How to find a GOOD nursing job in London?!

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Anyways...

I've finally obtained my RN licence here in the U.K. It implies that my original licence as well as my nursing education was completed elsewhere, i.e. the USA, Florida. I've not been working for two years as a consequence of moving to another country (from the USA to the UK, London where I currently live) and being pregnant.

Now that I am finally registered with the NMC and my son is 6 months of age, I am ready to go back to work. The only problem is that I do not know how to go about looking for a job here in the UK and specifically in London.

Just to tell you a little about my career: I've been working in PCU/ Critical Coronary Care (telemetry + post open heart surgery unit) for at least 5 years (which is basically ever since I graduated and got my nursing licence) and for the last 2 years, as I said, I've taken time off. I do not think that it will be hard for me to go back to coronary care nursing, but the only thing is that I may want to change my career path a little bit...I've been thinking about maybe going to work for a plastic surgery office or some skincare clinic (i.e. on the famous Harley Street).

The question is:

1. Do I need some special qualifications in order to make this transition, or it won't be so hard to do?

2. How much does it pay? Mind you, how much would a job of my profile pay here in the UK (London) to begin with and then would a plastic surgery job pay more than for example an NHS job ?

3. NHS job vs. private sector job? Which one pays more and what are the benefits of one over the other?

As you can see, I am completely clueless and really do not have anybody in my current surrounding who is an RN to direct me a little bit!

Any contribution to my topic will be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot in advance :-)

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Specializes in Nursing Home ,Dementia Care,Neurology..

Try Googling "NHS jobs" "plastic surgery jobs" etc. see what it comes up with.

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What type of visa do you actually have, do you have permanent residency status there? Asking because of hiring freezes in many areas there. If you do not already have a visa that would permit you to work, it will be difficult to get one at this time.

Suspect that you may have a visa because of a spouse and that will make things considerably easier for you. Getting into skin care or plastics there is no different than in the US, you may find that your skills would be excellent in a recovery room type setting or post procedure, since you have critical care experience in your background.

Private clinics on Harley are always going to pay more than what the NHS does. You may wish to drop by some of the facilities that you are interested in, that usually is the easier way to do things in the realm of skin care/plastic surgery centers.

Best of luck to you.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Congrats on getting this far.. :)

Now you can join the frustration of a lot of other UK nurses especially newly qualified, although your experience will help. As suggested by Nightmare and Suzanne approach hospitals/clinics to see if there is any openings and also this link on NHS jobs NHS Jobs

Good luck and let us know how it goes for for you

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What type of visa do you actually have, do you have permanent residency status there? Asking because of hiring freezes in many areas there. If you do not already have a visa that would permit you to work, it will be difficult to get one at this time.

Suspect that you may have a visa because of a spouse and that will make things considerably easier for you. Getting into skin care or plastics there is no different than in the US, you may find that your skills would be excellent in a recovery room type setting or post procedure, since you have critical care experience in your background.

Private clinics on Harley are always going to pay more than what the NHS does. You may wish to drop by some of the facilities that you are interested in, that usually is the easier way to do things in the realm of skin care/plastic surgery centers.

Best of luck to you.

Hi, Suzanne4,

Thanks for your reply first of all!

Yes, you are right. I am a permanent resident due to a marriage visa, do that's not the problem at all. Problem is that, as far as I could understand so far, there are agencies in this country that are looking for the jobs for you.

In the USA, going to the actual facility-hospital/clinic is the best and the quickest way to get a job and I was always getting one literally at the time of the application. It is here that I do not know how things work.

Also, I do not know how much is a decent RN pay? Will I not have problems when transferring my skills to the complete different type of nursing?! I have no training in plastic/cosmetic /skin care surgeries.

As far as being hard to find a job in the UK, I guess it is very much different then in the USA. Luckily, I am not a newly graduate so hopefully finding a job for me will be at least a little bit easier?!

I hope some other people will join with their replies :-)

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Hi, Suzanne4,

Thanks for your reply first of all!

Yes, you are right. I am a permanent resident due to a marriage visa, do that's not the problem at all. Problem is that, as far as I could understand so far, there are agencies in this country that are looking for the jobs for you.

In the USA, going to the actual facility-hospital/clinic is the best and the quickest way to get a job and I was always getting one literally at the time of the application. It is here that I do not know how things work.

Also, I do not know how much is a decent RN pay? Will I not have problems when transferring my skills to the complete different type of nursing?! I have no training in plastic/cosmetic /skin care surgeries.

As far as being hard to find a job in the UK, I guess it is very much different then in the USA. Luckily, I am not a newly graduate so hopefully finding a job for me will be at least a little bit easier?!

I hope some other people will join with their replies :-)

You do not need an agency in the UK to find a job. I have had a few and never used one. I went to hospitals and looked at their job advert boards and also contacted HR for jobs. Pay will probably start at the basic £19,000 + full time but you can negotiate but they may decide to pay you x amount at the start and review your job/skills at a later date. That is what happened to me on my last job, was upgraded after 6 months as I proved myself

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Great news on the registration front! I recently gained registration with the NMC and have been working in Edinburgh. Since I am just on a working holiday visa I needed to resort to agency nursing....but since you have your PR I definitely don't recommend it. The application process with the NHS Lothian (in scotland) was a very lengthy one. It took me about 4-5 months to sign on with the NHS staff bank. But with patience and perseverance I'm sure you'll find a job. Perhaps if you try private plastic surgery clinics the process will be quicker. Goodluck with the job hunt!

