Leaving the UK for greener pastures

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jules06

18 Posts

I am going to Florida (hoping to be there by the end of the year). My family & I love the way of life there (we have been going there 3-4 times a year for 11 yrs now). Obviously we love the weather too! I can earn more money in Florida as an RN than I can being a Nurse Manager in a nursing Home, do less hours and still come out with more money. For me there is less patient ratio - at present it it 25:1 for me where I work - no exceptions. I could go back to the NHS, but I would not be able to get an equivalent position so easily (not that that bothers me too much), so I would have to go back to the NHS as a E grade, possibly as a D grade (doesnt bother me in the slightest:) ) But the drop in pay would! AND THAT DOES BOTHER ME;)

Nurses pay here is rubbish and I dont think it will get that much better in the near future. I know Florida doesnt pay as high as some states but it is way better than what I get now!

So relocation to Florida as far as I can see it has a lot going for it - weather, lifestyle, location.

Hi I wondered if I could ask you, I too want to relocate to Florida,Iam on my coversion course from RMN to RGN at the moment. I have friends in Florida and I really want to go there. I have been on the phone to nursing agencies and some have said in order for me to sit the CGFNS exam I need to have completed both paediatrics and maternity placements. Can you tell me if this is true? Also I read that Florida may not require CGFNS but only NCLEX. There are so many conflicting rumours I am not sure what to do.I have wondered about going across there and approaching hospitals myself and trying to sit exams over there.Anyway, I am rambling now but it would be grest if you could tell me what route you took.Anyway good luck in the Sunshine state! jules

uk_nurse

433 Posts

i would love to go to australia to live and work, but my husband not to keen. my boys are unsure too, but they are only young. But who knows what the future holds.

Specializes in Critical Care and ED.

I came from London and am now living and working in Phoenix, Arisona. I got stuck into one of those 2-year contracts because I was desperate to come to America and it was the only way for me to get a green card. The nursing is really different here and was a huge culture shock. I am enjoying it and the people are great, but the hospital is a for-profit hospital and that means no doctors at night, and not enough equipment or nurses. I think the quality of nursing in London was much higher, and I earn less here too. I worked agency ICU in London and took home about 150-200 UK pounds a night. Right now I earn less because I am being ripped off by the agency, but once I leave and get my own job I will get paid much more. I don't get any extra for nights or weekends either. I will be leaving soon as I will have sold my house and will be able to buy my way out of my contract and move to Connecticut which is where I wanted to go in the first place.

It's been a great experience though, and it is much easier to work your way up here. Next year I plan on getting my degree and possibly going to school to study to become a nurse anethetist. The future of nursing is here, and although the quality and knowledge of nurses in England is very high, the low morale and lack of funds and a support system, means it is undervalued and struggling as a profession in the UK.

suzanne4, RN

26,410 Posts

Jules06: You do need to have completed Maternity and Pediatric nursing courses in approved programs to be considered for the CGFNS exam. You must have equivalent to a 4 year degree including all areas. They do not count volunteer time at a hospital as meeting the minimum number of hours that you must have. Only an approved nursing program course is acceptable.

Good luck, hope that this helps. :balloons:

suzanne4, RN

26,410 Posts

Rocknurse: Which hospital are you working at in Phx? I lived and worked there for about 14 years.

Silverdragon102, BSN

1 Article; 39,477 Posts

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Hi Rocknurse

I have just passed my NCLEX and have just obtained a job in Phoenix it's self, from reading your thread I hope I don't have as much trouble as you are having. I am on a 2 yr contract with the hospital but I have gotten it through a recruiter not an agency. Hopefully will be out here before the end of the year

Anna

bizzymum919

44 Posts

I came from London and am now living and working in Phoenix, Arisona. I got stuck into one of those 2-year contracts because I was desperate to come to America and it was the only way for me to get a green card. The nursing is really different here and was a huge culture shock. I am enjoying it and the people are great, but the hospital is a for-profit hospital and that means no doctors at night, and not enough equipment or nurses. I think the quality of nursing in London was much higher, and I earn less here too. I worked agency ICU in London and took home about 150-200 UK pounds a night. Right now I earn less because I am being ripped off by the agency, but once I leave and get my own job I will get paid much more. I don't get any extra for nights or weekends either. I will be leaving soon as I will have sold my house and will be able to buy my way out of my contract and move to Connecticut which is where I wanted to go in the first place.

It's been a great experience though, and it is much easier to work your way up here. Next year I plan on getting my degree and possibly going to school to study to become a nurse anethetist. The future of nursing is here, and although the quality and knowledge of nurses in England is very high, the low morale and lack of funds and a support system, means it is undervalued and struggling as a profession in the UK.

