CUN offers its Nursing Program on the Caribbean island of Curacao and we are in the process of being licensed by the Curacao government, to offer our Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. CUN’s program will be based on European and US/Canadian accreditation standards.

We are in the process of building an international network of affiliates that are fully recognized by official professional organizations and government bodies, in the country, state, province or region, where a particular affiliate is seated.

Below you will find some exciting career-options. We do want to stress, however, that we full-heartedly promote the efforts of students to play a significant role in enhancing healthcare in their native communities!

Professional opportunities

Being a Nurse is not just another job! Being a Nurse is a rewarding and fulfilling calling! As a Nurse, helping those in need is your agenda, as an independently working professional and side-by-side healthcare colleagues. You may even specialize in acute care areas, surgery, critical care, pediatrics or geriatrics. Professional Nurse opportunities exist in global health, public health, hospitals, managed care organizations, schools and other healthcare facilities. You may even consider becoming a Travel Nurse, helping out wherever you can, whenever you can. Since Nurses are in high demand worldwide, you won’t have any trouble finding your way in this great profession.

Although very rewarding and often a ‘fresh’ Nurse’s career-start, there are also lots of ‘non-bedside’ opportunities, like the ones mentioned below.

• Healthcare Coach (focus on wellness, lifestyle, nutrition and fitness, working for health-resorts, insurance companies or private clients).
• Nursing Research professional.
• Nursing Academic Writer (writing educational material, web-content, informational material).
• Legal Nurse (insurance companies, law enforcement/justice departments, recruitment departments).
• Public Health Nurse (community health care policies and projects).
• Occupational Nurse (employee health and safety).
• Nurse Educator (working in academic institutions, like Nursing Schools and training-hospitals).

Licensure for CUN graduates in the United States

Once you have successfully completed your BSN program, you may be eligible for licensure in various regions of the world, after passing the concerning licensure exams. If you are looking for a nursing position in the United States, you can take the on-line National Council Licensure Examination Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) exam, as a prerequisite for obtaining your US RN license, in a particular state or territory. A work visa may be necessary for foreign graduates.

Each US state has its own regulations pertaining RN licensure. As a result, you must be aware that the requirements for licensure may vary from state to state. Each State Board of Nursing publishes detailed information on licensure in their particular state or territory. A listing of all State Boards can be obtained on the web site of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

We can offer a comprehensive NCLEX-RN prep program, to ensure high pass rates, using adaptive computerized competency testing, throughout the curriculum, including NCLEX exam-type questions. This testing program is self-paced and available to CUN students on-line.

Upon passing the NCLEX-RN, you are eligible for RN licensure, in the state for which the exam was taken. You can apply for licensure in other states through reciprocity (to the discretion of the states involved) or through an application process. Based on current workforce needs, you should not have any issues with relocating, if desired.

Licensure for CUN graduates in Canada

Would you prefer a Canadian license? We will organize the necessary on-line Canadian Registered Nurse Exam (CRNE). The same way that each US state has its own licensure criteria and regulations, also Canadian provinces and territories have their own licensure criteria and regulations. You can take part in the CRNE, for the province or territory of your liking. The CRNE is developed and offered by the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA). A work visa may be necessary for foreign graduates.

To determine if you are ready to take the CRNE exam, we will organize the on-line CRNE Readiness Test, also developed and offered by the CNA, to make sure you enter the exam well prepared. Preparing for the Readiness Test and the CRNE is done by studying CNA’s Canadian Registered Nurse Exam Prep Guide. It’s a paper guide, including a CD-ROM, containing CRNE-type questions.

Licensure for CUN graduates in the United Kingdom

The UK has an extensive procedure to determine if you are eligible for registration as a Nurse, executed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. You can find the complete procedure on their website. A work visa may be necessary for foreign graduates.

Licensure for CUN graduates in the European Union

Although the Bologna initiative has aligned a lot of educational standards and procedures between EU-countries, registration as a qualified Nurse for non-EU Nurses is subject to national laws and rules. Per country information is available on the Your Europe website. A work visa may be necessary for foreign graduates.

Licensure for CUN graduates in non-Western countries

There is no general licensing procedure, organization or website for non-Western countries or regions. Some countries, like Mexico and Nepal, don’t require licensing at all. Other countries, like Australia, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, the Cameroons and the Philippines require you to pass a licensing exam. India has the same system as the US and Canada, allowing Nurses to register in only one province at the time. Some countries, like Zimbabwe, even have age as a criteria.

It would be impossible to list the licensing requirements for all (non-Western) countries, so if you are interested in Nursing opportunities in a specific country, you can contact Student Services.