I'm a female nursing student in America and I want to work in London when I graduate. I want some life experience and an adventure. I'm single and have no children, so I have nothing keeping me in New Orleans. I am a bit nervous about moving because I know absolutely no one in England. I am looking for someone to chat with about England, nursing and anything else. Here is some information about myself: I'm 22 years old, I was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. I want to work in pediatrics when I graduate (May 2006).
Thanks to anyone who responds, I really appreciate it.
Is school driving me crazy?! yes!!!! that's why I haven't been able to get on for about a week now, it doesn't seem like there are enough hours in the day. Today I have finally gotten a break . And if you're crazy for moving to London b/c you have never visited there, then count me in as one of the crazies, b/c I've never been there either. Like you, it's a perfect opportunity to go b/c I don't have any kids, no man to tie me down :). I think I just want to live there for a year or so, just for the experience. I did visit the NMC website, but it hasn't occured to me to think about contacting hospitals there, is that something I should be doing? I'm glad to hear that they sound eager to hire American nurses. I'm thinking the Winsdor, Ascot area sounds kind of cool. But then again I have no idea where to go, maybe I should take a trip there just to see the different areas so I know where would fit me best. Was the information the NMC sent you anything different than what was on the website? Should I send for an info. packet too?
I know how you feel, school is driving me crazy too. Our last final is May 9th and I can't wait. I only contacted one hospital because I wanted to get an idea of what would be involved in working in another country. I probably did start a little early, but I want to be prepared because I know the process of moving will take a long time and I want to know what to expect. I know I won't move until 2009 which is a long time away but I was told that if you want to work with kids there are different requirements. I also need to save some money. The cost of living in London is ridiculous and nurses get paid very little over there . The information the NMC sent me was an application, which I didn't need. The info on the website shoud be good enough for now. I was going to visit london this summer, but that trip was cancelled. Once I graduate next may I do plan on going over there a few times, as a working visit. I want to see the sights and get a feel for the city and tour some of the hospitals. Everyone I know who has been to London loves it. My friend is the one who got the idea to move in my head, she just kept going on about how wonderful it was. What rotation are you in right now? Don't get too stressed out, just keep thinking once you graduate you can move. :)
I know how you feel, school is driving me crazy too. Our last final is May 9th and I can't wait. I only contacted one hospital because I wanted to get an idea of what would be involved in working in another country. I probably did start a little early, but I want to be prepared because I know the process of moving will take a long time and I want to know what to expect. I know I won't move until 2009 which is a long time away but I was told that if you want to work with kids there are different requirements. I also need to save some money. The cost of living in London is ridiculous and nurses get paid very little over there . The information the NMC sent me was an application, which I didn't need. The info on the website shoud be good enough for now. I was going to visit london this summer, but that trip was cancelled. Once I graduate next may I do plan on going over there a few times, as a working visit. I want to see the sights and get a feel for the city and tour some of the hospitals. Everyone I know who has been to London loves it. My friend is the one who got the idea to move in my head, she just kept going on about how wonderful it was. What rotation are you in right now? Don't get too stressed out, just keep thinking once you graduate you can move. :)
Have a great day. :)
Jen
Hi,
The wages are not as bad as you imagine them to be true they may not be to the level in US. But if you take into account the 7 weeks paid holiday it bumps up the wage, plus if you worked during your holidays you could bump up your money even further.
If you live in nurses accomodation (if you didnt have afamily) at Guys and St Thomas's the cost is around £250= $470.
In london you do get a london weighting allowance which works out between £3000-£4000 per year on top of your wages. Which would pay for the accomodation.
The wages are not as bad as you imagine them to be true they may not be to the level in US. But if you take into account the 7 weeks paid holiday it bumps up the wage, plus if you worked during your holidays you could bump up your money even further.
If you live in nurses accomodation (if you didnt have afamily) at Guys and St Thomas's the cost is around £250= $470.
In london you do get a london weighting allowance which works out between £3000-£4000 per year on top of your wages. Which would pay for the accomodation.
Dunno if this helps
:)
Is the living allowance for all nurses living in London or just the foreign nurses?
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Is the living allowance for all nurses living in London or just the foreign nurses?
Thanks
Jen :)
the living allowance for nurses in London is for every nurse regardless of where you come from, Nurses generally do not make enough to live/afford to buy in London otherwise
Have you started to prepare for the NCLEX? I know people who started to study the moment they started nursing school. I don't know about you but between school and work I have no time to study for anything esle right now. Have you heard of any good NCLEX reviews? I've heard of the Hearst review, which I've heard is great.
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Hi,
Have you started to prepare for the NCLEX? I know people who started to study the moment they started nursing school. I don't know about you but between school and work I have no time to study for anything esle right now. Have you heard of any good NCLEX reviews? I've heard of the Hearst review, which I've heard is great.
Have a great day. :)
Jen
the 2 nclex review books I found the best was Saunders and Kaplan I also did a course on http://www.learningext.com
How are you doing? I hope your placement is going better? Do you miss the states? Do you go home and visit often?