The conditions are bad all over really. I hear Canadian nurses complain of their conditions and I know nurses who have moves all over the US chasing the hope for a "better" hospital. The conditions in Virginia are horrid and the pay is dismal. There is no reason why a RN has to work 2 jobs one at a hospital for health benefits and at an agency for the higher pay just to make ends meet to support his/her family. A person from Pennsylvania as a CNA (nurse's assistant) makes more than some RN's here in Virginia. The daily cost of living is dismal here also. My little tiny house cost about $180,000 and I have to pay taxes on my car and home, food and clothing and there is no public transportation and petrol of $2.00/gallon and the mentality of the people is so provincial and stagnant. As one has said, it is not all about the money. The bad pay along with the location compounds the low morale. In NY city they pay quite well, but look what one has to contend with. Also, one has to take in consideration that in some states the nurses have a union which can lobby to the government about the conditions and pay for the nurses and nurses can go on strike without losing their jobs in these states, but due to the shortage, the government does not dare aggravate the nurse's union and tends to come to a reasonable agreement.

I plan to go the UK and visit some hospitals and shadow a nurse on her daily routine. I think that would give me a better idea of what I am really in for.

:balloons:

bizzymum919

44 Posts

I came from London and am now living and working in Phoenix, Arisona. I got stuck into one of those 2-year contracts because I was desperate to come to America and it was the only way for me to get a green card. The nursing is really different here and was a huge culture shock. I am enjoying it and the people are great, but the hospital is a for-profit hospital and that means no doctors at night, and not enough equipment or nurses. I think the quality of nursing in London was much higher, and I earn less here too. I worked agency ICU in London and took home about 150-200 UK pounds a night. Right now I earn less because I am being ripped off by the agency, but once I leave and get my own job I will get paid much more. I don't get any extra for nights or weekends either. I will be leaving soon as I will have sold my house and will be able to buy my way out of my contract and move to Connecticut which is where I wanted to go in the first place.

It's been a great experience though, and it is much easier to work your way up here. Next year I plan on getting my degree and possibly going to school to study to become a nurse anethetist. The future of nursing is here, and although the quality and knowledge of nurses in England is very high, the low morale and lack of funds and a support system, means it is undervalued and struggling as a profession in the UK.

The conditions are bad all over really. I hear Canadian nurses complain of their conditions and I know nurses who have moves all over the US chasing the hope for a "better" hospital. The conditions in Virginia are horrid and the pay is dismal. There is no reason why a RN has to work 2 jobs one at a hospital for health benefits and at an agency for the higher pay just to make ends meet to support his/her family. A person from Pennsylvania as a CNA (nurse's assistant) makes more than some RN's here in Virginia. The daily cost of living is dismal here also. My little tiny house cost about $180,000 and I have to pay taxes on my car and home, food and clothing and there is no public transportation and petrol of $2.00/gallon and the mentality of the people is so provincial and stagnant. As one has said, it is not all about the money. The bad pay along with the location compounds the low morale. In NY city they pay quite well, but look what one has to contend with. Also, one has to take in consideration that in some states the nurses have a union which can lobby to the government about the conditions and pay for the nurses and nurses can go on strike without losing their jobs in these states, but due to the shortage, the government does not dare aggravate the nurse's union and tends to come to a reasonable agreement.

I plan to go the UK and visit some hospitals and shadow a nurse on her daily routine. I think that would give me a better idea of what I am really in for.

:balloons:

ginaspice

17 Posts

Just read that u are in the process of relocating to US. I am also wanting to relocate but wondered how hard it was to do. If you have any tips would be grateful.

Silverdragon102, BSN

1 Article; 39,477 Posts

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Just read that u are in the process of relocating to US. I am also wanting to relocate but wondered how hard it was to do. If you have any tips would be grateful.

It depends where you want to go. But to nurse in the US you will have to pass the NCLEX. email me if you want more info.

Anna

sharon-sp

12 Posts

Hi Silverdragon,

This is Sharon, Grad student from Illinois, USA- we exchanged some info for my project- congratulations on the NCLEX! Was there wedding bells too while in Phoenix? Since you have a contract now, how long before you get to actually make the relocation?

Sharon. :)

Silverdragon102, BSN

1 Article; 39,477 Posts

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Hi Silverdragon,

This is Sharon, Grad student from Illinois, USA- we exchanged some info for my project- congratulations on the NCLEX! Was there wedding bells too while in Phoenix? Since you have a contract now, how long before you get to actually make the relocation?

Sharon. :)

Thanks Sharon, The wedding bells actually happened at my friends house in Buffalo NY. What a difference going from phoenix in the 80's-90's to buffallo in the 20's with 21 inches of snow falling the day after we got married. Caused a few problems with our flight coming home on the Wednesday but was glad to get home. Hopefully relocation will take 6-8 months, have to go to London (approx 3-4 hrs away) for a medical and interview and from there hopefully green card and USA here we come.

Anna :balloons: :balloons:

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