American RNs working in London - experiences/advice?

Silverdragon102, BSN · May 7, 2005

Hi,
This is my first post here!
I'm currently a RN in California and am planning to move to London for work. I will have 1 year of experience come July in med-surg (specifically telemetry). My husband is Irish (rep. of Ireland) and wants to be closer to home. He will also make a ton more in London than he does here in the US (he's a tradesman). Overall, we'd come out making more if we lived on the outskirts of London (where the rents are maybe a little better).
As he is part of the EU, I don't need to get a work permit as his spouse so that's nice. I am sending off the Application Request form early next week (and the huge amount of $$) required to the NMC. I know the wait will be long - a friend of mine waited 6 months - what have other people's experiences been?
Also, I'm just interested in general in your experiences. The hospital I currently work at is a tertiary research center so we are used to working with the latest surgeries/meds. Also the MDs are really getting a clue about teamwork/RNs as partners - I seriously wonder what the reaction of a UK MD would be if I questioned his/her decisions or asked for explanations.

I would have thought even though your husband is a able to work in the EU do you not need a spouse permit/visa to work here?

UK nursing is a lot different than US nursing so be prepared for some changes. Staffing is poor, ratio's can be high, we do not have therapists to help i.e respiratory therapists. Medicine and surgery are 2 different specialities and are nursed seperate most of the time (due to bed shortages sometimes medical patients are placed on surgical wards) doctors generally come in at different levels house officer (just out of medical school) senior house officer, registrar and consultant. I found medical doctors more open to be asked re their decisions and listen to what we had to say where as surgical doctors especially consultants did not like being questioned but alot would depend on your approach and how as a person you got on within the team.

I am sure some others will have some comments but this is my personal spin on things. I would also suggest thinking about moving away from London and look at other areas in the UK as there are plenty of ways for your husband to travel to visit his family and the UK is a large and beautiful place to see and travel round. There would also be plenty of work for both of you

Good luck

velvetchi · May 7, 2005

I have just seen you message, I am a second year student nurse, and I lived and do my training just outside of London even though my university is London based. You have a right to question the doctors whether they like it or not as you a responsible for the treatment you give to any patient. If you think that there is a better way of doing something then tell them, Medical doctors are much easier to talk to Surgery on the other hand think that they are god but don't take any notice. Some of the nurses you met are old time nurses who think that they are florence nightingale, and always complain about how different things are :no: and complain that you are doing things wrong even though your training is up to date and you should be telling them how things should be done. Most nurses are reaaly good though and please don't treat student nurses as Healthcare Assisitants as we are not and we are getting fed up with it.

It would be cheaper to live in the surrounding area and easier to get a job.

Good luck in England you will love it me on the other will be heading to the US as soon as possible :roll :roll

Hi,
This is my first post here!
I'm currently a RN in California and am planning to move to London for work. I will have 1 year of experience come July in med-surg (specifically telemetry). My husband is Irish (rep. of Ireland) and wants to be closer to home. He will also make a ton more in London than he does here in the US (he's a tradesman). Overall, we'd come out making more if we lived on the outskirts of London (where the rents are maybe a little better).
As he is part of the EU, I don't need to get a work permit as his spouse so that's nice. I am sending off the Application Request form early next week (and the huge amount of $$) required to the NMC. I know the wait will be long - a friend of mine waited 6 months - what have other people's experiences been?
Also, I'm just interested in general in your experiences. The hospital I currently work at is a tertiary research center so we are used to working with the latest surgeries/meds. Also the MDs are really getting a clue about teamwork/RNs as partners - I seriously wonder what the reaction of a UK MD would be if I questioned his/her decisions or asked for explanations.

suzanne4, RN · May 7, 2005

Check closely with imigration over there, you are still required to have a visa that permits you to work, even though your husband is a citizen.......Same thing that he needed over here...........You still have an American passport, don't you? Then you still need to go thru immigration, it is just easier for you to do, but don't skip that part.........I would check into that first thing.

(My sister has lived and worked in London for over 20 years and was married to a Brit)---she still needed the appropriate documents and approvals.....

fly-gal · May 7, 2005

Thanks to all for your advice and experience.

I actually went to the UK Visa site http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk

There is a section called "Do I need a Visa" - you can put your nationality, purpose of visit and current location. I'm a non EEA/Swiss family member of an EEA/Swiss national, US national and apparently all I need is a family permit (form VAF1 - non-settlement), if I plan to stay more than 6 months. It is sort of like a visa but it is free. Since the US is a non-visa country, if I want to go for less than 6 months, then I don't even need a permit or visa.

Additionally, if you look up "EEA & Swiss nationals (INF 18)" They answer the question: Can my family members work in the UK?

Ans: Yes. A family member of an EEA national who is exercising their rights under EU law can work. They do not need a work permit.

A family member of an EEA national who intends to travel with them or join them in the UK can work without a work permit. The EEA national must be exercising treaty rights in the UK.

Thus, US citizens of EEA nationals do not need a work permit to work in the UK but if they wish to stay longer than 6 months they do need to get a family permit.

Keep the advice/experiencs coming - love to hear more!

Yeah, I'm not sure if I'll work in the hospitals again. Over here my hospital ratio is 1:4 so going to double digits will be painful. I barely even have time now to get everything done - literally running all 12 hours of my shift. My friend who graduated from my program and worked on the same telemetry unit as me, started working in London around Christmas time. She ended up in a womens health clinic and is liking it very much. I might go for that change of pace since I am rather averse to the kind of stress you find in a hospital (especially now that I'm into my early 30s).

