How difficult is it for US new grads to get jobs in London UK?

Silverdragon102, BSN · Feb 16, 2008

Hi everyone..
My partner got job offers for both London and Paris.
I'll be graduating Nursing School in August.
How difficult would it be to get a job in the London without any previous work experience?
In the US (NYC) its quite easy to find employment making about $70,000/yr
even as a new graduate.
With all my student loans I'm concerned that by moving Ill end up in debt
Can anyone out there offer some info that may be of help to me?
Thanks :)

Welcome to the site

London is very expensive and starting pay is approx £19,000 $37000 a year and there maybe some deferential pay. Will you also get a work permit to work in the UK if following your partner? If not and you do not have a UK/EU passport you may find it hard to find a hospital willing to assist with a work permit. You also need to meet NMC requirements as a foreign nurse trained outside the EU which will involve taking IELTS and complete an overseas program so looking at 6-12 months before you will be able to work as a RN in the UK.

At the moment jobs can be hard to find although in London maybe easier as many do not or can not afford to live in London and work

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Feb 16, 2008

Can I ask how long was your actual nurse training? If it was less than 3 years there may be difficulty registering as an RN in the UK.

Where would you get $70,000 as a new grad? In Phoenix even working nights you would be bringing home a lot less than that.

CRASHT1224 · Feb 16, 2008

Thanks for your replies so far.. I didnt know about the additional training required.

I completed an Accelerated Bachelor's degree.

NYC, the starting cost is.. on paper.. about $50k. But most places pay at least 65K.. and places liek NYU/Columbia/Sloan Kettering they pay about 70K even for new grads.

Granted.. cost of living is much higher in NY

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Feb 16, 2008

The extra training would involve the lack of actual practical hours on the floor. I doubt very much in an accelerated course you would have the required amount of hours but you dont know until you contact the NMC and see the requirements. Nurses in the UK have a minimal amount of 3 years normally. I know from the lack of jobs for UK nurses they are more choosy nowerdays but I am great believer in going for what you want but you have to have driva and patience. Two qualities which dont neccessarily go together .

suzanne4, RN · Feb 16, 2008

Accelerated programs in the US do not meet the requirements for licensure in most other countries. The UK specifically requires three physical years in an approved school of nursing.

The UK also requires that you have taken and passed the NCLEX exam, since that is your local license. You cannot even start the process for licensure there without having passed that exam.

They also have a hiring freeze in place, and without significant experience, it is going to be quite hard for you to get a job in the UK or France; as well as a visa that will permit you to work there.

Scott33, BSN, EMT-P · Feb 16, 2008

Where would you get $70,000 as a new grad? In Phoenix even working nights you would be bringing home a lot less than that.

Going rate in the NY / Long Island area. More so for per-diem / agency positions, as they don't need to shell out for health insurance, sick pay, or holidays.

I know many RNs who have one FT position, as well as one or two per-diem positions, who can expect to make around $150,000 / yr. It's there if you are willing to put the hours in. Not for me though :zzzzz

I imagine the Pacific coast will pay similar, but it's all relevant to regional cost of living.

suzanne4, RN · Feb 17, 2008

Can I ask how long was your actual nurse training? If it was less than 3 years there may be difficulty registering as an RN in the UK.
Where would you get $70,000 as a new grad? In Phoenix even working nights you would be bringing home a lot less than that.

New grad rate in Bay Area will get you more than that, rate is in the $45 plus per hour and then add in shift differential, etc.

That is why so many want to work in the area. But apt rents are quite high as well as the taxes here.

ZippyGBR, BSN, RN · Feb 17, 2008

The extra training would involve the lack of actual practical hours on the floor. I doubt very much in an accelerated course you would have the required amount of hours but you dont know until you contact the NMC and see the requirements. Nurses in the UK have a minimal amount of 3 years normally. I know from the lack of jobs for UK nurses they are more choosy nowerdays but I am great believer in going for what you want but you have to have driva and patience. Two qualities which dont neccessarily go together .

more to the point over time the EU regulations for Nurse registration require 4600 hours program 2300 theory and 2300 practice

the main issue for anyone without an EU passport will be work permits

when people talk about Uk nursing pay they forget the high coat area suppements for london and the fact that quote salalries are net of unsocial hours payments

they also forget the terms and conditions under agenda for change such as the 35 days of paid leave a year , the nHS pension and the sicknessarrangements