US citizen studying abroad seeking advice regarding gaining licensure as an RN in US

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Specializes in Gen Surg & Cardiac.

I am writing to seek advice from other US citizens who have done their nursing degree abroad.

Were you successful in being licensed as an RN in the state of your choice? What country did you receive your Bachelor of Nursing from and in what US state did you receive your RN license?

I have browsed many posts and done my research regarding applying for the NCLEX for my 4 US states of potential future residency but cannot find good information from any recent posts...looking for more current information.

My situation: I am in New Zealand, about to enter a BN program, and cannot get much information from the CA, OR, WA, or CO boards of nursing (the states I may want to become registered in) because I do not have a complete transcript from my NZ nursing school.

I begin in February but before I invest money and 3 years' time I want to be sure that I will be able to work in my home country as an RN! I have read that it is practically impossible to complete courses to make up your educational deficiency, in California, for example, and this is my home state where I would pay the cheapest rates for the make-up courses.

Any information/personal experience (regarding any US state) would be helpful and very much appreciated!!!

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

You need to make sure your transcripts will show clinical and theory hours in Paeds, Mental Health, Obstetrics and Adult as a starting point

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Specializes in Gen Surg & Cardiac.

Thanks Silverdragon. My top school (I have applied to 4 but it is dependent on my partner's work situation as well) offers broad courses to cover pediatrics and obstetrics, for example:

1.Family, Whanau (Maori for family+extended family), and Community Nursing A: to enable students to utilize knowledge and skills to provide appropriate family, whanau and community nursing care throughout the lifespan, including maternal, infant, and adolescent health

2. Family, Whanau, and Community Nursing B: to enable students to apply knowledge and skills to provide appropriate family, whanau and community nursing care throughout the lifespan. To enable students to develop knowledge of maternal and neonatal health and health care.

3. Knowledge for Nursing Practice 4: Family, Whanau, and Community Nursing A&B: to enable students to critically examine the impact of social, political, economic, and environmental influences on family, when and community health in New Zealand society and all people including Maori, throughout the lifespan.

And mental health:

1. Knowledge for Nursing Practice 2: Mental Health and Addictions: to enable students to understand theoretical frameworks related to mental health and how the use of these can influence mental health or addiction nursing across the lifespan.

2. Nursing the Person with Altered Mental Health or Addiction: to enable students to apply nursing knowledge and skills in a culturally safe manner with people who experience altered mental health or addiction.

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What do you mean by Adult as a subject area?

I see that California especially has very high and specific standards so feel like it's probable that when I get my RN license in NZ and try to become licensed in CA I will need to make up at least 1 educational deficiency. Reviewing a few threads, this one in particular https://allnurses.com/nurse-registration/ca-schools-offering-806046-page5.html, makes me concerned that if I do need to make up a course or 2 I won't be able to get into a school.

Just want to do all the research I can so I can rest easy that I will at some point be a registered nurse in NZ and the USA!! It is a big investment here in NZ or if I did it stateside but it makes more sense for me to do it here.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Moved to nurse registration

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