Nurse with K1 Visa: Exams needed

[Kikay K 1]

Hi! I'm a Filipina nurse waiting for our K1's NOA2. I will be taking my NCLEX exam this August 2010. Are there others here on VJ who had the same situation as mine? Do I need to take CGFNS (my fiance's state requires CGFNS eligibility for foreign-educated nurses) and IELTS in order to be employed in the US? My friends who tried to answer that question had incongruent answers, so I'm hoping to concretize ideas and reasons through VJ. The other tests require a lot of cash, and of course a lot of effort to review for them! :-) Thanks in advance!

Edited July 13, 2010 by Andrew & K

[SpelaD 4]

hi...im from slovenia and also am a nurse, like you. In the state of florida, you need to send various documents to CGFNS where they evaluate your education. I dont think you need to take CGFNS test... After they evaluate ur education (you need to pass the TOEFL/IELTS prior to that), you apply for NCLEX and when you pass, you get a state licence for practicing nursing...

one question...where do you study for your nclex from?

[boingboing 0]

If the nursing board in your state requires CGFNS, you need to take it. Call the state nursing board or check their Web site.

You may not practice nursing in the U.S. until you pass the NCLEX.

Asawa obtained nursing license in adjacent state that did not require TOEFL, then with that license, applied for nursing license in husband's state, which requires it. She was scared to take English test.

TOEFL/IELTS is a very simple standardized test of English language proficiency. You will have to speak English in all facilities (even though most nurses & many Doctors are Filipino.)

[Kikay K 1]

Thanks for your reply!

@Spelad: I am not attending a review class for my nclex. I am also a lecturer in a nursing school and in a review center, so I find myself confident to review by myself (PLUS: attending a review class costs a lot of money!!!) :-) I took a 2.5-week leave of absence from work, which starts tomorrow, so I can prepare formally for my exam. Still have the jitters when I think about it :-D I might need more time to review. I am scheduled on Aug. 5, but I might have to move it to a later date based on my self-evaluation by the end of my review :-p Good thing they don't charge for change of test schedule!

@Boingboing: I am more inclined towards taking both CGFNS and IELTS after my NCLEX in August. At least, by the time I get there, I will have all the certifications and no longer need to study for an exam, so I can enjoy my new status as a wife. LOL!

Thanks again!

[SpelaD 4]

can i do the NCLEX before CGFNS??

[Kikay K 1]

@Spelad: It depends on the state you're applying NCLEX for. Many states do not require CGFNS (http://filipinonurse.blogspot.com/2006/02/list-of-non-cgfns-states.html). If your state requires CGFNS, then you must take it prior to taking NCLEX (given that you're taking NCLEX for the SAME state). As for me, I am taking NCLEX first because I applied to a different state (not fiance's state), and I will just apply for reciprocity (which takes 2-3 months to process then I can have my license in my fiance's state... which is about the same time it takes for me to be able to work in the US with a K1 visa). It happened this way because of my lack of requirements for CGFNS by the time I had the capacity to apply for NCLEX.

The reason I posted this topic is that my nurse-friend told me that with a K1 visa, I may not have to take the English test and the CGFNS, because I will later have a change of status after we get married. It's confusing and I'm quite lazy to contact the IELTS and CGFNS offices, and anyway, I feel that I should take them so as not to have any further worries in the future.

[SpelaD 4]

florida board of nursing requires me to have CGFNS education evaluation prior to applying to NCLEX... what do you use to study for NCLEX - RN exam???

[Kikay K 1]

Hi! For NCLEX, I have Saunders Comprehensive NCLEX-RN review (i'm even using the 2nd edition... I think they're on their 4th edition now) as my main reference. It's very helpful. I have other books but I rarely use them since I have Saunders. Just keep on practicing with test questions. I have several software like Saunders (4e, NCLEX 4000, NCLEX-RN), Lippincott (NCLEX-RN 3500 is also nice), Mosby, ATI, Kaplan, Springhouse, etc. You can also find a lot on the internet for free. Just don't sell them! LOL! My favorite software is Saunders 4e, in terms of interface, features, and questions.

As for CGFNS, if you have paid your application, they will send you a review material, I've seen it and tried answering them, they're much easier than NCLEX questions (this is what I heard from those who already passed both exams). You may use NCLEX materials to study for CGFNS, and vice versa.

[treefrog 0]

Thanks for your reply!

@Spelad: I am not attending a review class for my nclex. I am also a lecturer in a nursing school and in a review center, so I find myself confident to review by myself (PLUS: attending a review class costs a lot of money!!!) :-) I took a 2.5-week leave of absence from work, which starts tomorrow, so I can prepare formally for my exam. Still have the jitters when I think about it :-D I might need more time to review. I am scheduled on Aug. 5, but I might have to move it to a later date based on my self-evaluation by the end of my review :-p Good thing they don't charge for change of test schedule!

@Boingboing: I am more inclined towards taking both CGFNS and IELTS after my NCLEX in August. At least, by the time I get there, I will have all the certifications and no longer need to study for an exam, so I can enjoy my new status as a wife. LOL!

Thanks again!

hi kabayan..Im a RN in phil,and now here in USA entered with K1 visa. Since you said that you are a nurse lecturer would you mind ( with your permission)to let me/us know which nursing review center your working in phil. Even just provide acronym of review center for confidentiality reason...I am proud to say that I passed and became Ph RN through the hardship,words of encouragements and sharing experience from our lecturer, support from families and above all prayers.

[Kikay K 1]

hi kabayan..Im a RN in phil,and now here in USA entered with K1 visa. Since you said that you are a nurse lecturer would you mind ( with your permission)to let me/us know which nursing review center your working in phil. Even just provide acronym of review center for confidentiality reason...I am proud to say that I passed and became Ph RN through the hardship,words of encouragements and sharing experience from our lecturer, support from families and above all prayers.

Hello, Treefrog. Glad you're there in the US to be with your man :-) My fiance is also a Filipino nurse, but he's an american citizen. So do I really need to take the CGFNS and IELTS if I will already hold a K1 visa? Have you looked into this? As for my review center, it's main office is close to UST :-) I doubt it that you were my student before because I've been teaching for almost a year only.

[treefrog 0]

Hello, Treefrog. Glad you're there in the US to be with your man :-) My fiance is also a Filipino nurse, but he's an american citizen. So do I really need to take the CGFNS and IELTS if I will already hold a K1 visa? Have you looked into this? As for my review center, it's main office is close to UST :-) I doubt it that you were my student before because I've been teaching for almost a year only.

yes I'm already here and happily married.As far as your concern about IELTS/ CGFNS I am sorry to say but i can't provide you any answer for that, But the best thing for you to do is to contact the state board of nursing here in USA that you wish to apply to take your nclex exam if IELTS/ CGFNS is required.

In my case i haven't take IELTS/ CGFNS yet but planning to take NCLEX soon once everything turns alright.

Looking forward for you to be here in state soon.