From US to UK

allnurses Guide · Feb 4, 2011

Hi Scully, if you've got an EU passport you won't have to worry about the immigration employment laws so that's a benefit.

To work as a nurse in the UK you will need to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, details of their requirements are found on their website. They will look at your transcripts and let you know if you meet the criteria for registration in the UK.

http://www.nmc-uk.org/Registration/Joining-the-register/Trained-outside-the-EU--EEA/

Once the NMC has looked at your documents, and given approval for registration, you will need to undertake the Overseas Nursing Program, using an approved educational establishment,

http://www.rcn.org.uk/nursing/comingtouk/adaptation

Then depending on where you want to work, once registered will depend on how easily you can find work. If you want to work in the NHS the best place to find a job is on the NHS jobs website

http://www.jobs.nhs.uk

scully_forensic · Feb 7, 2011

Hi XB9S,

Thank you for that. I'll look at the websites. Do you have any idea how the job in UK is different compared to US? I mean in general as every individual is different. How's the pay, living costs, nurse-doctor communication, responsibilities, work load, etc. I know it's different in Europe and pay is generally lower but also there are more vacation days. But I wonder if anyone has any experience working in Europe vs US.

Thank you for any input.

Scully

Silverdragon102, BSN · Feb 7, 2011

nurses pay starts at band 5 on this scale. http://www.rcn.org.uk/support/pay_and_conditions/pay_rates_2010-2011

Roles will vary depending on where you work both in which part of the country and speciality

I always found nurse-doctor communication good and you will find doctors around more in the UK hospitals as UK hospitals employ doctors from newly qualified to consultants.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Feb 7, 2011

Should add cost of living also varies depending on where you are living, south is more expensive to live than the north of England and you will find Scotland and Wales will also have areas where cost is higher like Edinburgh in Scotland I believe has a high cost of living.

Things to take into account. Water rates, sewerage rates, heating either gas or electric, normal electric, food, home insurance, car insurance, running a car (petrol/gas is very expensive at the moment) rent or mortgage, local council tax just to name a few off the top of my head

babyNP., APRN · Feb 8, 2011

Getting the registration itself is not as easy as it may sound...there are a certain number of clinical and didactic (theory) hours needed and most US nurses have nowhere near the number required, even if they did a BSN. Looks like a few people have been accepted regardless, but it looks like it's on a case-by-case basis. There are a few threads on this subject in the past few months that you can take a look at if you do a basic search.

If you do go down the path, be sure to let us know how it all goes--your information is very invaluable to readers here! :) best of luck!

misswoosie · Feb 8, 2011

I'm living in the US an waiting for a visa.

I've talked to quite a few RNs here ad from what they say RNs in the UK have more responsibility and are allowed to make more clinical decisions without a Drs order.

It's a little bizarre, as the NCLEX RN is fairly comprehensive and covers more than RN training in the UK, plus RNs training now i the UK don't have a pre-registration examination.

RNs in the UK can remove and resite venflons, change dressings based on their decisions, etc etc.

Really the only things that require Drs orders are prescriptions.

Sometimes there are algorithms or protocols for titrating some infusions and things like GKI.

I worked IN ICU for 8 yrs.

We altered vent settings based on blood gases, titrated infusion rates of inotrope infusions etc according to BP and other physiological parameters.

There were no respiratory techs, no "housekeeping".

We also managed all the monitoring equipment, ie calibration, changing flush bags and transducers etc- not sure if this is the case in the US.

I think the reason for the differences is probably due to the high incidence of litigation in the US.

Other thing to be aware of is that your BSN may not give you enough hours of nursing theory and practice to register in the UK.

Good luck!

Be prepared for the differences in ward layout, staffing levels and availability of equipment and support staff.:)

scully_forensic · Feb 9, 2011

Thank you people for all input.

That is very helpful what you all are writing. I will definitely keep you posted on the process if I decide to try. I have 2.5 years of ER experience here in the US, I've never worked in ICU. I have my Associate first and then transition courses from RN to BSN. I feel like it's much easier to work in the US vs other countries as we have so much help here, techs, RTs, PTs, etc.

While surfing the web, I also encounter plenty of various agencies and recruiters who promise to handle all the paperwork/registration for you and then find you a job. However, my feeling about it is that you are limited in your choices and actions after you arrive in UK.

Scully

meds012674 · Feb 19, 2011

Misswoosie,

Are you practicing here it the US? I am a little bit confused by your post lol It seems like you are here in the US but are from the UK?

Is it the responsibility on RNs in the UK the reason for the amount of clinical hours required?

US trained nurses are quite advanced in theory. I am not saying that they are not anywhere else, please dont get me wrong. I have only experienced nursing here in the US. I would love nothing more than to be able to go go to the UK and work as a nurse. I think that the news is frustrating, however, in light of what you said, I find it fascinating that nurses trained in the UK are given so much responsibility and autonomy! It sounds like nursing skills and intuition are really put to the test, and one can really hone in on their 'gut feelings' when it comes to patient care.

While nursing training in the US is hard enough, I wish I had more clinical oppertunity so as to make a smooth transition via licensure in the UK. I understand that the transition for a UK trained nurse to come to the US is much easier-- they just have to sit for and pass the national examination. I wish it were that easy to go over there!

babyNP., APRN · Feb 19, 2011

Just so you know, it's not as simple as just passing the NCLEX for UK trained nurses to come over here...UK nurses are trained either to be general adult nurses, pediatrics only, or mental health.

Therefore, the adult nursing programs don't have the required OB/GYN, pediatric clinical hours or theory and they have to make it up here. Same thing in other specialities. I actually think it's more cumbersome to become licensed in the US rather than abroad...

meds012674 · Feb 19, 2011

I was not aware that they dont get to have OB or pediatric training. thank you for sharing that with me. I know that the training is different there as to here, and i also know that they dont get the option of multiple choice on their exams as we do here (a friend of mine who is American and was trained there told me its all written). I am thankful that part at least!

cymrudiamond · Mar 13, 2011

Hello Scully, good luck on gaining employment within the UK! As a US citizen, the UK Border Agency will require that the position you're applying for to must first be on the, 'shortage occupations list'. If it's not, the employer must post the job at a jobcentre for anywhere from two to four weeks. Then job listing must (and, HIGHLY unlikely) pass the, 'Resident Labour Market Test,' meaning they can't find any other suitable, and qualified resident of the UK, or EU to take up the position. Only then,do you have a real chance at being offered the position, otherwise, you won't. The first time I was hired as an RN in the U.K., it was much easier!! Didn't have to go through all this palaver. Now, the UK have practically closed the door to immigration/hiring foreign nurses, and the best I can discern from the, 'Resident Labour Market Test' is that it is a convenient way to keep foreign nurses out. Full stop. Even if you are more qualified and experienced than a resident, or EU national. As long as the resident/ EU national (even with the least experience/qualifications) applies- they're always going to be hired first. Found that out painfully by experience. The resident was given the job over me, even though the Ward Manager said to me I was by far THE most qualified/experienced, and I was the candidate he would put forward.. I fully understand both sides of the immigration 'coin', however, the odds are stacked against anyone outside the UK/EU gaining employment as a nurse anyway. I don't want to be a,'Debbie Downer' but that is the reality you'll be facing. I absolutely wish you every success in gaining employment within the UK, if that is your aim, and I mean absolutely no disrespect to a UK/EU national. :) Never give up!!