Relocation from London to Florida

BarbPick · Dec 28, 2003

https://www.browardhealth.org/

This is your best start. The north Broward Hospital District.

Good luck with your future plans, Barbara

Sarah, RNBScN · Dec 28, 2003

http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/Surveys/new-lic.htm

Department of Health

Division of Medical Quality Assurance Licensure Services

4052 Bald Cypress Way

Bin #C-10

Tallahassee, Florida

32399-3260

They can answer all or any of your questions. I am not sure how it would be for an "international" licensee renewal. I know a few years ago, I met some girls from the UK who wrote their US license as I did.

Best of luck,

Sarah

michaeldwg · Dec 28, 2003

Thank you very much for the information. I've always said nurses are my favorite ppl in hospitals (maybe that is why I'm marrying a nurse. hummm). Sarah, can you explain "wrote their US license as I did."

You guys are great.

Thanks again.

suehp · Dec 28, 2003

Hi!

First of all your girlfriend will need to take her NCLEX exam to get her License - she wont be able to nurse over there without it. You can either get out there by your own steam (so to speak) or register with an Agency to help with all the paperwork..and be prepared for a lot of waiting...dont wont to put a dampner on things but it could take up to 2 yrs. I am 15 months down the line and still waiting....

try these websites for info and if you need any further help just PM me...

http://www.cgfns.org/cgfns/index.html

http://www.nurses-international.com/html/immigration-forms.htm

http://www.usbritishnurse.com/

http://www.o'gradypeyton.com

http://www.bbt.co.uk

Hope this helps...

michaeldwg · Dec 28, 2003

Thanks Sue, I have put the sites in my favorites and I'll forward them to my girlfriend (not the 2 years part hehehe). I expected a long wait and a lot of paperwork but... Wow. 2 years! With the shortage in nurses here you would think they would speed up the process a little. Good luck and hang in there!

suehp · Dec 28, 2003

No problems - glad to help - this may also be of help too - it is a list of all th hospitals...

http://www.healthcarehiring.com/hospitals_florida.html

michaeldwg · Dec 29, 2003

Thanks for all the information. This is a great board and I am glad I found it. I just finished speaking to my girlfriend and she wanted me to thank you all also we really appreciate all your help and encouragement. I will let you all know how things are going.

littlelottas · Dec 29, 2003

Hi Sue,

I could not help noticing your helpful appraoch on these boards. Thank you!

I wander if I could ask your advice about something as well. Am a NICU nurse, presently in the uk, hoping to move to florida in the near future. Can you recommend a great NICU unit in a hospital for me? Are you living in florida yourself?

Thanks a million.

lots

Originally posted by SueIP
Hi!

First of all your girlfriend will need to take her NCLEX exam to get her License - she wont be able to nurse over there without it. You can either get out there by your own steam (so to speak) or register with an Agency to help with all the paperwork..and be prepared for a lot of waiting...dont wont to put a dampner on things but it could take up to 2 yrs. I am 15 months down the line and still waiting....

try these websites for info and if you need any further help just PM me...

http://www.cgfns.org/cgfns/index.html

http://www.nurses-international.com/html/immigration-forms.htm

http://www.usbritishnurse.com/

http://www.o'gradypeyton.com

http://www.bbt.co.uk

Hope this helps...

Sarah, RNBScN · Dec 29, 2003

Sarah, can you explain "wrote their US license as I did."

===========================

I am from Canada and wrote the NCLEX exam in Orlando. It was a great opportunity for me and my friends to holiday and write our exams. Back then, we were not in a nursing shortage in Canada, so jobs were hard to come by. I met three girls from the UK who were doing the same as my friends and I. They wrote their NCLEX exam as well.

It was interesting to hear how they wrote for their license comparing it to US and Canada's exams. They (UK) mentioned how their exam was all essay style. Ours (Canadian) were multiple choice with case scenarios, touched on all areas of nursing, pharmacology, diagnostics as well. The (US) was similar to Canada I just found the US lab values and certain drugs different than Canada.

I did well. We all passed. It was a great experience and holiday to Disney...

suehp · Dec 29, 2003

Hi Littlelottas,

I am not in Florida yet - still in wet North Wales...LOL I am hoping to go to Vero Beach (where I have had a job offer) and maybe set roots down in Okkechobee?? Not sure yet - still waiting to retake my NCLEX:o

I dont know where there is a good NICU unit is but if you look on the web-site I gave earlier for a list of hospitals, you may find whta you are looking for...

http://www.healthcarehiring.com/hospitals_florida.html

other than that someone else may be able to help..sorry | cant be anymore help...lots of luck to you...:)

NICU_Nurse, BSN, RN · Dec 29, 2003

We're moving to Florida relatively soon, and these are the hospitals with the largest NICU's, as I understand it:

Arnold Palmer Hospital (Orlando)

Wolfson Children's Hospital (Jacksonville)

Shands Hospital (Gainesville)

All Children's Hospital (Tampa? I think...?)

Miami Chldren's Hospital (Miami)

A number of other hospitals have NICU's, but from what I can gather, they're smaller and often have nothing more than a Level II or basic Level III (ie, stable vents only)- everything else gets transferred to the larger regional facilities, which seems to significantly decrease the job opportunities (less NICU's mean less jobs).

Many of the hospitals, though, do deliveries (the small hospitals, I mean) and often hire in Mother/Baby if you're interested in that.