Advise for my fiancee's RN career

[ddnpinky 4]

Hi VJs,

My fiancee needs helpful advise in how to continue her RN career here in Atlanta , GA. Examples such as best refresher course to take in preparing for testing to allower her to work as a RN? Who and where are the testing centers? How much would all this cost?

[Anh map 2,098]

Find the GA board of nursing website and I am sure you'll find what she needs to do to obtain a GA license. As I recall, the training in PI is geared toward US standards.

[AlohaBabes 5]

Aloha!!

Hi! I just like to ask if your fiance is a registered nurse here in the Philippines?

If she is an RN here then she have a chance to proceed her profession in the US.

She needs to take NCLEX exam. or state board exam in your state. Georgia. before she can get a license and practice nursing.

Let her check this link

https://www.ncsbn.org/contactbon.htm

then choose Georgia to check for requirements on how to take the NCLEX exam.

Every state have their own different requirements, thats why she needs to look at Georgia.

For her refresher course, She just need to review but she should have been reviewing already while shes still in the Philippines. Because its cheaper here.. She can review at KAPLAN review center.. its one of the best review center here in the philippines even there in the US. Let her check about it if there is Kaplan near her place.

Goodluck and God Bless!!

[DouglasFiel 53]

My wife went through the NCLEX process here in Texas after she immigrated... By the time she attempted to take the NCLEX the first time... She was out of college for almost 3 years. Even though she passed her PI RN test with minimal review, she did not pass the NCLEX due to the Drug and Prioritization areas,, which is much different then in the Philippines. And, unfortunately the prep classes here in the USA are short,,, and are really focused on training recent US graduates to take the test,,, although there are some classes like Kaplan that have an international add-on I think...

I think the the US KAPLAN course was like $400 for 4 days. We decided, it would be best to take the course in the Philippines, Gapus (spelling?) or KAPLAN. She ended up going to a KAPLAN 12 week course (Gapus cancelled their review last minute)... Cost for 12 weeks about $400.

She did the first 6 weeks, which was mostly watching pre-recorded training materials and taking assessment tests,,, and the second 6 weeks would be in a class room setting with the instructors.

Since,,, she was only a couple of percent below passing on two areas,,, We decided to take the NCLEX in Manila mid-way thorough the training (March 09).

She passed the test, flew back to Texas, got her license Apr 8 and her first job offer two weeks later.

+++ The facts vs myth +++

Myth: Easy to become a nurse in the USA. In total probably cost $8k to get her license (with the return to the PI to get additional review)

Fact: The path is not so easy,,, every state has different hurdles. I am from Iowa,,, I looked at Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Texas... All part of the Nurse Compact... They all had different requirements. Texas was the easiest.

Myth: Our training courses are better

Fact: The Phillipine NCLEX courses are specifically designed to overcome educational gaps in the Philippine Nursing programs

+++ Bottom Line +++

Get all the review done there you can before she immigrates.

Get all the paperwork done you can before she immigrates. At least in Texas I think she could get eligibility to take the NCLEX before

she immigrates.

If I recall correctly for Texas she needed.

1. Submit Application to State of Texas (I think you can do this without an SSN)... Cost maybe $135

++ I think there was an FBI background check and finger printing that we had to provide... Not sure how that works

with out of country candidates

2. Get her transcripts send from her college directly to the Texas BON approved list of transcript review services... I used one in California. Cost like $400

++ They will provide Texas BON with results

3. Once approved... Texas BON will provide an ATT (Authorization to take test) with NCLEX.

4. Register to take NCLEX test at one of their centers. Not sure the cost,, maybe $339 for USA plus an additional $150 if overseas (Ie. Manila)

Bascially, that is it for Texas... If you fail the NCLEX, you need to reapply through the Texas BON (pay another app fee) and get anther ATT and

reschedule another NCLEX test (Pay again)... Note: For Texas you can retake the NCLEX every 45 days for up to 2 years from the first attempt. After

that you will have to retake your nursing education.

+++

In my opinion... Get her started down the path as soon as possible.

Note: The reason I decided to get her licensed her in Texas (they don't have the following additional requirement)...

Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota required her to use CGFNS

1. transcripts approved by CGFNS,

2. take an English proficiency test

3. take the CGFNS pre-NCLEX test (which is held only twice a year in Chicago and Houston)...

This adds a bit of additional hurdles, time and cost,,, travel,,, plus if you don't pass their test,

you have to wait another 6 months... And pay again. Once you pass the CGFNS test, then you get the ATT

and can sit for the NCLEX.

Also, Keep in mind, by getting her Texas license she can practise in any of the Nurse Compact states which includes

■Arizona

■Arkansas

■Colorado

■Delaware

■Idaho

■Iowa

■Kentucky

■Maine

■Maryland

■Mississippi

■Missouri

■Nebraska

■New Hampshire

■New Mexico

■North Carolina

■North Dakota

■Rhode Island

■South Carolina

■South Dakota

■Tennessee

■Texas

■Utah

■Virginia

■Wisconsin

Not Georgia,,, however, it is usually pretty easy to transfer a license from a compact state to a non-compact state through a process

called license by endorsement (i think). Traveling nurses do this frequesntly.

