Hello!

I have started the long process of preparing to attempt to move to the UK to work as an ICU RN (ten years experience). I have put out some feelers, and have started to be courted by various nursing agencies. Can anyone help me sort through them? Does anyone know if some have a very good/bad reputation?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

If you can I would steer clear of agencies, as you're ICU trained & experienced you may be able to avoid the issue of not having an EU/British passport.

The NHS has it's own job website (look it up on Google - though someone here might post you a link) so you could check that out to see what's available.

You will need to go through the NMC , short for Nursing & Midwifery Council, (again easily found on Google) before you can apply because they have to approve your training & education credentials. There are also plenty of hoops to go through, such as getting on to an adaptation course, before you can obtain your UK license. Info regarding that will be on the NMC website.

http://www.jobs.nhs.uk

take a look at my blog in my signature there is lots of information in there for overseas nurses who want to work in the UK that may help

I agree with RGN 1 if you can do it without an agency it would be better

I have already scheduled my IELTS, and will be applying to the NMC as soon as my results are in.

But I am confused-if I do not go through an agency, who will sponser my work visa?

And why are agencies so bad?

I have already scheduled my IELTS, and will be applying to the NMC as soon as my results are in.

But I am confused-if I do not go through an agency, who will sponser my work visa?

look at the jobs website for something suitable then contact the HR to see if they would consider overseas applicants and sponser a visa. Hospitals need to prove they cannot fill from home applicants first

I don't know enough about the agencies to be able to comment

In short the agencies are there to make money, they are not all necessarily bad but you may find yourself either tied to a longer contract than you might want, being paid less than your peers as they get back their investment from your wage for example. Also they will likely place you where their needs are & that may not be where you want to work. Areas with difficulties staffing (& therefore more likely to be using an agency) are more likely to be in rougher areas & you may end up not wanting to work there but find yourself tied into a long contract & unable to leave without losing a whack load of money.

It's always wise to approach an agency with caution because the old adage of "if it looks too good to be true it probably is" stands. Just make sure you triple read the fine print before you sign on the dotted line, if you are going down the agency root.

Even here in Canada the agency that recruited for my hospital (which I'm gald to say I didn't use) has made some almighty mess-ups & not provided any of the supoort they promised to their IENs.

For example, one RN arriving on her own from India & who was promised there would be a car at the airport to greet her & take her to the hotel where they board for the 1st few weeks was nowhere in sight. She was jet lagged, it was late & she was alone in a city she didn't know & hadn't ever been to before!! luckily the airport staff were way more kind than the agency was!!

Another nurse ended up here for 2 years without her young children because the agency, who did all the paperwork processing (one of their selling points) forgot to include them in the application!!!

There are many other stories along similar lines & that is why it is just better to do it yourself. That way you know what's going on, know where you'll be working & know that what you've aranged will happen.