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Specializes in ICU,ANTICOAG,ACUTE STROKE,EDU,RESEARCH.

Hi

As you haven't got current experience then things may be a little more difficult.

Try searching for Hospitals near you -look at their websites and you will find job vacancies there.It would probably be Band 5 (the lowest)

You may also want to approach Nursing agencies and the private clinics on Harley Street.

Sure eventually your experience will come in very useful-especially in London!

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Hi

As you haven't got current experience then things may be a little more difficult.

Try searching for Hospitals near you -look at their websites and you will find job vacancies there.It would probably be Band 5 (the lowest)

You may also want to approach Nursing agencies and the private clinics on Harley Street.

Sure eventually your experience will come in very useful-especially in London!

Hello misswoosie,

Unfortunately I have not worked for 2 years (if that's what you mean), so that may

be an obstacle in getting a job quicker. In spite of that, I still think that my previous experience form the USA will make me "desirable" in any working environment. The only thing is will anybody want a cardiac RN in plastic surgery is another matter...

Why would I be band 5 RN, the lowest one? With all this experience specialized in cardiac care, why would I start at the band 5 level?! Just because I'm in another country or? I do not think there should be a difference unless one is a newly graduate. Did you have a bad experience or you've heard from somebody?

Another question that somebody touched lightly is a salary level? How much is an actual RN (with my profile) salary? Is it really the case, like someone previously mentioned, that there as well, I'll have to start form the lower pay just because I have no working experience in this country?

Thank you for all your replies.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Hello misswoosie,

Unfortunately I have not worked for 2 years (if that's what you mean), so that may

be an obstacle in getting a job quicker. In spite of that, I still think that my previous experience form the USA will make me "desirable" in any working environment. The only thing is will anybody want a cardiac RN in plastic surgery is another matter...

Why would I be band 5 RN, the lowest one? With all this experience specialized in cardiac care, why would I start at the band 5 level?! Just because I'm in another country or? I do not think there should be a difference unless one is a newly graduate. Did you have a bad experience or you've heard from somebody?

Another question that somebody touched lightly is a salary level? How much is an actual RN (with my profile) salary? Is it really the case, like someone previously mentioned, that there as well, I'll have to start form the lower pay just because I have no working experience in this country?

Thank you for all your replies.

You will probably start on band 5 as that is the starting point but this is something that can be negotiated but with the amount of UK nurses some with experience also looking for work and that the UK does work different than the US although your experience may be an advantage if looking at cardiac may not mean anything when looking at another area. Let me give you an example. When I went to work in a GP surgery which was advertised at a higher grade although I got the job I was paid at my current grade until I received experience. My grade was upgrade 8-9 months later

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Specializes in med/surg.

Don't forget the private sector - it's not just the NHS where you can work ;-)

We're recruiting at the moment & so are many other private hospitals in London. We advertise in the Nursing press (Nursing times, Nursing Standard etc) - as do most other private hospitals. They have on-line facilities too - just Google them.

Salary would be around £23,000 pa.

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Specializes in ICU,ANTICOAG,ACUTE STROKE,EDU,RESEARCH.
Hello misswoosie,

Unfortunately I have not worked for 2 years (if that's what you mean), so that may

be an obstacle in getting a job quicker. In spite of that, I still think that my previous experience form the USA will make me "desirable" in any working environment. The only thing is will anybody want a cardiac RN in plastic surgery is another matter...

Why would I be band 5 RN, the lowest one? With all this experience specialized in cardiac care, why would I start at the band 5 level?! Just because I'm in another country or? I do not think there should be a difference unless one is a newly graduate. Did you have a bad experience or you've heard from somebody?

Another question that somebody touched lightly is a salary level? How much is an actual RN (with my profile) salary? Is it really the case, like someone previously mentioned, that there as well, I'll have to start form the lower pay just because I have no working experience in this country?

Thank you for all your replies.

Hi again

I am not saying your experience is not valuable-just that you haven't worked recently in this country. If you had previously been registered with the NMC and been out of practice for 2 years I think you would have had to do a "return to practice" course at a University as your registration would have lapsed.

Also remember nursing is different here.

The problem is that there are not lots of jobs available (although maybe more in London as the cost of living is so expensive) and for Band 5 jobs lots of trusts keep posts vacant for new grads.

Nursing went through a pay reorganisation and mostly what were D and E grade posts are now Band 5s. You will be competing with people with current experience in this country and many Band 6 posts require "Specialist" experience in that particular area.

It is not like the States where you are offered a salary according to your experience-jobs are banded and in the NHS they cannot deviate from this. It may be that with a band 6 job they would agree to pay you at a Band 5 until you had been trained, but then it is easier for them to give it to someone who already has the experience.

There just aren't enough jobs banded at higher grades above 5-it would have cost the NHS too much money to give nursing jobs fair (in a lot of nurses opinions) bands as there are so many of us in the organisation.

In London you will get London weighting which means your salary will be higher than £19000

Band 5 £23,619 - £30,508

Band 6 £28,149 - £37,558

Follow this link to Guys and St Thomas -just as an example of jobs available, requirements and bands

http://jobs.gstt.nhs.uk/job_search/s1?fs56=c89e414b24ca9846dff28efe3ee035e0

Hope this helps!

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