Study nursing in foreign countries

[savexpigoo]

]Hello everyone.

]I am currently enrolled in a nursing program (junior) in the US and i really want to study somewhere else or finish my program in another country, but i dont know if that is allowed? I've been thinking of studying at Australia, but i am open to other countries that has good nursing schools and hospitals so please do share :] Can anyone help me out with this? also, if you've studied nursing in a foreign country, tell me if it was worth it. i would appreciate it! ^^

[suzanne4, RN]

There is no way to transfer in the middle of your program and then obtain your degree out of the country; it is hard to do even in the US.

You may be able to take some electives out of the country, but your best bet is to actually get an American degree; or you will be treated as a foreign grad for your entire career and have to always meet the additional requirements that they have to.

You mentioned Australia, you need to be aware that their training is quite different from the US. They become what is called a specialist when they have completed their training, the US as well as Canada require that one is a generalist.

They do not have to take maternal health unless they are specializing in that area as a start, you would be required to make up those hours before you would be permitted to work in the US.

Best suggestion that I can make to you would be to finish your degree in the US and look at getting some rotations out of the US for a couple of months if your program permits it. If they do, they will be aware of what programs will meet their requirements.

Best of luck to you.

[savexpigoo]

Thank you so much for your reply. Just two more questions. Is it the same case with transferring to another STATE? Also, i can transfer to australia after i graduate from my program in the states? no? >

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Can have problems if transferring between states and haven't finished your training. Once you are qualified you just need to meet Australia nursing requirements for foreign trained which will depend on how many years you do for your RN and on the state in Australia you apply to

[suzanne4, RN]

Not sure if you ever looked into it, but it is extremely hard to just try to transfer in the same city and town to another program. Very hard to do in the first place and then you lose many hours with the transfer as well.

Would be much better for you to complete your training here, pass the NCLEX-RN, then follow the threads here for working in Australia or you will be adding on several more years to your training.

Best of luck to you.