So, you could license in a more friendly state (check their requirements),,, and then transfer later. The most important thing is to get

any US RN License what ever the cost,,, the return on investment is definitely there.

Good Luck... And hollar if I can help... Was a long lonely road for us.

Regards,

dc

Edited May 12, 2012 by DouglasFiel

[DouglasFiel 53]

Note: Double Checked some costs...

$139 for Texas BON application

$200 for NCLEX (Plus an additional $150 if taking at an international location)

regards,

dc

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

**** Moving from K1 to Finding Work in America ****

[DouglasFiel 53]

Here is a helpful link: http://sos.georgia.gov/acrobat/PLB/38%20Application%20for%20Licensure%20by%20Exam%20-%20International%20Graduates.pdf

[ddnpinky 4]

Thanks VJer's for the response and for letting me know such guidelines. Just a follow up question then, would it be easy for my fiancee to work for the meantime in Nursing/Retirement Homes while still taking ways to be a US-RN?

[Darnell 8,478]

My wife went through the NCLEX process here in Texas after she immigrated...[snip]

Douglas - thanks so much for the comprehensive write up.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Thanks VJer's for the response and for letting me know such guidelines. Just a follow up question then, would it be easy for my fiancee to work for the meantime in Nursing/Retirement Homes while still taking ways to be a US-RN?

Not as a Nurse! Lot of info in the International section of allnurses.com

[DouglasFiel 53]

Not as a Nurse! Lot of info in the International section of allnurses.com

She could work,,, but, anything that requires a license or certification she would need to obtain here.

She could work as a CNA or a Tech possibly,,, if the the Nursing home provides the training. But, then again

she would make about $12-14 doing this.... All that is required is a high school diploma and some basic

patient care training.

By the way,,, getting a nursing job here in the USA is not easy without significant experience.

I seen many blogs about experienced US Nurses having trouble finding work. We happen to be in Austin, Texas (Plenty

of jobs here)... Even so,,, my wife lacking US experience received no contact from many apps to hospitals and

medical clinics... The first two jobs offers came from jobs I found through Craiglist for Long Term Care Facilities

(Nursing Homes). The first was 50 miles away and 10pm-6am.. She turned down the job only because she did not feel

the location was safe after dark. The second job offer a week or two later was also, for Long Term Care (6a-3p)...

About an hour drive,,, inside of Austin City limits. Just the opposite side of town. We opted to take that job.

We rented out the house and rented closer to the job location. After a couple of months,,, She applied for a

Dialysis Intern position with a hospital 75 miles north of Austin,,, Their local affiliate 10 mins from our old

house called her into interview for a local position (which she did not apply). They hired her and trained her

as a Dialysis Nurse. This is what she wanted as career since attending Nursing School. Why am I conveying all of

this. Is to detail,,, the path may not be easy and the path may not be short (Think immgration). But, perseverance

can get you the desired results.

BTW... Still not in our house... Lease was through June. But, we did move back to North Austin and living close to the

our house :)

Regards,

dc

[Flames9_RN 358]

She could work,,, but, anything that requires a license or certification she would need to obtain here.

She could work as a CNA or a Tech possibly,,, if the the Nursing home provides the training. But, then again

she would make about $12-14 doing this.... All that is required is a high school diploma and some basic

patient care training.

By the way,,, getting a nursing job here in the USA is not easy without significant experience.

I seen many blogs about experienced US Nurses having trouble finding work. We happen to be in Austin, Texas (Plenty

of jobs here)... Even so,,, my wife lacking US experience received no contact from many apps to hospitals and

medical clinics... The first two jobs offers came from jobs I found through Craiglist for Long Term Care Facilities

(Nursing Homes). The first was 50 miles away and 10pm-6am.. She turned down the job only because she did not feel

the location was safe after dark. The second job offer a week or two later was also, for Long Term Care (6a-3p)...

About an hour drive,,, inside of Austin City limits. Just the opposite side of town. We opted to take that job.

We rented out the house and rented closer to the job location. After a couple of months,,, She applied for a

Dialysis Intern position with a hospital 75 miles north of Austin,,, Their local affiliate 10 mins from our old

house called her into interview for a local position (which she did not apply). They hired her and trained her

as a Dialysis Nurse. This is what she wanted as career since attending Nursing School. Why am I conveying all of

this. Is to detail,,, the path may not be easy and the path may not be short (Think immgration). But, perseverance

can get you the desired results.

BTW... Still not in our house... Lease was through June. But, we did move back to North Austin and living close to the

our house :)

Regards,

dc

yes, like I said--NOT as a Nurse

[ddnpinky 4]

Thank you guys for your helpful advise. We will keep you posted of her career goal.