Difference between nursing in the UK vs nursing in the US?

ZippyGBR, BSN, RN · Oct 18, 2010

Hello,
I've read through this thread recently and have a few questions. What is the nursing status now that some time has passed?

status in what sense ?

a lot of the stuff that was seen as 'new' 4 years ago when the thread was started is more and more normal now

Are UK grads having a hard time finding jobs/ is there a huge shortage? I am a recent nurse graduate trying to gain experience before I am able to do travel nursing. I am very interested in working in the UK I have researched several travel agencies that advertise that they assist U.S. nurses. Any recommended locations to start/live? I'm not so worried about the pay cuts that I'll endure.. just the transition from moving so far away.

unless you are an EU passport holder you have a fairly slim chance of getting employment in the UK at present, there are only a few speciality specific roles that remain on the shortage list for getting work permits.

pay wise things have moved on in terms of rates etc

current pay rates

Pay rates 2010/2011 - RCN

sarahjones · Jul 17, 2012

Can anyone help me?

My husband has an opportunity to start work in America, which would be a fantastic opportunity for me and my three young children. The only problem that I have and which concerns me greatly is that I am currently studying my BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing, and once qualified would want to work as an adult nurse (obviously).

However I have been on alot of forums and visited many websites that even though once I qualifiy with a BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing this would not be enough to work in the US as a nurse, which has disapointed me greatly.

If this is the case, then what is the point of qualifying if i can't gain employment within the US as a nurse, which would ruin my dream, or do I say to my husband you cant take up the job and stay here in the UK, which would shatter his dreams . :cry:

If anyone can help and give me proper constructive advice, such as you do a top up course in the US or it doesnt matter, as to be fair I would only be applying for jobs within the US which would be field specific, unless for example on a surgical ward (Upper GI) with the US caters for child and adults (which is obviously not the case here in the UK).

Another point to add, i do find it hard to believe, that the BSc Hons Degree would not be recognised within the US as it is totally acceptable in other coutries around the world such as Australia, Cananda and may more.

Please help

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jul 17, 2012

Unless your transcripts show both clinical and theory in Paeds, Mental Health, Obstetrics and Adult (know Adult will be covered) you will not meet US requirements, they are general trained opposed to the UK which is more specialised. I think you will also find that Canada requires the same in clinical and theory hours on your transcripts as the US. I know many UK nurses that had to do some top up courses or some form of assessment (SEC) and then courses to meet Canadian requirements (I also had to make up courses and I trained back in the 80's as a EN and 97 as a Rn and had plenty of separate hours in the 4 subjects.

There are no top up courses in the UK and many struggle in the UK to find schools that will allow them to join to meet requirements

americanrose · Oct 1, 2012

STNEeotser there is something here in the UK called patient group directives which give the authorisation to give things such as basic pain relief, indigestion relief, etc with medications or treatments. I work in emergency medicine and our nurses assess patients and can go straight away to a doctor to authorise pain relief and other assessments are standard such as ECG for any chest pain, head injury, collapse/fall and so on.