Seeking the ever elusive FENS refresher course... (foreign educated nurses)

[justatraveler]

Hullo out there

I am writing in the hopes that someone out there in the great wide world of nursing can direct me to a foreign educated nurse refresher course.

I have seen said program mentioned many, many times in many a post. (repetitive I know, but quite intentional I assure you). The Texas BON also sites such a program. They cannot however recommend or even list any such programs. Someone called Nurseeducator here on this site claims to work for a center that provides such courses, yet does not provide any links.

I am deeply frustrated. I am a foreign educated, but am an American citizen, so I don't need help with immigration. I am however struggling to get my CGFNS CES completed. I fear that that I will need to get some Peds experience before I can be licensed and have been trying to find out where and how I might do this.

When I do find an association that might provide a glimmer of hope, it turns out that it is for Hispanic foreign nurses, and as I am not Hispanic, the sense of anticlimax is great.

Please, please, if anyone out there knows anything that might be helpful, don't hesitate to let me know.

Sincerely, moi.

[KLS324]

Hi PinayUSA are you done with it? Where are you in Texas?

You just need a FENS 120 hours classroom (mostly Online) and 120 clinical, just shadow a RN at a hospital

Rn Refresher Course - Nurse Refresher Course - Nursing School Houston - Immunizations Houston

[PinayUSA]

Hi PinayUSA are you done with it? Where are you in Texas?

I am in the Plano/Frisco Area, Just north of Dallas.

I am not a nurse I am American whose set up a acct for my gf when she had a typhoon strike her area and she was without power for a few weeks.

I have called the above FENS places a few time and chatted with them, In my area they do the Shadow at Plano Presbeterian hospital.

Contact them they are very helpful

[Ghimirek]

Hello, i am also looking for FENS Refresher course and i already passed the NCLEX RN from TX BON so if anybody knows how and where can get this course please let me know.

[esipbisn]

Hi,

does anybody know of a good refrecher course in NYC, NY, MD or CA?

Thanks

[moving400]

Hi,I'm also in the same boat..found some but they don't offer FENS..!did you find anything olease let me know...

thanks in advance.

[katrn2324]

Hi everyone!! I also need the FENS refresher course. Has anyone done it succesfully??? Need HELP!

[littlemissnurse07]

Have you ever found a school for Fens? I AM ALSO LOOKING, I am from the Philippines and residing now in Texas , looking forward to take the nclex but first I also need to take this FENS. Hoping some people can help us find where to go to.

Hi! I graduated last 2013 here in the Philippines and I have not completed a 2 year hospital experience yet. Does that mean I am eligible to take the exam but will not be able to get my license unless I take a refresher course? I hope you could enlighten me. Thanks!

[NurseinUK1]

Hello michelle4uk,

my partner who is a U.S. Citizen is being transferred back home with work. I'm also a UK trained (adult) nurse and will be heading for Texas to be with my spouse. Can you please let me know if you've managed to get your registration in the U.S.? I'm a bit nervous now with the registration process overt there with all that I'm reading on the forums. Thx. Geoff

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Hello michelle4uk,

my partner who is a U.S. Citizen is being transferred back home with work. I'm also a UK trained (adult) nurse and will be heading for Texas to be with my spouse. Can you please let me know if you've managed to get your registration in the U.S.? I'm a bit nervous now with the registration process overt there with all that I'm reading on the forums. Thx. Geoff

You bigger barrier likely isn't going to be the FENS course but the fact that you are specialty trained unlike US & Canadian nurses that are generalist trained with clinical and theory in adult med/surg, geriatrics, mental health, pediatrics and obstetrics (in addition to co-requisite courses such as anatomy & physiology, psychology, nutrition, pharmacology, sociology, statistics and microbiology). It is very difficult (if not expensive) to find a school of nursing that will permit an IEN to take just the deficient nursing courses.

Are you married or getting married? It would likely be easier to secure a visa & work rights marrying your USC partner than attempting to find an employer to sponsor you for a work visa. If applying to TX, you will not be issued a nursing license until you provide a valid US social security number (which requires a valid work visa, citizenship or permanent resident status)

[NurseinUK1]

Hi justbeachnurse,

thanks for your post. We've been married for a while now. I've just gone through Texas Bon's list of eligibility criteria for IENs, and there's no mention of SSN.

As as for the UK training it is branch specific but only to a certain extent especially for adult nurses. The adult nursing branch qualification is the only qualification recognised across The EU/EEA, and therefore must meet requirements of EU directives and include:General and specialist medicine

General and specialist surgery

Child care

Maternity care

Mental health

Elderly careHome nursing

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Your transcripts must show clinical and theory hours in Paeds, Mental Health, Obstetrics and Adult and we are seeing many UK nurses struggling with Obstetrics and Paeds

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Hi justbeachnurse,

thanks for your post. We've been married for a while now. I've just gone through Texas Bon's list of eligibility criteria for IENs, and there's no mention of SSN.

As as for the UK training it is branch specific but only to a certain extent especially for adult nurses. The adult nursing branch qualification is the only qualification recognised across The EU/EEA, and therefore must meet requirements of EU directives and include:General and specialist medicine

General and specialist surgery

Child care

Maternity care

Mental health

Elderly careHome nursing

You don't need the SSN to apply but for the license to be issued. You are married so that will lift a huge barrier that many face. (Fortunately US Supreme Court has upheld marriage equality for those couples it applies, and therefore all married couples are eligible for rights such as applying for visa & PR status based upon marriage)

Your transcript specifically detailing needed hours in all mandated areas clinical & theory is what matters, not whether your program meets the EU directive. Obstetrics (as UK & AUS have a prominent midwifery career option) is most often the deficiency followed by pediatric clinical & theory.