Uk nurse wanting to move to the america

[suzy12]

Hi all :) I have been on here before ... I am trying to sort out my transition to the states ... Am not concerned to much about the visa process as my fiancé is an American citizen and can sponsor me . But I phoned the Florida state of nursing and they want my transcripts which is all fair and good , this will be to compare my learning to that of an American nurse I imagine , however they want $300 + to read my transcripts and am worried sick that what if I don't compare ... I know that they need hours in paeds obs, mental health , child and adult ... I did the common foundation year that encompassed a health visitor / school nurse placement and I went out with the midwives , however that was all one placement that lasted 5 weeks ... That was 160 hours total ... I also did a mental health placement that was 172 hours total ... I have done community , surgical , medical , ICU , HDU , community hospital , and Macmillan ... But am worried about my mother, child and baby won't be enough ... I can't sleep with the worry and I can't seem to find out any information except from when I hand in my transcripts and be charged the $300 will I know for sure and if there is anything I can do if I do fall short ... Which reading on here seems unlikely ...

Am Sad and confused about this whole process!

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

[loriangel14, RN]

Likely all you can do is wait and see what they say. I don't think that there is much recourse if you fall short.

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

There is nothing you can do until you have paid for CES or other approved evaluation and the BON who will then look at the report and decide whether you meet requirements or not. If you are short of hours then you may find it hard to make the hours up. In the UK there is currently no way to make hours up unless you do an 18 month approved course like Midwifery and generally for that you will require a job in that area and support of your employer.

[babyNP., APRN]

It's a long and expensive process. You're going to run into the same thing with every other state...no shortcuts.

[suzy12]

I know there is a wait and it is expensive, my desire is not necessarily to move to the states, it is to be with my fiance, he is willing to move here if need be but he has quite a good job over there, and on paper it appears to make more sense for me to move there. but I need to work , I LOVE NURSING!! what I Really need to know if I can work as a nurse in the US and can my foundation year be counted as enough. we have talked about this and will do anything and live in any country to be together. we have been long distance for 2 years and see each other every 6 to 8 weeks, text, skype and talk every day, but neither of us want this to be a forever scenario

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Each state will have their own requirements on what is acceptable or not. The only way to find out really is apply to the state you plan on living and working in. Also be aware that in many states finding work as a RN is hard, even for those already in the US so coming in without knowing anyone makes it harder

[suzy12]

Thanks Silverdragon102 I am currently waiting for my transcripts and will be taking them off personally to the Florida nursing board and I know that will all take time, i just wish there was clear guidance on information, cos I could be wasting my time doing this and delaying other routes of action.

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Just be clear that Florida requires either CGFNS CES report or other acceptable service

http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/nursing/info_EduOutUS.pdf

[suzy12]

Thank you :) this is the site I used as well and have contacted Josef Silny & Associates, Inc that are on the list. it was them that told me about they would require my transcripts to compare, however they could not tell me how many hours I would need in paeds, obs child etc.. just that they would need the $300+ fee to look at it...... I really dont mind that but not teliing me about the hours required in this area seemed to confuse me ? and stress me out no end. could be months doing this and we could spend a lot more in the process to find out that am a few hours short and have wasted a year or more trying

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Unfortunately that is how things are in the US. I know many UK nurses have met FL requirements but they generally trained back in the 80's before UK changed it's training. I know for 2 other states I met their requirements and had 75 clinical hours for Mental Health and Obstetrics and 800 hours Paeds and over 1000 hours Adult and theory was 150 hours Mental Health, Obstetrics and Paeds, can't remember how many hours I had for Adult but met 2 state requirements

[suzy12]

when I Started my nursing I did the 1 year common foundation year, I know that was different from before but we were one of the last to do it. the first 4 or 6 months the midwives were taught with us in the class and as I said earlier that my only placement was with the health visitor/school nurse and spent time with the midwives,(160 hours total in placement and there was theory in class in my oar there is a section that is signed off for mother and baby. we did learning disability and mental health which was 192 hours on placement, there was also theory, but i know what you are saying regarding the older trained nurses as they have told me that they did a longer common foundation. my adult is the majority... I dont know how many hours but its in the thousands, thanks so much for your advice and I wish my fiance did not live in a place that is full of hurdles to get into....we are really just wanting to be able to be together and even thought of austrailia.... as he is in air conditioning and there is not much work for that here

[Gem1210390]

I thought I would write I done the same common foundation program as you and I am registered in the state of vermont. If it is also any help they have the concurrency issues like California and they have allowed me to remain registered with no problem. Do t know if this helps or not. ?