New Canadian Grad wanting to work in the UK

[Carmelle]

Hello! I'm a 4th year nursing student from Ontario, Canada, and I'm finishing up my BScN degree this year, and writing my CRNE exam in June. I was looking into working in the UK for 6 months or a year after graduation, but all I've found is confusing information. Are new Canadian grads allowed to work in the UK? I've seen some places that say you require a year post-registration experience, and other places that say there's only a 20 day protected learning experience or something like that...

Does anyone have any information about this? I've e-mailed the NMC and been told to 'look at the website' (i found the info there confusing) and haven't been able to get a straight answer out of any nurse recruiting companies...

I would really appreciate any clarification on this! Thanks!

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

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.

You must meet the same training as nurses in the UK and we do not at present have any programs for people woth degrees in other areas, they all have to do a 3 year course.

[hjfrn]

Before you loose hope completely-please double check as I know that some universities offer accelerated nurse degree pathways (2 years) for those who already have a health or science related degree. I think that it is not just the time spent in the university but the clinical and theoretical hours requirements that you must meet to become a RN. Good Luck and keep us posted

[jaylily]

Thanks, perhaps I should email the NMC. Both schools I applied to are the accelerated tracks, so they're 3 years long, but they're two full years, meaning I'd be taking fall, winter, spring and summer classes. Maybe that will count for something.

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Thanks, perhaps I should email the NMC. Both schools I applied to are the accelerated tracks, so they're 3 years long, but they're two full years, meaning I'd be taking fall, winter, spring and summer classes. Maybe that will count for something.

They probably need a copy of your transcripts as they will look at the hours you have done.