UK nurse in process of going to Florida

suzanne4, RN · Mar 11, 2006

Prisons are definitely NOT the way to go as a new foreign nurse coming to the US. There is just too much to learn about our system first. You will be putting yourself into a situation where you can easily lose your license.

SHELLY26 · Mar 11, 2006

Prisons are definitely NOT the way to go as a new foreign nurse coming to the US. There is just too much to learn about our system first. You will be putting yourself into a situation where you can easily lose your license.

Okay thanks I was told that prisons are crying out for nurses in the US so guessed that I would have more chance of sponsership. I think that I must be dim as I still have no idea of the steps to take and in what order, can you please tell me starting from graduation from a Scottish university, thanks. I was looking at the immigration site for the US and am now worried about the chances of obtaining a visa . My husband and I will both be nurses and if we are planning to buy a property for cash before we even move out, maybe to rent not sure if this wil help visa application. Can you work on a tourist visa and what chance do you have for the US to extend it to a green card? Is the New York route an easier option , will we have more chance of visas if we apply to NY, sorry for so many questions.

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Mar 11, 2006

Dear Shelly

You need to read all the posts and threads on the UK and the International forums they will answer all your questions and more. Your biggest problem I can see is that if you are not qualified yet is that you cannot work here in the US unless you do further placements and study which includes Paeds, midwifery and mental health.

Most of the RN's who qualified after the mid 90's dont tend to have the right qualifications unless they are EN nurses who have converted.

suzanne4, RN · Mar 11, 2006

Okay thanks I was told that prisons are crying out for nurses in the US so guessed that I would have more chance of sponsership. I think that I must be dim as I still have no idea of the steps to take and in what order, can you please tell me starting from graduation from a Scottish university, thanks. I was looking at the immigration site for the US and am now worried about the chances of obtaining a visa . My husband and I will both be nurses and if we are planning to buy a property for cash before we even move out, maybe to rent not sure if this wil help visa application. Can you work on a tourist visa and what chance do you have for the US to extend it to a green card? Is the New York route an easier option , will we have more chance of visas if we apply to NY, sorry for so many questions.

Please do your research, you cannot legally work in any country on a toursit visa. There is only one type of visa that is currently available to you and that is the green card.

Please take the time to read all of the stickies at the top of the International Forum, it will make your life much easier. You will ned to qualify for licensure in the US as an RN before you can and should consider anything.

RGN1 · Mar 11, 2006

If you did an older style course or a P2000 course where you didn't have options that meant you didn't get to do maternity or paeds then you will be fine. It's not so much the date you qualified as to the course you did. Your school of nursing should be able to tell you because they are completeing transcripts all the time so I suggest that you might like to contact them first before you start worrying.

RGN1 · Mar 11, 2006

I wouldn't warn you against Adevia, they do not charge you anything so until you take up a contract you have no worries. If you do take up a contract be sure you have made the right decision before signing on the dotted line. The only downside with most agencies is the fee you'll be charged should you break the contract!

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Mar 12, 2006

If you did an older style course or a P2000 course where you didn't have options that meant you didn't get to do maternity or paeds then you will be fine.

Did you mean to write this? or do you mean you did maternity and paeds then you will be fine?

suzanne4, RN · Mar 12, 2006

If you did an older style course or a P2000 course where you didn't have options that meant you didn't get to do maternity or paeds then you will be fine. It's not so much the date you qualified as to the course you did. Your school of nursing should be able to tell you because they are completeing transcripts all the time so I suggest that you might like to contact them first before you start worrying.

That is actually not correct, in the older programs you did have hours in each of the required areas.

And the date that you qualified plays a big part, if one of the older programs, then you did the generalist route and that is accepted as is, if the newer programs, then you are doing the specialist route and that is where the issue comes up. There a couple of programs in the UK where you can get the needed hours for the US if you are in their program already, but the rest will not give you the required hours and you need to majke them up.

suzanne4, RN · Mar 12, 2006

I wouldn't warn you against Adevia, they do not charge you anything so until you take up a contract you have no worries. If you do take up a contract be sure you have made the right decision before signing on the dotted line. The only downside with most agencies is the fee you'll be charged should you break the contract!

Agencies need to get their payment from somewhere, and unfortunately most take it from the RNs paycheck, even indirectly. Do your homework on this. There are agencies out there that do get padi 100% by the facility and this is how it should be.

And watch out for the cancellation clause of any contract, it can be about $20,000 US or even more. And some have it set up so that they need to be paid before you would even be permitted to leave the country.

Also just another caveat, agencies do not set the requirements for US licensure, the state BONs do, as well as US immigration policies. If an agency tells you not to worry about it, or that you will not need to make it up, run from them. They have absolutely no say about it and cannot change the rulings to suit them. You will need to make up the hours.

english_nurse · Mar 12, 2006

Dear Shelly
You need to read all the posts and threads on the UK and the International forums they will answer all your questions and more. Your biggest problem I can see is that if you are not qualified yet is that you cannot work here in the US unless you do further placements and study which includes Paeds, midwifery and mental health.
Most of the RN's who qualified after the mid 90's dont tend to have the right qualifications unless they are EN nurses who have converted.

well i qualified in september 2003 and had more than enough of the required hours!

the only way to find out how many hours you completed is to get your transcripts from the university.

they take into account time off sick so all slackers beware! :lol2:

RGN1 · Mar 12, 2006

If you did do the paeds & maternity you'll be fine. I guess I didn't write it the best way!

RGN1 · Mar 12, 2006

As always it pays to do your homework! Check that you'll be on a direct contract with the hospital - ie once you've signed up with the hospital the agency is done with you (bar the break of contract thing). With some agencies you'll still be on their payroll & they will take a cut before they pay you.

By the by I did the Kaplan one day live course and it was brilliant. It's perfect for those who have already done a lot of home study & want to find out strategies to help with N-CLEX and to see if they can get a passing score on the practice test. Also if you thought you needed more by the end of the day they offset the price against the on-line or 5 day live course. It is expansive but I would truly recommend Kaplan to anyone. So thanks for the earlier tip girls!