US nurse Just relocated to the UK

[sarena33]

Hello all, I am a US nurse who has been in the process of getting my UK nursing license for the past 2 years. Finally, I have moved to London and am currently taking the ONP. Since the ONP I'm taking is a month long online class, I am having trouble meeting people who are going through the same thing. Once i start working, I anticipate meeting a lot of nurses but for the next month and a half, I don't think I will. Just wondering if there is anyone in London going through the situation!

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Could you please tell more about the process of getting licensed in UK? Where do I start? I'm an RN graduating with BSN in May 2014, 9 years of experience. Any agency that you recommend? Thanks for sharing

Starting point would be the NMC and you can only start there once you have graduated and min 12 months RN experience and you will need to check whether the NMC will accept getting BSN separate to RN as a lot will go on clinical and theory hours during training

[babyNP., APRN]

I think you nailed it when you talked about empowerment.

In the UK I am free to promote health education, and talk to my patients about their choices. I can challenge them to think about their health and take ownership of it.

I can get them up and moving and get them helping themselves.

I'm in the US at the moment, and just last night I looked after a lady who screamed at me when I questioned whether it was wise to have a cigarette straight after a nebulizer.

She screamed "Get me a cigarette now or I will have my family complain and get you fired."

All those years in nursing school and I have to give in to demands like that?

Am I truly empowered as a health care professional in the US?

Uh, no.

And that is why I will NEVER EVER work with adults, lol. Sure I look after mommys and daddys with their little ones and sure they're not always rainbow and sunshine, but my charge RN and management backs me up 100% in the face of unreasonableness.