Have a great day. :)
Jen
yesterday my placement was really good I managed the ward and everything ran smoothly. I miss my family. I try to go home when I have breaks I went home at Christmas. I would like to try and study for the NCLEX but like you with all the school work I have no time. I am hoping that once I am finished I will have more time to study for it also I am hoping I will have no problems taking it with transcripts and stuff. I am also ponding to go ahead and do my midwife training or not. It would be 18 months and the trust would pay but first I have to finish this assignment that is due may then for final clinical exam hope I live though it. How is everything going with you? Look forward to hearing from you. How much do midwifes make in the states?
yesterday my placement was really good I managed the ward and everything ran smoothly. I miss my family. I try to go home when I have breaks I went home at Christmas. I would like to try and study for the NCLEX but like you with all the school work I have no time. I am hoping that once I am finished I will have more time to study for it also I am hoping I will have no problems taking it with transcripts and stuff. I am also ponding to go ahead and do my midwife training or not. It would be 18 months and the trust would pay but first I have to finish this assignment that is due may then for final clinical exam hope I live though it. How is everything going with you? Look forward to hearing from you. How much do midwifes make in the states?
Can i just say that you would need at least 1 years post reg experience before acceptance onto midwifery training, it can be quite difficult to access. More and more education centres are reluctant to re train RN's to midwives, because it costs so much money to train RN's and then retrain them to RM's, and the drop out rate can be very high.
So what I am saying is that it is cheaper to the NHS to train midwives via direct entry, plus they tend to stay and do the job as they cant go back into nursing because they are not nurse trained.
Can i just say that you would need at least 1 years post reg experience before acceptance onto midwifery training, it can be quite difficult to access. More and more education centres are reluctant to re train RN's to midwives, because it costs so much money to train RN's and then retrain them to RM's, and the drop out rate can be very high.
So what I am saying is that it is cheaper to the NHS to train midwives via direct entry, plus they tend to stay and do the job as they cant go back into nursing because they are not nurse trained.
My trust has recently taken on 6 staff nurses to do the 18 month conversion. I haven't went to go talk with them yet but the person and midwife in charge of personal didn't say anything about needing 1 year experience. If the trust would go ahead and pay for the further study without the 1 year in practice do you think I should go ahead and go for it? Or do you think I should try and get some experience behind me first. Bear in mind I can only do it if paid for therefore if I was to wait until later I may not be able to get onto it. Any advice helps. Also in your experience do a lot of nurse/midwife want a break is that why I have bumbed into alot of them who are just working as nurses now and not using there midwife part? It may be cheaper to train midwives direct entry but in your opion is it safer? look forward to hearing from you.
yesterday my placement was really good I managed the ward and everything ran smoothly. I miss my family. I try to go home when I have breaks I went home at Christmas. I would like to try and study for the NCLEX but like you with all the school work I have no time. I am hoping that once I am finished I will have more time to study for it also I am hoping I will have no problems taking it with transcripts and stuff. I am also ponding to go ahead and do my midwife training or not. It would be 18 months and the trust would pay but first I have to finish this assignment that is due may then for final clinical exam hope I live though it. How is everything going with you? Look forward to hearing from you. How much do midwifes make in the states?
I'm not sure how much midwifes make in the states. Here in New Orleans there are very few midwifes. The school I attend does not have a midwife program, but I heard rumors of one being started in spring 2007. Midwifes are not as common in America as they are in Europe. I had by OB clinical rotation a few months ago and I saw no midwifes deliver babies in the hospitals. The reason for this may be that to have a midwife deliver your baby you pay the cost yourself, insurance will not cover it. In the New Orleans are there are a lot of people on medicaid (health coverage for the poor) and they are not able to pay for a midwife even if they wanted one. I also think that the reason for fewer midwifes in the south is lack of knowledge about them. If you don't know about them, how can you use them? Are all babies delivered by midwifes in the UK or do physicians deliver the majority of babies? Is the cost of midwife covered by insurance or the NHS?
. The information the NMC sent me was an application, which I didn't need. The info on the website shoud be good enough for now. I was going to visit london this summer, but that trip was cancelled. Once I graduate next may I do plan on going over there a few times, as a working visit. I want to see the sights and get a feel for the city and tour some of the hospitals. Everyone I know who has been to London loves it. My friend is the one who got the idea to move in my head, she just kept going on about how wonderful it was. What rotation are you in right now? Don't get too stressed out, just keep thinking once you graduate you can move. :) 
lsunurse
51 Posts
I know how you feel, school is driving me crazy too. Our last final is May 9th and I can't wait. I only contacted one hospital because I wanted to get an idea of what would be involved in working in another country. I probably did start a little early, but I want to be prepared because I know the process of moving will take a long time and I want to know what to expect. I know I won't move until 2009 which is a long time away but I was told that if you want to work with kids there are different requirements. I also need to save some money. The cost of living in London is ridiculous and nurses get paid very little over there
. The information the NMC sent me was an application, which I didn't need. The info on the website shoud be good enough for now. I was going to visit london this summer, but that trip was cancelled. Once I graduate next may I do plan on going over there a few times, as a working visit. I want to see the sights and get a feel for the city and tour some of the hospitals. Everyone I know who has been to London loves it. My friend is the one who got the idea to move in my head, she just kept going on about how wonderful it was. What rotation are you in right now? Don't get too stressed out, just keep thinking once you graduate you can move. :)
Have a great day. :)
Jen