UK nurse relocating to USA, is it worth it?!!

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Hi im a UK a and e nurse and have just started the emigration process to the US, Im really disheartened at how difficult it is and the hoops we appear to have to jump through!! ive just learnt that I have to sit an exam to see if im eligible to sit an exam!! the NCLEX, ive also found that although my lack of Mental Health clinical placement during my P2000 training was never an issue in the UK, it may be in the US, and all this before I even start the Green Card process and job applications :cry: no disrespect to the US, I understand that they must be sure we are suitable before employing us, but my friend has just applied to Australia and has had no issues at all!! I would love to hear from any UK nurse who is in the process at the moment or who has already moved to the US just to reasure me that it will be worth it!! and there is light at the end of what appears to be a very long dark tunnel xx

Specializes in ITU, Surg, District & School Nurse.

Thanks SD, I plan to :onbch:

I have gathered up all my NCLEX review books......they are leaving the building! I'm starting the emigration clearout now as well as that will take at least 3 years and will help to pass the time, kids are frightened to sit still in one spot for too long in case they are put on ebay too :rotfl:

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Hi, I graduated from adult branch in March 08 from a UK university and I'm working now. I'm planning to apply for licence in New Mexico.

Could someone please tell me how I can do my make up hours for paediatric and mental health sections? Do I have to go back to university for that or is there any university which offers these make up hours.

I've chosen International Education Research Foundation (IERF) to do my course by course credentials review. Is that the same as CGFNS?

Thanks...:wink2:

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Hi, I graduated from adult branch in March 08 from a UK university and I'm working now. I'm planning to apply for licence in New Mexico.

Could someone please tell me how I can do my make up hours for paediatric and mental health sections? Do I have to go back to university for that or is there any university which offers these make up hours.

I've chosen International Education Research Foundation (IERF) to do my course by course credentials review. Is that the same as CGFNS?

Thanks...:wink2:

They should assess your transcripts. They are a different company to CGFNS and not a lot I know about them. There was a couple of universities offering catch up courses but will be better contacting them once you know what courses you need to do. It will be a case of phoning a few, see if you can find the thread in the UK forum may be under one of the stickies which consolidates a few sticky threads. You may have to look abroad to make these hours up and theory/practical has to be done at the same time. Sometimes you are able to do this in the US as a guest student but you will have to sort everything out.

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Specializes in surgical.

I am also in the process of applying for my licence and have had trouble with my uni providing enough evidence from my transcripts etc. have satisfied everything apart from paeds at the mo but hopefully have found a way to satisfy for that. I went into the process with my eyes wide open and expected delays in waiting for the state to verify and grant my licence, I also am aware of retrogression etc. but am prepared for the wait. After researching nursing in the states I know that I am doing the right thing and cannot wait to leave this country behind, it is going to the dogs and as hard as you try to better yourself and make a more comfortable life for your family there is always some beaurocrat or tax that is waiting round the corner to knock you back down. My advice is if America is your dream then you can be prepared for the delays and paperwork trails, after all as a nurse its what you do everytime you go to work not to mention the slog of our training. Good luck to all who are prepared to play the game and wait for the dream.:chuckle

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
I am also in the process of applying for my licence and have had trouble with my uni providing enough evidence from my transcripts etc. have satisfied everything apart from paeds at the mo but hopefully have found a way to satisfy for that. I went into the process with my eyes wide open and expected delays in waiting for the state to verify and grant my licence, I also am aware of retrogression etc. but am prepared for the wait. After researching nursing in the states I know that I am doing the right thing and cannot wait to leave this country behind, it is going to the dogs and as hard as you try to better yourself and make a more comfortable life for your family there is always some beaurocrat or tax that is waiting round the corner to knock you back down. My advice is if America is your dream then you can be prepared for the delays and paperwork trails, after all as a nurse its what you do everytime you go to work not to mention the slog of our training. Good luck to all who are prepared to play the game and wait for the dream.:chuckle

That is the key, preparing for the worst and long delays means if it was quicker it is a bonus. The ones I feel sorry for are those with no idea who stumble across here and either read or post their question and do not get the feed back they was expecting. Unfortunately things at the moment are not easy and for some countries the process will be longer due to higher demand but as long as they are aware of reasons why it isn't as quick then the less frustrating it can be

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Specializes in Emergency Care.

Well done you, thats definately the right approach, im still very determined to go to the US even with all the application pitfalls, ive just submitted my stuff to Vermont but am considering paying for the CES as well as it seems that Vermont tend to ask for it anyway and i dont want to wait 4 months for them to then request the CES, I know i may pay and then they dont need it, but anything that gets me in the queue for my Green card quicker has got to be worth it x

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Good Luck with the process. Dont mean to put you on a downer but if you are prepared to wait up to six years due to the visa retrogression. I passed the NCLEX TWO YEARS ago and eventually pulled out of the visa process as it was never ending. I had to think of my childrens education and the USA does not appeal anymore asthey are in a worse reccession than England. Joanna

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hi I am a RN from the UK and I am starting over the process of applying to do the nclex exam and it is tedious. I applied via a credential evaluation agency and they were of no help now i have to then reapply to another. As my university in the UK was unable(or unwilling) to break down my theoretical and practice placement hours. I am so disheartened and eventhough i don't know what the outcome will be I still try to do practice some exam questions.

