Requirements for a UK nurse to work as a nurse in the US (not visa related)

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Hey everyone, you all sound very knowledgeable, so I hope someone out there can help answer a few questions for me!

I'm English, my husband is American and we currently live in the UK. I'd like to become a nurse in the UK, and then eventually move over to the US and continue being a nurse there (as my husband would like us to eventually return to the US).

My question: If I'm a nurse with a bachelors degree in nursing (from the UK), what will I need to do to be able to work as a registered nurse in the US? Will I just have to have to take the NCLEX exam? Will I even be eligible to to take the exam with my bachelors degree from the UK?

I did try and find the info myself, but I couldn't find anything - so sorry if this question has been posted a million times before!

Thanks! :bow:

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

I would suggest you discuss with the university and ensure you get both theory and practical in all areas during your training (midwifery, mental health, paeds and general adult) and also go for general adult. The US is general trained unlike the UK which is more specialised. You would then have to apply to board of nursing to the state you will be living in (BON) and meet their requirements for foreign trained nurse which generally means CES from CGFNS although some BON's can be different. Once eligibly you will have to sit NCLEX

Would suggest readying the sticky in the International forum called primer to working in the USA as that should cover everything you need except you will o a different route for work visa as you will be spousal and get yourGC that route.

Moving this to the International forum as we request any questions regarding immigration and requirements be asked there.

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Thanks so much for your reply, I really appreciate all the info. I'll take a look at the thread you mentioned. :D

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NCLEX is our licensing exam, so it will need to be written to be able to get a license in the US. Even if you train in the US, it is still a requirement.

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Specializes in Neonatal nursing (paediatric trained).

I'd suggest reading the threads I posted in the International Forum: https://allnurses.com/forums/f75/child-branch-trained-uk-nurse-going-work-us-298160.html and https://allnurses.com/forums/f75/making-up-nursing-hours-work-us-uk-299287.html and maybe https://allnurses.com/forums/f75/best-bon-go-through-when-rn-child-uk-trained-328249.html. I'm sorta doing the same thing - I'm American but live in the UK (trained here) and will eventually move to the US again. In those two threads, there's loads of great advice from others.

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I have a B.Sc(Hons)in Nursing from a Uk university.I have gone throuh the application proces,and writing from first hand experience.

I am preparing to sit for my nclex in 6 weeks from now.Still live in the Ukand an American naturalised citizen.

Right ,this is how you would go about things:

1.Go online and fill the CGFNS form-request for the full course by course report.The fee is paid online, It was $326 or slightly more when i applied .

On that site,there is a facility to print out forms you should send to NMC and the the universtity you attended here in uk.

The NMC FORM SHOULD CONFIRM REGISTRATION.THE FEE WAS £34 at the time i applied.NMC will send this direct to CGFNS.

The university form confirms you attendance, and the level of course pursued/length of time(degree or diploma)Transcripts to be attached,too.My college charged me £30 at the time.College will then forward this form and attachment direct to CGfNS using their franking machine showing their stamp/address otherwise CGFNS will not accept this.

2.Apply to the chosen state board of nursing for the nclex-rn exam.Fees varies from one state board to the other.Make this application at the time of application to CGFNS.

3.Call Scotland yard to make an appointment with the section that does finger printing or nurses wanting to move to the states.On the day of appointment,take with you the fingerprint form(s)sent to you by the state board,your passport and the fee.I paid £90 for the two forms eighteen months ago.Follow staate boards instruction on how to send this form back to them or to relevant agency in the states..

4.

You will then have to wait for CGFNS to get back to you when they are done with the course by course report.You must be registered with a boaard of nursing so that CGFNS will forward your report direct onto them and a copy to you.

5.The relevant state board will get back to you when they have viewed the report from CGFNS ..If they feel that you have not completed hours in areas like paediatrics/maaternal and new born and mental health area areas,they will tell you.Some universities in uk have met

this requirement,some haven't.You will just wait until the state board get back to you.If you have met all their criteria,they will tell you to pay pearson-vue for your ATT number to be sent to you.I stated those areas o nursing because these areas ware usually a proble with some state boards.It has been a big time set back for many of our Uk trained nurses.Luckily,i did not have that problem at all.

I DON'T KNOW WHICH STATE YOU PLAN ON MOVING TO:STATES LIKE FLORIDA,CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK HAVE THEIR CREDENTIAL EVALUATION SERVICE.I AM NOT TOO SURE IF THEY USE CGFNS.I WOULD ADVISE THAT YOU USE CGFNS BECAUSE THE REPORTS LAST SEVERAL YEARS WITH THEM.ALL YOU NEED TO DO SHOULD YOU DECIDE TO TAKE ANOTHER STATE EXAM IS PAY A SMALLER FEE TO THEM AND THEY WILL FORWARD YOUR REPORT TO ANY STATE O YOUR CHOICE.ALSO,TRY TO TAKE ONE OF THE COMPACT STATES EXAM.THAT WAY,IF YOU WANT TO RELOCATE TO ANOTHER STATE WITHIN THE COMPACT STATES,YOU CAN USE THIS IN ANY OF THOSE STATES TO WORK.

Please read your chosen stte board instructions as this may vary.

The whole process can take long.I can't tell you how long.I would sugest you start now to put in your applications.

Make sure you get your immigration papers from here before you move to the states.If you have not,start all the process together.

If you need more advice,please feel free to get back to me.Best wishes.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Florida now requires CES report and will not accept application until it is done and they have received it

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I would suggest you discuss with the university and ensure you get both theory and practical in all areas during your training (midwifery, mental health, paeds and general adult) and also go for general adult.

If my UK university course in adult nursing covers theory for mental health, midwifery and paediatric nursing, but there is no provision for clinical hours in these areas at all, is there a conversion course or 'top-up' available in the US that could address this?

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The clinical experience has to be done and the same time as the theory. If a US student passes clinical but fails theory or passes theory and fails clinical both have to be taken at the same time. That is a Board of Nursing requirement.

I don't see the BON giving an exception for anyone.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
If my UK university course in adult nursing covers theory for mental health, midwifery and paediatric nursing, but there is no provision for clinical hours in these areas at all, is there a conversion course or 'top-up' available in the US that could address this?

depending on what you are short you may be able to join a local US nursing school as a guest student. Both theory and clinical has to be done at the same time, you may find it easier once completed and have transcripts to get a CES report done from CGFNS and they will say whether you are short or not

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