indicated there is an age cut off- but if you have anything for me would love to hear about it. Thanks

Thanks for the reply- like below I can come in on a EB3 (greencard) visa or the H1B(temporary). However my experience is in urgent and primary care- I have over 3.5 years experience as a RN and 8 months as a care coordinator. What sort of positions does your company recruit for?

Hi, I have read several posts now of foreign nurses trying to gain their US RN licenses and look for visa sponsors in the US. I have been through the CGFNS and then NCLEX process and have gained my license as a RN in the state of PA. I am originally from New Zealand and so require visa sponsorship. Pretty much every single hospital, residential home, medical centre has told my flat out they don't hire overseas nurses as it is too difficult to obtain a visa for them. Has anyone had any luck with jobs as an overseas RN in the state of PA or near Philadelphia? Thanks!

Thanks for your info and reply. The more I find out the more it seems impossible. Hopefully something comes up eventually and that NCLEX I just passed doesn't go to waste

I worked in urgent care for over 3 years. The more I read the more impossible it seems. Most hospitals have told me no so far. And because nursing in the US doesn't require a degree it seems it is not considered a specialty occupation which is the requirement for a H1B visa…..

Hi, I know this was some time ago - but did you have any luck finding H1B sponsorship? I am an overseas nurse looking for sponsorship in PA to work as a RN. Thanks :)

Hi, Is the status still the same for H1B visas for overseas nurses? I am from New Zealand and have been ringing hospitals in PA and they have either said they don't offer visa sponsorship or only do for management positions. I am wondering if anyone has had any more luck with this recently?

Hey Guys - Are you both overseas nurses? I am wondering if any of you have sat the CGFNS qualifying exam yet. I am a nurse from New Zealand and sat the exam yesterday. Would love to chat to anyone about how they are going with the whole process???

Hi, I am looking into moving to nurse in the US - did you have any success?

Hi, I am a New Zealand Registered Nurse (based in the UK) looking to move and nurse in the USA. Has anyone had any success with these international recruiters (e.g. Avant Healthcare Professionals) ?? It looks like doing it yourself may prove difficult in regards to finding a job sponsor for the visa otherwise....Any advice would be appreciated.