Studying Accelerated Nursing Program in the USA as an International Student

Fireman767 · May 11, 2013

First step is to see if your bachelors degree is recognized as a bachelors degree by US college standards. I say this because us colleges are specific on requirements of degree from out of the college. In addition, there is a registration office the courses will have to be run through, where they check course by course to ensure its equivalency to US college courses. If it is considered a bachelors and all courses match up, next would be to ensure you have the pre-reqs and that they are current (5-10 years, depending on the college). Next, because your out of the country you will have to see if you have to take any exams to prove competency, such as toefl (english competency), as well as any other ones the college has (some schools require the GREs, others don't).

The difficulty is going to be background check and fingerprints. For many programs, you are required to submit a background check for either the state departments, FBI, or any other law enforcement to run, this might be a difficulty because of such, and to be honest I'm not sure of how this would be done. I think an admissions officer would be better helping you at this. You would also need to apply for a student visa. In addition, all your vaccines and titers will have to be checked (to US standard, so you may need to get more vaccines if necessary)

I would say speak to some admissions officers or advisers to see the best way of going about this, but what is listed above is the basic stuff, some colleges require more or less.

As far as what schools to apply to, I cant tell you because there all fairly different. But I would suggest considering some backups to accelerated BSNs. There tough to get into, so you may wont to compare them and see which one has interest in you as a student. In addition, you should tell us more details to help us find you some colleges, such as your cumulative GPA. As far as cost goes, there not cheap, your gonna be paying quite a bit for them

Motun · May 11, 2013

Thanks for your comment Fireman767. I have checked many schools, and I have seen that I have most required prerequisites and with a good GPA in the required courses. But one of the problems I am still having is finding a cheaper school and a school with a bit easier application process for an international students.

Thanks!

Shorty11, BSN, RN · May 11, 2013

I attend a university in Texas. (Midwestern State University.) I hold a previous bachelors in biology. I am currently in a traditional BSN program, but the university I attend just recently added an accelerated BSN program. My university also has a program that offers in-state tuition cost to international students from select countries (mainly Caribbean and African countries, but it also includes other countries). Scholarship opportunities are offered for international students as well.

As another PP said, there are many things you need to check into first, but it might be worth looking into since my university offers in-state tuition rates to (some) international students.

I would follow the PP advice and look into whether your degree and classes count as equivalent credits in the US first though.

Best of luck!

Trenata · May 11, 2013

You can check into the University of Texas at Arlington or Western Governors University. However, the problem I see with this is the need to do clinical. How are you going to do clinical? The universities in the US, as far as I know, require clinical in the US.

Shorty11, BSN, RN · May 11, 2013

Good point TWiersch! I was under the impression that you meant you were planning to (physically) move to the US to attend an accelerated BSN program. If your thoughts were to do a "distance education" accelerated BSN program, I think it would be next to impossible with clinical requirements.

Fireman767 · May 11, 2013

Good point TWiersch! I was under the impression that you meant you were planning to (physically) move to the US to attend an accelerated BSN program. If your thoughts were to do a "distance education" accelerated BSN program, I think it would be next to impossible with clinical requirements.

I was under the impression he was going to come here and complete the program, there is really no alternative, no distance based or online version.

Im just going to add in this will be an uphill battle for the OP. He is an international applicant applying for an ABSN, with no real hands on patient experience (just basing it off his degree and chosen field). You say your GPA is good, but competing against national students you need great grades. But thats just for a standard ADN program, I would imagine an ABSN with 30-40 spots would be even more competitive. But you should speak to an admissions officer or adviser.

You may want to choose a school based on what fits for you. Choose one thats comfortable for you, not just the cheapest.

On another note, are you able to transfer the degree back to your country? if all you need is an RN, an associates degree would be easiest and cheapest ( community colleges @ $3000 a semester X 4 semesters compared to an accelerated degree costing $40k total (on the low end, but manyare above that)

Motun · May 11, 2013

Thanks all for your good comments. I am planning to move (physically) and attend the program in the US. Considering the benefit of completing the ABSN program within 15-18months and start working as a nurse, is the reason why I prefer ABSN. I really dont know much about Associates degree, and I also plan to seek the opportunity of working in the US after the program. I need your good advise and suggestions about different schools that would not be so expensive and that would be easier for me to be admitted to, as a foreign graduate.

Shorty11, I would like to know if you were a foreign student yourself pls, or if there is anyone in the forum who is, or knows a foreign student who had gone through this before.

Thanks!

Motun · May 11, 2013

I was under the impression he was going to come here and complete the program, there is really no alternative, no distance based or online version.
Im just going to add in this will be an uphill battle for the OP. He is an international applicant applying for an ABSN, with no real hands on patient experience (just basing it off his degree and chosen field). You say your GPA is good, but competing against national students you need great grades. But thats just for a standard ADN program, I would imagine an ABSN with 30-40 spots would be even more competitive. But you should speak to an admissions officer or adviser.
You may want to choose a school based on what fits for you. Choose one thats comfortable for you, not just the cheapest.
On another note, are you able to transfer the degree back to your country? if all you need is an RN, an associates degree would be easiest and cheapest ( community colleges @ $3000 a semester X 4 semesters compared to an accelerated degree costing $40k total (on the low end, but manyare above that)

Could tell me more about the possibility and betterment of entering into an Associate degree for an international student planning to work in the US after the studies? Also, could you suggest some reasonable community schools with less tuition in this regards?

Thanks!

loriangel14, RN · May 11, 2013

Have you looked into what kind of visa you would qualify for if you plan on working in the US after school? You may not find it easy. You would likely have to go the Green Card route and that takes about 6 years and means finding an employer willing to wait that long and returning home in the mean time.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · May 11, 2013

Tuition and fees for international study are double to triple of that of a resident student. In addition for a student visa you must prove you have sufficient funds to pay for your tuition and living expenses for the duration of your stay.

You may be eligible for "optional professional training" which is a year of work post graduation but most facilities are not willing to hire and train a new grad who cannot work past a year.

Green card wait is 6 years or longer as are other work visas depending on your country of birth. With an associate decree you won't be eligible for many of the visas as BSN is the minimum plus specialty experience for a H1-B visa. So don't count on coming to the US to study then plan to work. Student visas are intended to come to study and return post study to their home country. There is no nursing shortage in the US or Canada. There are many US citizens & permanent residents trained as nurses in the US looking for work both new grads and experienced nurses. Hospitals and other healthcare facilities are not inclined to offer visa sponsorship with all the costs and fees when they have a large pool of nurses already eligible to work.

As you can see most US/CAN students are not in a similar situation and are not familiar with international students studying in the US therefore moving thread to the International Nursing forum to elicit further response.

Fireman767 · May 12, 2013

Well an associates degree is a 2 year degree, where you earn an associates degree and can test for your RN license. It is not a bachelors, but you can work somewhere as an RN while getting your BSN and then move on to a masters if you choose. It takes about 20 months to complete, it isn't as fast paced or crammed as an ABSN is in material, but many students go through the ADN route.

I will not do your research for you, and recommend you look at community colleges near where ever you would like to take classes. You must decide and research because I don't know your stats or requirements or preferences.