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Specializes in Emergency.

hi suzan and silverdragon,

i am a british trained rn and i’ve been doing a lot of research in to moving to the us as a rn.

a few years ago i filed directly to the california bon who said i lacked specific clinical and lecture hours but i never actually received this letter, and the woman who dealt with my case was rude enough at best and now she’s moved on…

i’ve been informed by my agency that the ca bon will not even look at our application without a valid ssn as is the case with most us bon’s these days (i’ve just noticed that vermont is the latest addition) – or so i am told!

i have failed the cgfns twice and have no realised i don’t need the cgfns exam!

i am now in ‘limbo’ as to whether or not to re-sub my application to cgfns for a ces or professional report as i now looking to move arizona.

i’m sure you get loads of e-mails and a lot of people asking the same questions….

but may i ask you a few if you have the time?

1. the arizona bon says a ‘affidavit for us ssn’ does that apply to foreign educated nurses?

2. what is a ‘recession’ and does that seriously affect uk nurses? if so, how long could i wait?

3. my agency has advised me to move out of my speciality and move into er as they say that er nurses are most looked after. – is that true?

4. if arizona does accept my transcripts does that mean i can ‘endorse’ to california once i have my nclex (or will they still make me to extra hours still?)

5. if i need to make-up hours where can i complete these in the uk? the only ‘overseas’ courses for nurses in the uk was in brighton nut this has now dissolved.

unlike some commenters who have replied to some of your posts i can assure you people like me really appreciate your input to theses forums!

thank you so much in advance, and any information, advice, or pointers would be gratefully received.

kind regards,

shaun.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
hi suzan and silverdragon,

i am a british trained rn and i’ve been doing a lot of research in to moving to the us as a rn.

a few years ago i filed directly to the california bon who said i lacked specific clinical and lecture hours but i never actually received this letter, and the woman who dealt with my case was rude enough at best and now she’s moved on…

i’ve been informed by my agency that the ca bon will not even look at our application without a valid ssn as is the case with most us bon’s these days (i’ve just noticed that vermont is the latest addition) – or so i am told! correct vermont joined the us ssn requirement last month

i have failed the cgfns twice and have no realised i don’t need the cgfns exam!

i am now in ‘limbo’ as to whether or not to re-sub my application to cgfns for a ces or professional report as i now looking to move arizona. ces report should be easier and quicker as cgfns should still have all required documents

i’m sure you get loads of e-mails and a lot of people asking the same questions….

but may i ask you a few if you have the time?

1. the arizona bon says a ‘affidavit for us ssn’ does that apply to foreign educated nurses? i think so but best to ask them directly. i have dealt with az bon when i moved to canada and they was quick responding to my question and confirming with ns that i had a us license

2. what is a ‘recession’ and does that seriously affect uk nurses? if so, how long could i wait? recession is affecting everyone regardless where from. currently looking at 6plus years wait for immigrant visa. i had a pd of aug 2006 and if i hadn't moved to canada would be still waiting in the uk, currently working on june 2006

3. my agency has advised me to move out of my speciality and move into er as they say that er nurses are most looked after. – is that true? i wouldn't say so. jobs i believe isn't as good in az as it used to be

4. if arizona does accept my transcripts does that mean i can ‘endorse’ to california once i have my nclex (or will they still make me to extra hours still?) no you will still have the same issues as ca will still want to do their own assessment because you trained overseas there has been talk that international educated nurses who come up for license renewal may be affected

5. if i need to make-up hours where can i complete these in the uk? the only ‘overseas’ courses for nurses in the uk was in brighton nut this has now dissolved. i do not think there is anywhere now in the uk that offers catch up courses. brighton only started it because demand was there however with retrogression the demand went

unlike some commenters who have replied to some of your posts i can assure you people like me really appreciate your input to theses forums!

thank you so much in advance, and any information, advice, or pointers would be gratefully received.

kind regards,

shaun.

i hope this helps, my answers are in blue. i wish i could give good answers all the time unfortunately i can't and i try to give an honest answer based on what i have seen written here but others. you may want to think about other countries, within 4 months of moving to canada i cancelled my us application. we love canada and the us is only 4-5 hours away by car from where i live and flights are even shorter.

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Specializes in ITU, Surg, District & School Nurse.

The AZ BON do require you to have an affadavit signed by a notary to issue a licence without US SSN and then your status will be listed as 'Inactive, living abroad'

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Specializes in ITU, Surg, District & School Nurse.

Oh and no AZ hospitals have recruited in the UK since we started the process in 2007!!!:cry:

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