UK RN moving to California - HELP

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Hi all,

So I know this topic has been talked about over and over but I still require some anwsers that I just cannot seem to find....so here goes....

I am a 26 year old RN working in a hospital in London (plastic surgery nurse) I graduated in August 2015 with a Post Graduate Diploma in Adult Nursing. So in August 2017 I will have been two years qualfied and ready to move to California (all agencies and all US nurses i've spoken to state I will need 2 years experience in the UK before I can get a job there). Additonally I am currently studying my Masters degree in Nursing which I will graduate from in September 2017.

I have ordered my transcript from my univeristy to be sent to CGFNS and I have sat down with the programme lead of my nursing programme to fill in the additional form that CGFNS require stating my exact theory and clincial hours of each area, thankfully, as I knew even prior to starting my course I wanted to nurse in the US I think I have (just) enough theory/clinical hours in paeds, midwifery and mental health due to relentlessly asking for experience in these areas as a student, alongside my plentiful hours in theory and clinical of adult nusring covering all areas from med to surg. I am aiming on taking my NCLEX next summer so that hopefully (!) by September 2017 I will have a valid NCLEX certificate, obviously I can only book to take this if CGFNS decide my theory and clincial hours are enough...am I right?

So the questions...

Can I sit the NCLEX in the UK and just state that it is the Californian board of nursing that I want my results sent to?

Is an agency the only way to go in regards to getting a job in California due to not having social security number or is it possible independently?

How long does CGFNS take to get back to me in regards to my transcript/hours?

And how long does it take to receive NCLEX results?

and finally....am I crazy for thinking this is even a possibility that before i'm 30 I could be working as a nurse in California?

Any useful, positive, helpful information would be greatly received.

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The California BRN won't accept an application for licensure without a Social Security number.

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How do any foreign nurses get to work in Califronia then? Is the state of California only an option for nurses if you are married to an american citizen or if you are foreign but already live there for a year or two under other circumstances, therefore having a SSN? I am aware they dont accept applications without one but how DO you get one? Or is it just not possible?

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Until in the US with a valid work or immigrant visa you can not apply to California. A US SSN will only be issued once in the US and proof on residency. You can apply to another state that doesn't require a US SSN and then once in the US and have a SSN apply to California.

Until you have eligibility from a state you can not sit NCLEX

The process is long and depending on visa bulletin and place of birth will depend on how long a process for immigration and that is different to applying to a state. On average looking at 4-6 months with state and then anything from a few months to over a decade depending on place of birth

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Thank you for the extra information. Very useful to know. My brother lives in Seattle so maybe I will apply to a nursing board in a state closer to there and work there for a bit first to be with family before applying to the Californian nursing board. I was born in the UK, and the last visa bulletin says that there is no delay in processing these. I am not eligible for a job in the states until September 2017 due do all coorespondance so far saying I need the two years post grad experience. But I am just trying to get as much of the admin done as possible before then.

Do you know if my chosen nursing board requires my CES from CGFNS before they will allow me to sit the NCLEX? I found a testing centre in London where I can sit it.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Living here for a decade won't get you a SSN. Getting a visa with work rights, becoming a citizen, or securing sponsorship towards a permanent residency (green card) gives eligibility for a green card. No SSN CABRN will automatically reject your application. If you don't have clinical & theory in all disciplines (adult, geriatric, pediatric, psychiatric/mental health, and obstetrics/women's health) you aren't eligible for a US license as US nurses are generalist trained unlike specialty training in the U.K.

Check with the washington board of nursing. Most states require CES. Two years experience is not a guarantee of employment opportunities. The unemployment rate of nurses in CA is >40%. Your chances increase if you are specialist trained/experienced

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Thank you for the extra information. Very useful to know. My brother lives in Seattle so maybe I will apply to a nursing board in a state closer to there and work there for a bit first to be with family before applying to the Californian nursing board. I was born in the UK, and the last visa bulletin says that there is no delay in processing these. I am not eligible for a job in the states until September 2017 due do all coorespondance so far saying I need the two years post grad experience. But I am just trying to get as much of the admin done as possible before then.

Do you know if my chosen nursing board requires my CES from CGFNS before they will allow me to sit the NCLEX? I found a testing centre in London where I can sit it.

state will not give ok to sit NCLEX until all requirements are met and this will include CES or other accepted agency report. Current visa bulletin is June 2016. Nurses generally come under EB3

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Luckily, hours wise, I have enough hours in all disciplines, I knew when I was a student I wanted to work in the US so I got exposures in the different specialities and took extra modules for paeds and the rest of them. And thankfully these show up on my transcript! There are so many people getting stuck with this so whenever I have a student nurse working with me now I tell them to sit extra modules and work extra clinical hours in ALL specialities if they want to travel with there qualification.

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Luckily, hours wise, I have enough hours in all disciplines, I knew when I was a student I wanted to work in the US so I got exposures in the different specialities and took extra modules for paeds and the rest of them. And thankfully these show up on my transcript! There are so many people getting stuck with this so whenever I have a student nurse working with me now I tell them to sit extra modules and work extra clinical hours in ALL specialities if they want to travel with there qualification.

You may have the clinical hours but did your program have theoretical hours done concurrently for the speciality areas, for example when you did your pedi module was the theory part of your curriculum ?

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Yes, it was, thank goodness!

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

You can apply for an SSN when applying for your Visa. I trained and worked in Scotland as an RN and now live in Washington State. I was able to sit the NCLEX before CES report was sent. I was able to move here fairly easy because my dad is a us citizen and was in the Navy. I was born in the UK but was given a US report of Birth Abroad which allowed me to get an SSN. When I moved here I had to get green cards for my children then I was able to get them citizenship, then an SSN. Not sure if any of that is helpful to you but thought I'd share.

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Dear SliverDragon,

I am in the dilemma, trained in the UK, planing to move to america with my family.

In 2010, CGFNS told me I lack practical hours in peads & mental health nursing. No University in the UK is willing to give me the opportunity to make up those hours.

What do you suggest? should I re- train in america or apply to work as an LPN? Not sure if i can get a working visa for an LPN. will i be faced with the same issue of not having enough hours in peads & mental health.

My friend recommended joining an agency called my assignment america. what do you think?

Is there a college/ universities where UK trained nurses can make up these theological/ practical in America for 6 months to a year?

I will be very grateful if anyone can provide useful advise and information.

Regards

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