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

[AandE angel]

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 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

[steppybay]

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'

So does this mean an international person can get a ATT from AZ without a SSN and hopefully pass the exam, but until a real SSN is issued, the RN license just remains "inactive" until we can provide them with the SSN? I guess by adding the "living abroad" lets the BON know of those being licensed in AZ but can't yet practice or look for a job.

[AZ hopeful]

I sat my NCLEX back in 2007 and at that time you could get an ATT from AZBON without US SSN once you had met CES requirements, not sure if it has changed. An inactive licence doesn't prevent looking for a job, it's the effects of retrogression that has caused that, hospitals cannot keep a position open indefinitely! Lots of us had jobs to go to back in the day but the offers were withdrawn because of the length of time involved with the immigration process. Another point to consider in AZ is that they have so many people applying for nurse training in state that they actually have a to start training so they have a steady flow of new grads which then impacts further on overseas recruitment.

[UK_Nurse_RN]

Hi,

I am a registered UK nurse. My husband I have our green cards and SSN but I have never got my registeration in USA.

In UK I trained as an Adult nurse only so I did not do the other parts.

I was wondering what is the process for someone like me?

I will be very grateful to hear from any of you who had similar situation as me?

Thank you

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

You apply to the state you are in or plan to live in and wait to see what they say once you have met requirements. If your transcripts do not show clinical and theory hours in Paeds, Mental Health, Obstetric and Adult they they will not allow you to sit NCLEX and if passed register as a RN. We have had a few post issues and then some who thought they would have issues didn't. The problem would then be finding somewhere that will allow you to make up the hours required. If in the UK there is no one that does this, if in the US then it is a case of finding a school willing to let you make hours up