California RN moving back to UK - NMC app questions

[beccajmellor]

Hi all! I've been combing through lots of other threads and collecting loads of good info but I still am hitting some roadblocks. I'm sure some of it's an easy fix but I'm looking for some pointers on someone that's done it before.

Background: UK citizen, lived in California almost a decade, BSN RN degree and all practice has been here but I'm moving back to Manchester to be close to family again. So no need for me to do all the immigration stuff, just NMC.

1. How do I obtain a State and Federal background screen? It seems that usually the employer requests a screening on a potential employee, which kicks off the process. My local sheriffs office is confused, they've never had an individual requesting a background check for... themselves. and NMC doesn't seem to provide a letterhead app for you to pass along to your state or federal agency?? What am I missing haha?!!?

2. The Board of Registered Nursing (BRN, CA state board) is requesting a form from the NMC for verification of licensure. https://www.RN.ca.gov/licensees/verifications.shtml
Because I haven't seen anything like said form on NMC website I'm assuming need to just detail out a letter to the BRN requesting they provide proof of my licensure and then they send proof to the NMC? Their processing time is 10-12 weeks currently (YIKES). The problem is, the NMC pre-app checklist just states that "We'll ask you for the name of the regulator in your country of training so we can confirm your registration if you registered with them etc etc.. so before you begin your application with us, you should contact your regulator to let them know you're applying with us, and make sure you've completed any steps they need".... I'm not sure whether to just wing it with the BRN and get a letter written to them asap saying please send verification to the NMC and hope it gets to them fine/in time? It seems NMC doesn't want you to apply until everything is ready? Not sure if that's something I have to wait for before I can submit with the NMC...

3. I technically don't have a GP... hardly ever get sick and work with lots of docs who written me the odd prescription here and there for anti-malarial before traveling etc. With that said, has anyone just used an Occ Health nurse for their declaration of health and if so, did you have them just do a general physical assessment screen and have them detail in a letter that you're fit for work?

4. OK this part is all very grey to me too... a friend of mine that works for the overseas program in the south of England told me that with my BSN RN qual and experience (med/surg, ICU, PACU and organ procurement educator/coordinator), it might be possible for me to just apply with NMC, get registered and bypass the overseas on-ramping program, and instead just apply for a job right off the bat post-registration. That way, I could apply for an upper band 5/lower band 6 job instead of starting at band 4 through the training program. I am definitely not trying to bypass it, if it really would be helpful and necessary to succeed. But she has described it being a the perfect set up for those that English isn't their first language etc.; if it's not completely necessary, I'd love to be able to widen my horizon with lots of potential positions I could go for, particularly within Oncology, research nursing and specialized critical care. (There are only 2 hospitals in Manchester that offer Overseas training program positions as far as I know, and only one within commutable distance from me).

Is there anyone out there that's NOT done the overseas program and been able to start work in a band 5 or 6 job immediately after transferring? If so, does that mean that the CBT and/or OSCE would be waived also? I'm assuming not for the OSCE, but maybe CBT?

Sorry this is so long. Even if you can only help with a portion of this I'd love to hear from you, ESPECIALLY if you're from or know a nurse who moved from California!

Thanks in advance!

Becca

[onemoreday, BSN, RN]

Hi!

Maybe this is out of date for you now, but have you figured this out? I'm a US nurse that moved to the UK and am in the process now. I'd like to hear your updates!

If you haven't moved yet... (or if someone is reading this looking for help like me) You can get an FBI clearance for your background check. It's called an "Identity History summary" and from what I can tell that's what the NMC wants, but I've only just sent it off, so we'll see.

It does seem like the NMC wants you to have everything right away but you can go to website and start and application, save it and come back to it. You can't get very far without paying a fee and scheduling your CBT. I emailed my state board of nursing to let them know the NMC would contact them. They responded right away. BUT someone else from my same state did this two years ago and it went to their spam folder, they had to call the board and get them to find the email. 

My GP stopped answering my calls last year and I was so busy with school, and I figured he was so busy with Covid, that I didn't pursue it. I wish I had, bc I got a GP here in England and she has no idea what I need for this, and doesn't have any records of mine. With Covid it's hard to schedule a face-to-face assessment. I see her this week and I'll bring her everything I think js relevant. I'll let you know how it goes.

[beccajmellor]

On 3/10/2021 at 9:11 PM, onemoreday said:

Hi!

