Random Questions for US Licence

suzanne4, RN · Jan 2, 2005

Hi,
Evenryone I am a student in the UK, Edinburgh to be precise. I am considering all my options after I qualify as a nurse this year. I am thinking of going to either Florida or California. However there is somethings that I am unsure about, in regards to obtaning the relevant documentation to work in the US.
* As a newly qualifyed nurse can I apply for a "Green Card" or do this through a recruitment agency? Do I have to wait for a year after graduation, like I do if I want to work in Aus? It seems I only have to have a NMC pin number and be working as a nurse in the UK in an acute setting.
* As I am studying to be a RGN (BN), I do not study Paeds, Psy, Maternity as these are specific speciality courses here in the UK. Therefore when it comes to my US Licence, I would not have completed any clinical hours in these areas. I have only done limited classroom work related to these areas, to satisfy NMC guidelines. This would suggest all future nurses from the UK will not qualify to work in the USA, unless there is some bridging course.
* As I would like to work in Florida or Calif, does that mean I dont need to do the CGFNS? Also if I dont need to do the CGFNS, do I still need a VisaScreen?
Thank you all very much,
Fejao x

You must complete clinical and theory hours in mental health, peds, and maternity for consideration for a license in the US. You can easily make up the hours, if needed. Yes, there is a probelm with new grads from the UK, as well as Australia being able to meet these requirements.

CGFNS exam is not required in those states, but a credentials evaluation is required for Florida by CGFNS, and Califonia does their own. Either way, you will need a Visa Screen Certificate. Even if you are from Canada, you still need the Visa Screen Certificate.

You must be sponsored for a green card by an employer. You do not apply directly to the US government for this, but are petitioned either by a hospital or an agency.

The Us government, as well as Canada, requires that the nurse be a generalist and not a specialist for initial licensure. That is why you will be required to complete those hours.

Hope that this helps....................... :balloons:

fejao · Jan 2, 2005

You must complete clinical and theory hours in mental health, peds, and maternity for consideration for a license in the US. You can easily make up the hours, if needed. Yes, there is a probelm with new grads from the UK, as well as Australia being able to meet these requirements.
CGFNS exam is not required in those states, but a credentials evaluation is required for Florida by CGFNS, and Califonia does their own. Either way, you will need a Visa Screen Certificate. Even if you are from Canada, you still need the Visa Screen Certificate.
You must be sponsored for a green card by an employer. You do not apply directly to the US government for this, but are petitioned either by a hospital or an agency.
The Us government, as well as Canada, requires that the nurse be a generalist and not a specialist for initial licensure. That is why you will be required to complete those hours.
Hope that this helps....................... :balloons:

Hi,

Suzanne thank you very much for the information, it helps a lot! However do you know how British/Australian nurses are making up these clinical/theory hours? I dont know about Aus but here in the UK, its hard enough to get placements for general nurses for their training, never mind nurses specialising in Peds, Mat, M-health. Also this problem does not seem to be mentioned in all the adverts that nursing agencies advertise here.

Thank you again!

Fejao x

suzanne4, RN · Jan 2, 2005

Hi,
Suzanne thank you very much for the information, it helps a lot! However do you know how British/Australian nurses are making up these clinical/theory hours? I dont know about Aus but here in the UK, its hard enough to get placements for general nurses for their training, never mind nurses specialising in Peds, Mat, M-health. Also this problem does not seem to be mentioned in all the adverts that nursing agencies advertise here.
Thank you again!
Fejao x

The nursing agencies are not necessarily going after the new graduates.

You can easily come to the US as a guest student and do those rotations if you cannot find them there. At one point there was some type of bridge program offered, do not remember what the name of it was and if it is still being offered at all. And that bridge program was in the UK. If you look back over some of the postings here from a few months ago, you will see the name.

Hope that this helps................. :balloons: