fluxsta

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Hi all,
New to this forum and am keen for information on what is proving to be a complete minefield of mixed messages for me! I am an RN in Mental Health in the UK and aim to work in/around the Portland,Oregon area? A fellow memebr of this site suggested that maybe some nurses had posted in this area of the forum so i have cut/paste this message here also.

I have so many varied Q's but will limit first post to just a few! I understand that in the USA a Registered Nurse qualification is needed to practice in psychiatry (or mental health as known in UK), and as you know there is a distinct boundary for this in UK. I understand that a number of areas of practice have to be fulfilled such as paediatrics etc to fulfill the RN requirement in the States.

As I did an RN in psychiatirc care is this recognised at all? Or do i need to be a general RN to work in psyc wards?? I see lots of info on Oregon State Board of Nursing webpage, and have looked at the NCLEX exam (which i do not think i would pass due to limited knowledge of general nursing skills) and also the CGFNS exam for foreign nurses?

I have a Bachelors Degree in Psychology also which goes some way to getting employment in USA. It is really how I go about finding out about being a mental health nurse specicfically as i couldn't bear the thought of 3 more years general nurse training here in UK (money etc).

In my brief research the visa process for workers in the US apears to be that you have to get sponsorship and a job offer. By distance and via teh medium of e-mail, telephone etc applications this seems like a nightmare on first glance! I have looked at nursing employment agencies in UK who find you work but this costs a fortune and i am quite capable of finding out information myself about it.

This issue of psychiatry VS general nursing is one that i need answering??
IF THERE ARE ANY UK MENTAL HEALTH NURSES WORKIGN IN USA PLEASE DO SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH ME !!!! Gratefully received!!

scrubbedexpat099

www.allnurses.com

I believe the Nurse route to the US is quite backlogged, I have no idea about the qualification issue.

scrubbedexpat099

I must be dozing, the marriage route option is much much the better bet.

I know Nurses do not get 90 day hols, how are you swinging that? Or for that matter pay to take it.

fluxsta

ha ha! thanks for your reply, i DON'T get 90 day holidays! I am a newly qualified psychiatric nurse in the NHS that is apparently crying out for nurses, but the Human Resource dept has taken forever to sort out my new job, so i have cut my losses, am working elsewhere to get money to pay my bills whilst away and am following my heart to be with the woman i love! Sound cheesy right?? but.life is for living and i won't let the small matter of debt in the UK spoil my chances of letting this relationship pass me by.

After 90 days when i have to return to the UK under the VWP and i come home to sofa surf, find work and will have no money then it is a different story!!

The time in Oregon will enable me to explore work opps or to get a more rounded picture of whether this relationship is goign anywhere or if i could see myself being able to gain employment etc.

fluxsta

hey also noticed you lived in Boulder, i spent two weeks there while travelling and absolutely loved it!! found it hard to leave, particularly as i moved on to the business of Denver after a sun soaked hiking spree in sunny Boulder

Ray

There are no mentally ill people in the US ....

fatbrit

And even if there were, we've already got the best health care system in the world and it doesn't need any improvement thank you very much.

scrubbedexpat099

You can seek admittance up to 90 days.

US is the land of the 2 week holiday, sounds you have no full time job, US Immigration may be interested in how you can afford to take such long hols and usually assume you are working in the US.

coopa_troopa

Hi I'm not RMN but can help with some of your questions.

RMN is not recognised in the US, you have to be RN to work in any area of nursing here. US nurses are trained as "generalists" ie their nurse education covers all and every aspect of nursing, including Mental Health, Paediatrics, Ob/Gyn, Med/Surg......hence why any foreign nurse has to have all these specialties covered on their education transcripts from their Uni or School of Nursing, so that they are on a par with US nurses.

You have to have an employer to petition you for immigration, but any employer would want to see you have passed NCLEX already. They cannot do anything with you without that.

It's a very long, drawn-out process, this nurse immigration process is, and the above is just to let you know from the outset that your situation is not going to be easy, if even possible, given your specialised qualification.

Sorry to not be more positive, but these are the facts

Silverdragon102

RMN as said previous is not recognised also no way to stay in the US and work, retrogression taking care of that and looking at a few years waiting. Definitely check out the International forum on allnurses.com My PD is Aug 06 till in the UK but now moving to Canada although still processing until we decide whether to stay in Canada or not