Maybe this is out of date for you now, but have you figured this out? I'm a US nurse that moved to the UK and am in the process now. I'd like to hear your updates!

If you haven't moved yet... (or if someone is reading this looking for help like me) You can get an FBI clearance for your background check. It's called an "Identity History summary" and from what I can tell that's what the NMC wants, but I've only just sent it off, so we'll see.

It does seem like the NMC wants you to have everything right away but you can go to website and start and application, save it and come back to it. You can't get very far without paying a fee and scheduling your CBT. I emailed my state board of nursing to let them know the NMC would contact them. They responded right away. BUT someone else from my same state did this two years ago and it went to their spam folder, they had to call the board and get them to find the email. 

My GP stopped answering my calls last year and I was so busy with school, and I figured he was so busy with Covid, that I didn't pursue it. I wish I had, bc I got a GP here in England and she has no idea what I need for this, and doesn't have any records of mine. With Covid it's hard to schedule a face-to-face assessment. I see her this week and I'll bring her everything I think js relevant. I'll let you know how it goes.

Hi! Thanks for responding! I haven't been to this site in so long I kind of just assumed my post was too long and boring ha! I've thankfully made some progress since this. Here are my updates..

Obtained my State and Federal background check (if you haven't already I would recommend requesting both, although might be difficult if you're not actually there to do your fingerprinting? Just have heard they're a bit picky about having everything), and finally got my verification of licensure sent from the CA BRN to NMC. It took a total of FIVE MONTHS. Yep.

I took my CBT in December and passed so that was great to check off! I'm here now in the UK, moved a month ago. I can't really proceed with submitting my application because I think doing the "overseas nursing program" thingy for 8 weeks that helps with OSCE prep is going to be really helpful for me. I have good clinical experience, but there's a lot about UK nursing and the NHS as a system I simply don't know yet. So my next steps are (I think) try desperately to get a hold of someone at the Manchester Foundation Trust who will help me know how and where to apply for this special overseas nurse thing, and do the 8 weeks, then book OSCE, then upon hopefully good results, finish submitting the rest of my docs and file the application. 

Yes please keep me up to date on your GP stuff! I am yet to tackle that... kinda don't want to too early because they become irrelevant after 3 months, and so I am trying to bide my time till I know I am really getting close to submitting my whole app... 

Where are you living and what made you come over? How long have you been here? What a terrible time for us to make a massive international move, eh? Haha. Let me know how you're doing with it all!

Becca

[onemoreday, BSN, RN]

On 3/18/2021 at 11:45 AM, beccajmellor said:

So my next steps are (I think) try desperately to get a hold of someone at the Manchester Foundation Trust who will help me know how and where to apply for this special overseas nurse thing, and do the 8 weeks, then book OSCE, then upon hopefully good results, finish submitting the rest of my docs and file the application. 

Yes please keep me up to date on your GP stuff! I am yet to tackle that... kinda don't want to too early because they become irrelevant after 3 months, and so I am trying to bide my time till I know I am really getting close to submitting my whole app... 

Where are you living and what made you come over? How long have you been here? What a terrible time for us to make a massive international move, eh? Haha. Let me know how you're doing with it all!

Becca

I'm in Suffolk - came for my spouse's job. it was a wild time to move but I came in late January and -just- missed the mandatory hotel quarantine by like a week. Had to stay in my house for ten days but half of it was sleeping off jet lag anyways. I emailed around to recruiters about overseas nursing programmes, definitely having a mix of replies, but at least I'm getting replies? haha! I have interviewed for positions similar to nurse aides/CNAs and got two verbal offers (one private, one NHS), but no start date yet, and haven't been able to ask and follow up on those programs. You could opt out of a training program and just take the OSCE on your own?

One of the NHS hospitals near me said they DO have an OSCE prep course  (there's a lot of Americans in this area, plus international nurses, but they don't advertise their OSCE prep well? They're just missing out in Recruitment) but they only allow 5 students a month and they're booked until June. And that was back in late February. 

Also the GP thing worked out.. they emailed her and she filled out some online form. I did have to call and email the GP office like twice to make sure they responded to it. I think it went to her spam folder.

ALSO ALSO the OSCE is changing in August so just be aware of that.. if you're studying the old stuff or the new stuff. I don't know the difference entirely but I figure I will be taking the new one.