:)

donmurray · May 7, 2005

You need to register if you want to work as a nurse, and that can take some time...

http://www.nmc-uk.org/nmc/main/registration/Reg_Overseas_and_EU/Overseas_and_EU

hope the link works, log on to the dicussion board there too.

fly-gal · May 8, 2005

You need to register if you want to work as a nurse, and that can take some time...
http://www.nmc-uk.org/nmc/main/registration/Reg_Overseas_and_EU/Overseas_and_EU
hope the link works, log on to the dicussion board there too.

Yeah, thanks for the reminder Don. I have the application request form on hand. Just need to get the money draft from the bank. I hear it takes about 6-12 months... (you'd think they'd be faster with their nursing shortage)!!

suzanne4, RN · May 8, 2005

It takes longer for a foreign nurse to work in the US.....be thankful that is all that is takes for you........

fly-gal · May 8, 2005

It takes longer for a foreign nurse to work in the US.....be thankful that is all that is takes for you........

Suzanne, I never meant my posting as a rub in anyone's face. 6-12 months is a long time but I do understand other people have to wait a lot longer to get into the US or other countries, so in that respect I may be lucky...(of course, they could make me wait 12+ months too)...

But personally I think it's pathetic that we nurses do have to wait so long to be able to work in any country that needs us. 6 months, ok, but 9+ months? Does it really take that long - more like these countries (US, Australia, UK etc. etc) haven't realised the dire need for nurses and have not staffed appropriately or put enough funds in. Besides, foreign nurses need to be welcomed. In my hospital, we love foreign nurses - you can't imagine the joy on a patient's face when they can actually communicate in their language with their nurse and how much better their care is as a result.

suzanne4, RN · May 8, 2005

It has nothing to do with the time that it takes to get approval from the state for sitting for NCLEX, but the amount of time for processing of a green card............temporary work permits in the US for nurses are quite scary, and should not even be available....

You are just lucky that you don't have to deal with the immigration process, but the Board in the UK is known for being notoriously slow.

Silverdragon102, BSN · May 8, 2005

Thanks to all for your advice and experience.
I actually went to the UK Visa site http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk
There is a section called "Do I need a Visa" - you can put your nationality, purpose of visit and current location. I'm a non EEA/Swiss family member of an EEA/Swiss national, US national and apparently all I need is a family permit (form VAF1 - non-settlement), if I plan to stay more than 6 months. It is sort of like a visa but it is free. Since the US is a non-visa country, if I want to go for less than 6 months, then I don't even need a permit or visa.
Additionally, if you look up "EEA & Swiss nationals (INF 18)" They answer the question: Can my family members work in the UK?
Ans: Yes. A family member of an EEA national who is exercising their rights under EU law can work. They do not need a work permit.
A family member of an EEA national who intends to travel with them or join them in the UK can work without a work permit. The EEA national must be exercising treaty rights in the UK.
Thus, US citizens of EEA nationals do not need a work permit to work in the UK but if they wish to stay longer than 6 months they do need to get a family permit.
Keep the advice/experiencs coming - love to hear more!
Yeah, I'm not sure if I'll work in the hospitals again. Over here my hospital ratio is 1:4 so going to double digits will be painful. I barely even have time now to get everything done - literally running all 12 hours of my shift. My friend who graduated from my program and worked on the same telemetry unit as me, started working in London around Christmas time. She ended up in a womens health clinic and is liking it very much. I might go for that change of pace since I am rather averse to the kind of stress you find in a hospital (especially now that I'm into my early 30s).
:)

I read what you have said here but an another website I visit a lot it tells of UK/EU citizens who's spouces are US and they need a visa to get into the country and they have tp pay, it wasn't free one thread mentioned $532.00

this thread I found also mentions a fee and it is an official site http://www.britainusa.com/visas/other_show.asp?SarticleType=25&Other_ID=322

and I do wish you well on your journey. I am into 18 months of trying to get into the US and just waiting for immigration

fly-gal · May 8, 2005

I read what you have said here but an another website I visit a lot it tells of UK/EU citizens who's spouces are US and they need a visa to get into the country and they have tp pay, it wasn't free one thread mentioned $532.00
this thread I found also mentions a fee and it is an official site http://www.britainusa.com/visas/other_show.asp?SarticleType=25&Other_ID=322
and I do wish you well on your journey. I am into 18 months of trying to get into the US and just waiting for immigration

Sorry to hear you have been waiting 18 months to get into the US! I really think the US would benefit from relaxing it's borders more and having better work-exchange. That would mean positive influences from foreigners, filling jobs that need to be filled, and would allow Americans to work more easily abroad too - like working holidays etc..

Thanks for your info. on the visa you mentioned. I believe that $520 visa is actually for those who wish to settle/live permanently in the UK. See http://www.smithstonewalters.com/presidence.htm

We wouldn't be eligible for that for 4 years but I seriously doubt my husband will want to stay that long in the UK... he'll want to return to Ireland before then I'm sure.

Again, the official UK visa site is: http://www.ukvisas.uk.gov.

You can put any number of scenarios in to figure out what visas you need under "Do I need a visa?".

Good luck to you - I hope you don't have to wait to much longer. Where do you plan to work when you get to the States? I'm out in California and of course, I'll say it's the best state to be in - we're the most easy going, progressive state (though I'm sure people from other states will disagree - they'll say we are too radical)! I've only lived in the US for 13 years because I grew up overseas (in Asia) but I've travelled around the US and California is my favorite!

If it's anything to you, the San Francisco Bay Area is where RNs get paid the most in the US. Average is about $60-65K/year. Of course, our cost of living is very high though - probably a little less than central London. If you have any questions at all about working here, let me know :)