Need Info from an International Nurse

craveme · Sep 18, 2008

I am a nurse from england and moved over here a yr ago and work on a med/floor.

It is very different here from England, In England the nurses are more hands on, not just paper work and leaving all the commode jobs or changing a patient for the tech to do, Its National Health System in UK, you dont need to get a health insurance, everyone is covered and above all in USA the pts has too much rights and the hospital tend to back the patients even tho they are wrong.

If you have any more questions, u can pm me.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Sep 18, 2008

Depends on what you are looking for.

Nurses work differently in each country. The UK has a national system and everyone is entitled to treatment as long as they are a UK resident or there is some form of reciprocity between the countries. Staffing is very minimal and many nurses struggling to find work. UK does not have the technicians like I see or read in the US. For example they do not have respiratory techs and the RN is responsible for giving all treatments and medication, if patient requires chest physiotherapy then the physiotherapy department is informed and arrangements made to treat the patient

craveme · Sep 18, 2008

Thats all true, everywhere has a different system and I was responding from my point of view, every country does what works for them.

evanstongradrn · Sep 19, 2008

So are you working as a nurse in the states now? If so, which do you prefer?

evanstongradrn · Sep 19, 2008

Ya switch two words around and messages sound stupid. I meant to say, so, you ARE working as a nurse in the states? And which do you prefer? :rolleyes:

evanstongradrn · Sep 19, 2008

Your info says Nova Scotia, Canada and UK. . . have you practiced in all three locations? I know a little about the UK and Canadian systems, but nothing about Nova Scotia. National healthcare there or not?

Silverdragon102, BSN · Sep 19, 2008

Your info says Nova Scotia, Canada and UK. . . have you practiced in all three locations? I know a little about the UK and Canadian systems, but nothing about Nova Scotia. National healthcare there or not?

I live in Nova Scotia which is on the East coast of Canada. I haven't yet started working here but in the UK the work was very demanding with not enough staff and in some areas very high pressure. I have worked for over 20 years in the UK in both hospital and community setting and see some good things and some not so good things happen regarding the work enviroment

craveme · Sep 20, 2008

I am working in the USA now in a med/surg floor, I personally prefer the UK, in the usa the money is good and as a rn you have so many job opportunities and there is not a shortage of jobs but you work very hard and have to always cover your back, the pts are always right in the eyes of the managers or those above you, in the UK, its teamwork in most places, I worked as a rn in UK, nurses work hard, very hands on, sure most times we work understaffed but it also happens in USA but most senior charge nurses in the UK speak up for their staff and dont let pts always be right when they are wrong or rude to the staff for no reason at all.

As I said earlier, its a matter of personal choice and every country does what works for them, the grass is not always greener on the other side.

evanstongradrn · Sep 23, 2008

Where in the UK? How long does it take to become a nurse there? More than one option, like in the US? I got a BSN so it took 4 years.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Sep 23, 2008

UK training is done in a university and takes approx 3 years or just over. Only one level RN but can do either degree or diploma. Here are a couple of university links which will also include post grad stuff as well as nurse training. How ever the training is more specialised instead of general

http://www2.hud.ac.uk/courses/undergrad/0001163.php

http://www.shef.ac.uk/snm/

evanstongradrn · Sep 24, 2008

Totally helpful, thanks!