Canadian to UK - recruiter and nursing focus questions

[ashschu]

Hi all,

Looking for some information re: nurse recruiters in the UK, and the likelihood of being able to work in my “chosen” area of nursing.

Background: I am a Canadian with 4yr nursing degree, advanced specialty in perinatal nursing, certified practice in contraceptive and sexual health management, forensic nursing, breastfeeding certificates, etc.

I also happen to be a British citizen, hold a NIN already from a short stint living in UK over a decade ago.

I started the process of transferring my degree to the NMC a few years ago, but it was taking up so much money and time... 2 years on and I was in a vicious cycle of having to constantly resubmit documents as their validity had “expired” as per NMC (as they would take so long to review each one, by the time they did something else would be at their designated 6 month mark and need to be purchased and notarized and sent in AGAIN). A family illness made me just give up when I was almost at the OSCE stage as it was crazy making and I didn’t have the capacity to continually procure and resend documents anymore.

My questions:

1. Would working with a recruiting agency stream line the process, or allow me to bypass any steps? I’ve already written the test of competence and ILETS once. I have been out of acute care for 5 years (I work in community with adults with developmental disabilities, as well as public health and street outreach) - I’m hesitant if I would pass the OSCE if it is highly clinical based (or at least, I assume I’d have to pay for a second crack at it)

2. Once in the UK... what are the chances of sliding in to my preferred work areas? Health visiting and CASH nursing seem most similar to what I am doing now. I also work on call for our forensic nursing team working with paediatric assault, sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and elder abuse. Particular interest in working with youth in sexual health. Passionate about communicable disease and breastfeeding. The idea of working med/surg is enough to make me give up on my dream of moving back to the UK. I find hospital nursing nothing but a place of burnout and moral distress (huge kudos to all you out there doing it and doing it well! I know my limits though)

3. True chances for career and personal growth with the NHS? I love education (as evidenced by my many post bac certificates). Am hoping to start a Masters of Public Health soon.

4. Lastly.... is the NHS as bad as it seems right now in terms of stability? I have an aunt in the UK who has been a district nurse for years but recently stopped working... it did not sound like a happy place to work her last few years. Am I better off just riding out the mess that is Canadian healthcare right now?

Thank you for taking the time to read all of this. Looking forward to some input from some of you who are currently in the NHS and/or used a recruitment service to get over there!

[Misstheo]

I can’t help you with your questions but I too have a similar background and often toy with the idea of going back. I just keep hearing about how bad the NHS is and I can’t get over the low pay and how everybody struggles to live over there as in low wages and high cost of living. I’d also be paid the same I was when I left 6 years ago! At the same time, I feel the job opportunities to go up the bands and do a masters while being paid and advanced practice are endless, unlike Canada. Also, don’t get me started on the mess of Brexit! However, It’s really a tough choice!

I’m wondering what you mean when you say the state of Canadian healthcare?

Also, learning disabilities is a branch of nursing over there where you do a separate course like with adults, peds etc. You would definitely start off on med-surg unless you can get your NMC pin and apply for non-med surg. You have the advantage of citizenship so are not tied to an agency.

There is a way to get the NHS trust to pay for your OSCE and that’s applying for an international nursing position where you work as a band 4 healthcare assistant and they train you towards your OSCE. However, i’ve only ever seen med-surg offered. I don’t think it would be too difficult to move over to your preferred areas once reestablished as you have experience and qualifications but obviously I have no experience in any of this.

[Misstheo]

Also to add, I’m sure you’re aware but I see you have perinatal and breastfeeding experience and certifications. This all falls under maternity and midwifery in the UK. It would be unlikely you’d be able to get a job with anything to do with babies or children unless you’re a midwife or Pediatric trained nurse. Just something to think about. I think you’d be fine with women’s health issues but working with youth may fall under Pediatric.