New Canadian Grad wanting to work in the UK

misswoosie · Jan 27, 2006

Hi

i am an RN in the UK .I believe you would probably be able to get a job without a years experience as we have such problems recruiting at that level.

However! lots of the NHS trusts are millions overspent and are imposing job freezes and ,guess what ,it's often nursing posts that are frozen.

Our NHS (National health service) has just undergone a major restructuring of its pay scales and this has left nurses even more demoralised and fed up. We are in a dreadful mess here and my advice to you would be unless you are desperate to come and work here, don't.

You have to have 20 days supervised practice once you start a job and this is provided by the employee.

Hope this helps some.

Carmelle · Jan 27, 2006

Thanks for the info....it's definitely helpful. I am a little bit desperate to work in the UK for a while. My boyfriend lives in Scotland, and although he wants to move to Canada in a year or so, he won't be able to work when he gets here for about 10 months and he wants to save up first....

So if i don't work in the UK, we probably won't be seeing much of each other over the next year and a half, which i'd rather not have happen.

What are the community nursing jobs like in the UK? I'm more interested in health promotion/harm reduction rather than acute hospital care. I know beggars can't be choosers, but I'm still curious!

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jan 28, 2006

You will have to be aware that with immigration and going through NMC you are looking atleast 12 months so you can be working and gaining experience whilst waiting.

Here are a couple of links which may help. You will also have to do 20 days protected learning and this is before you get PIN which will enable you to work in the UK as a RN and there isn't enough of these courses available and have to be accredited by the NMC

http://www.nmc-uk.org/aFrameDisplay.aspx?DocumentID=633

http://www.workingintheuk.gov.uk/working_in_the_uk/en/homepage.html?

http://www.nmc-uk.org/aFramedisplay.aspx?documentID=1253

misswoosie · Jan 28, 2006

Carmelle

OK ,so you are desperate!

Not sure about community.Not as many jobs and tend to be popular as often not shifts involved. There are staff nurses who work in the community visiting pts in their homes and doing dressings and giving insulin etc.

It is Practice Nurses in Doctors surgeries (offices) who are more invoved in health promotion and generally they have a post grad qualification in this area and quite a lot of experience prior to this

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jan 29, 2006

there are different types of community jobs mainly district nurses who deal with the patient generally in their own home but do run small clinics at gp surgeries for those who can get make their way to the surgery. Practice nurses work within the gp surgery and their role is very varied ranging from new born upwards. They do childhood immunisations, holiday vaccinations, chronic disease care management, cervical smear screening, sometimes assist gp in minor surgery clinics, general health advice plus many more things. Some sugeries employ a treatment room nurse who doesn't have to be experienced but will do a lot of basic stuff but go on the courses which will progress them up the ladder but is a good starting point for someone who wants to enter this role.

letina · Jan 29, 2006

If you're interested in Community Nursing in the UK here's a useful thread :)

https://allnurses.com/forums/f124/community-nursing-128825.html

Carmelle · Jan 30, 2006

Does it really take about 12 months to get through all the paperwork? Yikes! By the time I manage to get registered in the UK, my boyfriend will be able to come back to Canada with me!

Thanks for all the info everyone...it is greatly appreciated!

jaylily · Jan 30, 2006

However! lots of the NHS trusts are millions overspent and are imposing job freezes and ,guess what ,it's often nursing posts that are frozen.
Our NHS (National health service) has just undergone a major restructuring of its pay scales and this has left nurses even more demoralised and fed up. We are in a dreadful mess here and my advice to you would be unless you are desperate to come and work here, don't.

Is it really that bad over there? I'll be graduating in 2 years and want to head over to the UK as soon as I graduate. I have dual citizenship in Canada and the UK, so the paperwork shouldn't be that bad, but if the job market is crap, that will change things.

Another question, I want to work in a specific area of the country (Surrey) would it be unreasonable for me to expect to find a job in that area?

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jan 30, 2006

Is it really that bad over there? I'll be graduating in 2 years and want to head over to the UK as soon as I graduate. I have dual citizenship in Canada and the UK, so the paperwork shouldn't be that bad, but if the job market is crap, that will change things.
Another question, I want to work in a specific area of the country (Surrey) would it be unreasonable for me to expect to find a job in that area?

yes you have dual citizenship is a great bonus

Job market varies and you could have a look on here and see what is about. It isn't unreasonable to look for a job in the area you want to live but it may not be the job you want.

http://www.nursing-times.net free to register

jaylily · Jan 30, 2006

thanks! :)

jaylily · Jan 31, 2006

http://www.nmc-uk.org/aFrameDisplay.aspx?DocumentID=633
http://www.workingintheuk.gov.uk/working_in_the_uk/en/homepage.html?
http://www.nmc-uk.org/aFramedisplay.aspx?documentID=1253

I just checked out those links and I'm incredibly disappointed by the NMC document stating that I would need a 3 year program degree in order to register in the UK. We have a lot of 2 year bachelor's degree programs here in Canada for people who hold previous degrees in other areas. While I'd still be getting a bachelor's degree in Nursing, it would be a 2 year degree.

I would much rather live in the UK and not be a nurse than live in Canada and be one. Although ideally I'd prefer to live in the UK and be a nurse. :crying2: