Question re: immigration for UK Nurses

World International

Published

Specializes in Oncology, Palliative care.

i would be grateful if anyone could clarify this:

i was told by an american nurse recruitment consultant that the majority of american hospitals required uk nurses to have a minimum of two years experience and additionally, that this was the also the requirement from immigration laws in order to enter the us to work as a nurse?

i would be really grateful for any advice or clarification on this... ? :uhoh21:

thankyou

eternalsunshine :wink2:

Specializes in med/surg.

Most agencies want 1-2 years but I don't think it's necessarily a US hospital requirement. Although I expect that given the choice of a nurse with experience vs a nurse with none they'd go with the experience.

What I would say is that on a purely personal level you might want to have a certain amount of experience under your belt before going to another country to nurse.

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

don't think so and it can take approx 12 months to go through the process so you could easily be getting experience in nursing.

Specializes in med/surg.

I agree with SD but the trouble is that if you start going around the recruiters they nearly always ask how much experience you have already.

Even on the Vermont foreign nurse license application & renewal forms you have to tick that you have worked either 400 hours in a clinical nursing setting over the last 2 years or 900 (or was it 800 - can't quite remember) over the last 5 years.

I suspect that if hospitals are going the extra mile to recruit foreign nurses for their short-fall they want them with some experience.

Specializes in Oncology, Palliative care.

Thanks for your replies guys :wink2:

Do you know if they require experience specifically within a hospital setting? As I am hoping to work in my local hospice once qualified where I currently am a bank health care assistant. I have already resigned myself to the fact that I am very unlikely to get a job in the hospital due to cut backs etc etc. :uhoh21:

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Thanks for your replies guys :wink2:

Do you know if they require experience specifically within a hospital setting? As I am hoping to work in my local hospice once qualified where I currently am a bank health care assistant. I have already resigned myself to the fact that I am very unlikely to get a job in the hospital due to cut backs etc etc. :uhoh21:

a lot depends on the hospital. I now work as a practice nurse and the hospital is aware of this but I do have many years experience in the acute setting. Can you not get some shifts in the hospital at least to give you some experience

Specializes in Stroke Rehab, Elderly, Rehab. Ortho.
Thanks for your replies guys :wink2:

Do you know if they require experience specifically within a hospital setting? As I am hoping to work in my local hospice once qualified where I currently am a bank health care assistant. I have already resigned myself to the fact that I am very unlikely to get a job in the hospital due to cut backs etc etc. :uhoh21:

Although I have been qualified since 1989 up to when I came here last October 2005 I had been out of the hospital enviroment for 12 years. I kept telling the hospital that just so they were aware and they werent bothered at all....the fact I had so many years experience counted. When I changed to a bigger hospital in April - I told them the same they werent bothered and they are really supportive and tailored my orientation to suit my needs.

Dont worry too much on this aspect as there is a lot of differences in USA nursing although the basics are the same...you will get good oreintation if you go to a good hospital. Besides which if you arent comfortable at the end of your oreintation you should be able to speak up and tell them you arent comfortable on your own just yet.

When I have to float to another unit and faced with stuff I am not sure of all the nurses are supportive and understanding...it helps being English and telling them I am new here and been out of the hospital enviroment for so long...but to be honest once I am guided in the right direction as to their policies and procedures I am pretty much ok! So no worries there!!!

Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

In some ways I believe you should come over here and work when you are a relatively new nurse, I think the transition may be easier. I found it difficult to ajust because I was an very 'experienced' nurse in my own country. You will do fine dont worry, the experience you recieve in a 'Hospice' is invaluable. My mother died in a hospice in Cheadle and I have never ever known such wonderful supportive nurses in all my life.

Specializes in Oncology, Palliative care.

Madwife that is an interesting point, I had not thought about that.

Has anyone heard about immigration laws requiring nurses to have a minimum of two years experience in order to work legally?

thank you all for your advice its really appreciated! :wink2:

EternalSunshine

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Madwife that is an interesting point, I had not thought about that.

Has anyone heard about immigration laws requiring nurses to have a minimum of two years experience in order to work legally?

thank you all for your advice its really appreciated! :wink2:

EternalSunshine

there is no immigration law that states this. If you look at a lot of phillipine threads they are told this as a lot of them struggle to find work once qualified. Your pay will equate that of a new grad

+ Add a Comment