[tina_uk]

my name is tina i live in the uk and i currently work in a local general hospital as a h.c.a(health care assistant)on a Respiratory ward
i am concidering moving to virgina to live with friends and want to stay in the nursing field. here in the uk, hca`s are trained by the rgn`s we work with,we require no licence
or cirtificates, so im not sure where to start. i am aware it is very different in the states, so could someone please advise me on what avenue to take? also would i have to retake exams over there to gain entry to a nursing school? thanks alot , id apprecate any help you can give me

[nursinghumor]

Hello Tina,

Once you're legal to work in the US, getting a job as a nursing assistant shouldn't be difficult. The bulk of the training is on the job and most places will help you get (if it is required) certified (It looks much better for them if a higher percentage of their staff is certified).

You can contact this organization to ask questions:

Direct Care Alliance:"Nationwide, we face a critical shortage of high-quality direct-care workers — home health aides, certified nursing assistants, and personal care attendants — who can meet the needs of our country's long-term care consumers — people who are elderly, chronically ill, or living with disabilities. Direct-care workers provide the vast majority of hands-on care within our long-term care health system. Consumers rely on these workers to provide them with comfort, companionship, and care in an atmosphere that preserves their dignity and well-being. As a result, consumers consistently cite the quality of their relationship with their paraprofessional workers as a primary determinant of their quality of life."
Direct Care Alliance
c/o Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute
349 East 149th Street, 10th Floor- Bronx, NY 10451
Phone: 718.402.7766 - Fax: 718.585.6852
email: info@directcarealliance.org
http://www.directcarealliance.org/

The same should apply for Nursing School. Once you're legal to work, as long as you have the required immunizations, vaccinations and health history documentation you should be able to apply to nursing school.

Wish you luck!

Andrew Lopez, RN
http://www.4nursing.com

[tina_uk]

andrew, big hugs to you! thanx for taking the time to reply
to me, i appricate it emmensly.

[nursinghumor]

Anytime Tina. Feel free to ask questions.

Andrew.