Pre-Nursing Student Wanting to Nurse in Ireland/UK

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Hi all,

I apologize if this is at all repetitive, but I am seeking some advice. I am currently taking prerequisites to apply to an accelerated BSN program here in the United States, as I already have a BA in French. However, I have very serious aspirations of nursing in Ireland or the UK long term.

So, I guess my basic questions are:

If I want to nurse overseas long term, would I be better off getting my degree here or trying to obtain it in the country in which I want to work?

What is the current job outlook for Nursing in the UK and Ireland?

If I do end up staying the US to earn my BSN and practice here for a few years, it it plausible for me to move to Ireland or the UK and work at that point, instead?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Kelley

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Currently I think the UK (NMC) does not accept accelerated programs also required to have a minimum of 1 year full time work experience once qualified

Job outlook at the moment for the UK is poor and I believe Ireland is similar. Just look for news with the NHS and you will see many NHS Trusts in the UK are having issues and many jobs including nurses are not being replaced or nurses have been told they are out of a job

Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

The majority of healthcare in Ireland is public, meaning that the people in the jobs are paid in some way by government money. There has been a freeze on recruiting in all sectors of public jobs for nearly 5 years.

I graduated with a BSc general nursing (nursing education in Ireland is specialist rather than the US generalist I'm an adult nurse so I work with adults if I wanted to work in psych I'd need a psych nursing qualification, same with midwifery, learning disability or sick children)

Anyway, I graduated and worked for 2 years covering mat leaves etc. I was called into my NUMs office and advised to apply for a permanent job panel (strange system). I applied and 2 weeks later the government froze all recruitment.

As I was covering mat leave when the nurse came back I lost my job. I left Ireland for many reasons the fact that I couldn't get a job being one.

I got an email 6 months ago I.e. 4 years after I applied for the permanent job panel,advising that I was in the top band of applicants and was being waitlisted for a job. I'm not holding my breath!

Nursing friends of mine are unemployed, underemployed or in roles that they hate yet grateful for a job.

So no, Ireland is not a place for work at the moment. And knowing the country and governments like I do it is going to take them a long time to get out of the debt that they are in.

Have you ever thought about doing your training in NZ? Nurses in New Zealand are educated to a high degree level via a three year, two semesters per annum, program, with an approximate 50/50 mix of theory to practice. Positions are found throughout NZ for graduate RN's and because of the program mix, are confident to practice even before graduating.

Hi Kelley, I just found this website and thought you might be interested.

Continental Travel Nurse, travel nursing jobs in England

Agree with what is said above regarding Ireland. Also, a friend moved here from the USA 2 years ago. She's an RN with six years pq experience and couldn't get registered with An Bord Analtrais (nurses registration body) as her degree didn't have enough clinical hours. She's appealing it but not hopeful and they're really dragging their heels. There's no jobs really anyway unless you want to work in a nursing home. If you really want to work in Ireland maybe do your degree here? They're all four years and are specialised (I.e. mids, adult, psych, ID) Just bear in mind that it may not be transferrable back to the US as you'll have specialised. The UK's a little better and maybe your degree would be recognised there? Good luck with whatever you decide.

Kelley,

What did you find out about working in the UK so far (other than what is posted here)?

Please share.

Thank you.

I'm also interested in this topic! I have always wanted to practice nursing in ireland but it seems impossible, especially considering I want to be a L & D nurse and Ireland won't accept my regular nursing degree for those jobs...:crying2: guess i'll have to give up that dream

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