Nursing in the UK

[USnurse]

I am a registered nurse in the US, and I'd like to get some information on how nursing works in the UK...for example:

1. Are nurses called "Registered Nurses" or "Licensed Nurses" or are they referred to as another name? Here in the US, they are referred to as Registered Nurses (RN's).

2. What is the process for becoming a nurse in the UK?

3. How might a nurse in the UK be recruited to work in the US or vise versa.

4. What is the hiring process to be placed in acute care?

Thanks!:roll

[DavidFR, BSN, MSN, RN]

Originally posted by MANCUSOAE

Be grateful we don't have socialized medicine!

Sorry, but you are commenting on ONE socialized medical system.

I now work in France where the system is excellent. The difference? UK -lowest rate of taxation in the European Union; France-one of the highest. You get what you pay for. The French are very community minded and very attached to their public services. The majority are proud to pay high taxes for good public services and while everybody would like to pay less tax, they see it as a necessity in a civilised society where everybody has access to good health care without having to worry if they can afford it or not. I'm afraid the selfish British public (and I speak as a Brit myself) will always vote for tax cuts, then moan that their schools, hospital and trains don't work.

French nurses are highly skilled. All the tasks you describe (cannulation, catherization etc.) are done by nurses, though frankly, they were when I worked in the UK too so I don't see why your hospital was behind. Nurse patient ratios are not high, BUT the support workers here (Aide Soignantes) are highly trained and are almost like your LPN's or British EN's, so although you may be few registered nurses on a shift you have very good support from your Aide Soignantes. The French system works efficiently. There are no waiting lists like in the UK, it's high tech and dynamic. Of course it has it's problems like all systems, but what the French think of as a "problem" is often ten times worse in the UK.

I have heard too many horror stories of what can happen to people in the US if they are not adequately covered for me to be convinced it is an attractive system. Didn't Clinton want to reform it? And wasn't he blocked by big business?. And you spend more on health care than any other developed nation for no better measurable outcomes.

I believe there is no fairer system than the principle of health coverage for all funded by the state out of taxation and free at the point of delivery. The French example is proof that this can also be of a good quality. Give me socilailzed heath care any day!

[seanymph]

I have a question about working in the UK. I do travel nursing here in the US now and would eventually like to extend to do it in the UK. MY speciality is obstrestrics. I am not a midwive. I am a RN who does labor and delivery, postpartum and wel newborn nursery. Is this something I would be able to do in the UK? Either one area or all? I do not want to do medical/surgical or any other area, just obstretrics. I am also intrested in the North Yorkshire Area if anyone would like to fill me in on their hospitals, especially the Leeds area. Thank you.

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Hi Dawn,

I live in West Yorkshire approx 10 miles from Leeds and in this area there are a few good hospitals.

Regarding working in Obstretrics Only midwives can deliver but you might be able to work on the antental and post natal wards, but you might not be able to get as involved as you do now. UK do not have travel nurses like the US but work with an agency who has a contract with various hospitals but work tends to be intermitent ie in 1 week you may work in several wards but there is a shortage and sometimes arrangements can be made with wards for longer assignment to work with them.

Hope this helps. you can always pm me if you have any more questions. I will try to help

Anna

[Good_Queen_Bess]

Originally posted by DavidFR

Sorry, but you are commenting on ONE socialized medical system.

I now work in France where the system is excellent. The difference? UK -lowest rate of taxation in the European Union; France-one of the highest. You get what you pay for. The French are very community minded and very attached to their public services. The majority are proud to pay high taxes for good public services and while everybody would like to pay less tax, they see it as a necessity in a civilised society where everybody has access to good health care without having to worry if they can afford it or not. I'm afraid the selfish British public (and I speak as a Brit myself) will always vote for tax cuts, then moan that their schools, hospital and trains don't work.

French nurses are highly skilled. All the tasks you describe (cannulation, catherization etc.) are done by nurses, though frankly, they were when I worked in the UK too so I don't see why your hospital was behind. Nurse patient ratios are not high, BUT the support workers here (Aide Soignantes) are highly trained and are almost like your LPN's or British EN's, so although you may be few registered nurses on a shift you have very good support from your Aide Soignantes. The French system works efficiently. There are no waiting lists like in the UK, it's high tech and dynamic. Of course it has it's problems like all systems, but what the French think of as a "problem" is often ten times worse in the UK.

I have heard too many horror stories of what can happen to people in the US if they are not adequately covered for me to be convinced it is an attractive system. Didn't Clinton want to reform it? And wasn't he blocked by big business?. And you spend more on health care than any other developed nation for no better measurable outcomes.

I believe there is no fairer system than the principle of health coverage for all funded by the state out of taxation and free at the point of delivery. The French example is proof that this can also be of a good quality. Give me socilailzed heath care any day!

You are right. In the UK, people can be selfish. I would happily pay a couple of percent more tax per pound to see better health care as well as better education etc etc. However, lowering taxes is a vote winner, and unfortunatley people generally can't see beyond the end of their nose. Tax the rich :chuckle !!!!!

[Karen30]

I completely agree, the UK people are quick to moan when the services don't meet there expected standards but moan when taxes are increased or about to be increased. Sorry people of the UK, (myself included!), you don't get something for nothing these days!!!!

[JENNYG]

Hey All,

I am a RN in the US with 5 years experience (3 years pediatrics and 2 years NICU). I have read a bunch of messages about nursing in the UK versus the US, including patient/nurse ratios and nurse responsibilities,but I haven't read anything about the NICU's in the UK. Does anyone have anything to share about working in a NICU in the UK? I recently finished training to take care of post-op cardiac NICU patients. DO they have this kind of nursing in the UK? Also, I know that the training in the UK is different than in the US when you want to specialize. DO you think that with a general nursing degree and on the job training in PEds/ NICU, I would be able to work in one of these specialites.

I would greatly appreciate any information.

Thanks!

[Mike RGN]

Hi JennyG

Welcome to the forum

I not 100% sure but I think you have to be a RSCN (Registered Sick Childrens Nurse), you could work in the Special care Baby unit (SCBU) or NICU but most nurses in these areas have this qualification rather than the general nursing qualification.

You will always find exceptions in some hospitals but where I work that is the way it works.

How your exceptional experience would transfer, would be down to the governing body (http://www.nmc-uk.org)and I have already given my thoughts on their thoughts on previous posts.

A nurse working in this area I sure will give you more info, but may generate more replies if you start a new thread.

[fergus51]

I know several nurses who have gone to the UK to work NICU and they never have any problems with their qualifications.

[Good_Queen_Bess]

Hi Jenny. Although I don't work in NICU, I have had close ties with them. I can only say for the one's I know, but the nurse/patient ration is 1:1 plus one person co-ordinating, who is always an F or G grade (sister or senior sister).

[Betty_SPN_KS, LPN]

Just out of curiosity, why are female charge nurses called sisters in the UK? Makes me think of nuns :)

[Mike RGN]

Originally posted by Betty_SPN_KS

Just out of curiosity, why are female charge nurses called sisters in the UK? Makes me think of nuns :)

Never thought of it that way round, it would make more sense to me to ask why male sisters are called charge nurses.

Have not got an answer, but they still scare me.

[Betty_SPN_KS, LPN]

Here a nurse in charge is a charge nurse whether male or female. :)