How do I .......

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I'm a US trained RN. I'm thinking of coming back home for a while. How do I go about getting licensed in the UK. How long does the whole process take. Will I be able to work "license pending"?

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

You need to apply to the NMC and meet their requirements for foreign trained nurse, you may have to take English exam and also the ONP. Here is the link and can take several months and no you can't work as RN whilst license is pending

http://www.nmc-uk.org/aArticle.aspx?ArticleID=1685

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hi scootergirl, i take it that you are from the uk? so no problems with living there again, but do you have an associates degree or your bsn, that wil make a difference in the nmc approving your nursing education.

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hi Scootergirl

You will not have to take the English exam,if you are a brit. I am not sure about the ONP. I did not have to take either. I just got my registration early this year. I was an SEN in the UK and did my BSN RN in the states. Cariad is right you will need to have a BSN in the states. It took me 8 months to get my registration. It is a long process but worth it. I was and still am working with a company called continental travel nurses. They really helped me with working things out with the NMC nursing board in the UK. When I phoned the NMC I would just get the call center people and get no where with finding out the status of my application , when they called they knew how to get through to the officers making the decisions and find out more. They also do 13 week contracts at some of the larger hospitals in the UK providing accomodation. Check out their site continentaltravelnurse.com

Sue

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Thanks for all the info. Will get going. I do have an associates degree from the States. We'll see how that transfers in the UK.

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.
Thanks for all the info. Will get going. I do have an associates degree from the States. We'll see how that transfers in the UK.

Unless you did a 3 year nursing degree then you would not be able to practice in the UK.

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Specializes in Perioperative Services.

Hi Sue, Your post got me thinking. I am a Brit, did not take the English test, completed my SEN in 1981, my ADN 1996, BSN 2001 and Masters in 2008 and I have to do the ONP?

In your post you did not have to do the ONP - is it because you went through Continentaltravel nurse agency? I`m looking at them for travel nursing in the future

I did the process by myself which took less than 6 months but I have to complete the ONP by 2011 or I have to start over - which I think is wrong!! Wondering now if I should challenge the decision to do the ONP? Bloss

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Specializes in Advanced Practice, surgery.
Hi Sue, Your post got me thinking. I am a Brit, did not take the English test, completed my SEN in 1981, my ADN 1996, BSN 2001 and Masters in 2008 and I have to do the ONP?

In your post you did not have to do the ONP - is it because you went through Continentaltravel nurse agency? I`m looking at them for travel nursing in the future

I did the process by myself which took less than 6 months but I have to complete the ONP by 2011 or I have to start over - which I think is wrong!! Wondering now if I should challenge the decision to do the ONP? Bloss

Blossom if your a UK SEN could you not do a return to nursing course as a EN then apply to register or would the NMC not go for that way around it.

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Specializes in Perioperative Services.

Hi Sharrie, Definitely a thought! My youngest graduates High School in 2012 and I`m looking at possibly working in the UK through an agency for a while or as a travel nurse once he is done. I started my registration with the NMC with the idea that if my family needed me in the UK for 3 month plus I could work there and still pay the mortgage on my home here.

I do have my EN activated - I had to do that to be able to waive the IEFTS? English Test. Maybe I will give the NMC a call and see if there are other options available. To take off 4 weeks off work to do the 20 day learning is not easy and I would hate to give up my job to complete this requirment by 2011. I would be interested to find out if there are other US trained RNs who had to negotiate something with their employer to be able to take the month off! Bloss

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Specializes in Perioperative Services.

Another question I have is - would I need a work permit to work back in the UK. I do have a British passport and dual nationality (naturalized American)! I just wondered. My backgroung is in theatres which I understand is very much in demand in the UK as it is here in the US according to a previous post- is this still the case? Bloss

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

If you are a British citizen (UK Passport is a good indicator) then no you do not need a work permit and do not have to worry abut shortage occupation list as you can apply for a job anywhere in the UK

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Specializes in Perioperative Services.

Thank you SilverDragon for that info, Bloss

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