Can an American RN work in the UK?

Kaylesh · Feb 6, 2003

Hiya Taryn,

Like the US the facilities vary from area to area.. Smaller towns have smaller hospitals. The larger areas nearer the large towns and citites have larger hospitals and teaching hospitals as well. And each varies accordinly as to the facilities and areas of nursing that they have.

In Aberdeen,

Where I was untill October 02. is the major trauma teaching hospital for the NorthEast of Scotland. It was HUGE.. they did everything.. The grounds of the complex included the main adult hospital which was the mega huge one.. a maternity hospital.. and not far away( a few miles a psych hospital)..

Where I live now is commuting distance to Edinburgh where there are tons and tons of hospitals varying from the small to the huge including ones that do transplant surgery.. there is even a hospital in the town I live in.

Yes you can earn enough to live on depending on where you decide to live. Part of my problem is Im still paying off debt from when i was younger and more foolish in the states, if i wasn't paying that it would make things much easier.

Taryn · Feb 6, 2003

Kay,

What can you tell me about cultural differences there? Was the adjustment an easy one? How about nursing in general? Are your duties similar to those you would have in the states? I have been working in the U.S. Virigin Islands in a family med. clinic/urgent care. The population here is predominantly of African descent and there are a few other ethnic groups in the mix as well. I've been here 8 months and am still getting adjusted to the customs and language.

I did locate Contech on the net but there was no link to send them mail. I have been surfing the net for months looking for sites that could be useful and have gotten very few responses. I did get one yesterday from a recruitment company in London. The recruiter seemed very interested so that provided some much needed encouragment.

Thank you again for taking time to try to help.

Taryn

Kaylesh · Feb 6, 2003

There are some cultural differences.. and depending on where you end up in the UK more so..Lots of immigrants from different countries. Where I am now we seem to see lots of Australians,South Africans,English,Scottish. The language does take some getting used to . .and again this varies from area to area...just as in the US where there are different names for the same thing depending on what state you are in.. The accents are different from area to area as well and some are thicker and more difficult to figure out,and if they throw in the local slang then forget it LOL.. its like learning a whole new language. hehe.

I have found that in general the nurse here has less responsibilities regarding the patient .. that could be because I was in a teaching hospital however.. Where I am now is in research and that is totally different from any kind of nursing I've ever done..

Here are two websites that post jobs in scottish and english hospitals..

http://www.nursingtimes.net

http://www.scottish-nursing-jobs.com

when i've got time i'll go through my favourites and see what i can find as far as agencies and stuff for you if you like.

Kay

Taryn · Feb 7, 2003

Thank you once again. I'll check those sites out.

Janey · Feb 11, 2003

Taryn

Sector1.net is a good site for jobs within the North East of England (near the border), covering areas between Berwick and Leeds and includes Newcastle and Teeside areas. Once you've clicked job search type in nurse and it will give you the vacancies in the different nursing disciplines and grades within these areas.

srose · Mar 13, 2003

Looks like I found this thread a little late...

I'm also an American who would love to be able to work in England or Scotland at some point...just wondering if anyone knows how much experience is necessary before applying to a nursing agency in the UK?

Taryn · Mar 13, 2003

Janey,

Your advice is much appreciated. I'll check out the sites you suggested. It looks like an agency will be the simplest way to get this started as they can guide me through the application process. ..trying to do this without their aid looks quite daunting.

Is anyone familiar with the roles a nurse might fulfill in the cardiac cath lab over there? In the U.S. we are allowed to circulate,monitor, and scrub cases.

Taryn

sbic56, BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2003

A coworker of mine visited the UK and says the nurses there are paid much less than we are and that most of those who are travelling there are younger people out for an adventure and not to make money. True, UK nurses?

Kaylesh · Mar 13, 2003

Hiya,

It is true that nurses here are paid way less than in the US.. I can say this with open eyes as I am a US trained RN that grew up and was trained in Massachusetts. I worked in Mass until july 99 when i came over here to Scotland to fulfill a long time dream of mine to work and live here.. They pay stinks.. nursing shortage exists here.. however... there is still something about this place that I love.. I've got no plans on leaving... there are private hospitals and research agencies that pay a bit better still no where near what i was making in the US..

THere are some things more important than £ or $... I love the pace of life here and all the people i've met have been great..

Feel free to ask any questions..

Kay

(Kaylesh)

Taryn · Mar 15, 2003

sbic56,

If you look at the job postings from some of the sites mentioned here, many list what the pay for the position will be. It looks as though you would make about half of what a U.S. nurse would. I haven't heard anything regarding the ages of nurses making the transition from here to there.

GbGirl · Apr 3, 2003

Hi, I am English, but lived in Virginia for the past nine years. I am an LPN and I was wondering if that is a qualification that can be used in the UK, or should I try and get my RN before thinking about going home.

I am excited about this site, it is lovely to hear from other English people, although it makes me feel even more homesick.

Thanks for any info.

Deborah

Kaylesh · Apr 4, 2003

Hiya Deborah,

I'm not sure if the LPN would be the same or similar to the Enrolled Nurse position here. The best advice I'd give it to check out the Nursing Midwifery Council website.. Used to be calle the UKCC...

web addy is http://www.nmc-uk.org

As you saw by my previous post.. Its actually fairly easy for a US trained nurse to get work over here as the shortage is everywhere.. If you are a US citizen you'd need a work permit to work here . You said you're English sooo if you have a British Passport and are a British citizen you'd not even need the work permit.

Kay..(Kaylesh)