From Aussie or other foreign RNs who have worked in the UK on a working holiday visa

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Hi there, My name is Kate, I'm doing my Grad year this year in melbourne.

I am desperate to go chasing horizons as soon as a can after completing this year, the travel bug has bitten me! I've had my heart set on getting a working holiday visa for the uk in 2009 and was after some been there done that stories about the whole experience from any other young aussie nurses who have only their BN and only 1-2 years experience, and who have worked on the working visa recently... any help help whatsoever actually would be much appreciated!

Thanks a heap, Kate

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Specializes in Operating Room Nursing.

I'm not 100% on all of this, i'm going by what other nurses have told me so please correct me if i'm wrong here.

It's quite a difficult process for an Australian nurse to work in the UK. You have to sit an English test (may have some nursing stuff in not sure) which apparantly costs about 2000$. Once you have obtained a visa and are working over there you can't just work as an RN straight away. You need to work for about 20 days as a nurses aid or something like that to prove you are competent.

Funnily enough we don't do the same thing here for UK nurses.....:icon_roll

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

You have to meet all requirements for NMC overseas and can not work until completed and have a PIN and work permit. NMC will not help with a work permit and currently very hard to get one if not from the EU or have a UK/EU passport. Lots of nurses especially newly qualified are struggling to find work here in the UK. Much already written in the UK forum

NMC Overseas

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Thanks for the replies.

I've looked into the processes re NMC and I'm aware of the ONP and english tests etc. I'm able to get a 2 year working holiday visa on which i can work for a total 12months in the UK. Not really looking for sponsorship as such. I'm happy to join a London agency to get work, I'm not really going to be in the position to get a contract for any length of time as I'll want to take off travelling every few months.

Guess I'm just interested in hearing from other nurses who have done similar things and what their experiences were with the type of work, how easy it was to get it, and Also what the costs ended up being after all the NMC requirments and how long the registration process took.

Cheers

Kate

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