new filipino nurse planning to work in the UK

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jan 19, 2007

hello everyone..im a new filipino registered nurse and im trying other option othen the US, where do you think would be a great place?...i would appreciate all the help you can give...cheers!

Hi

Unfortunately things are really hard to get into the UK at the moment due to financial difficulties with NHS Trusts, immigration changes and requirements which have to be completed from the NMC. Suggest having a read on this forum, has been discussed a few times

superborj · Jan 19, 2007

thanks for the speedy reply...and many thanks to the info..too bad, what do you think would be other possible career options? is switzerland alright?

cheshirecat · Jan 19, 2007

Hi, I am a UK trained nurse and I would say stay away from the UK. Pay is low, workload is very high and staff patient ratios are criminal. Meal breaks are non existant for most staff on the wards.

I have worked in Australia. I loved it there, and only came back to the UK because we where on an exchange programme with my husbands job and had to return to the UK after 2.5 years.

Australians are very friendly people. The hospitals are clean, the weather is nice, pay is good, standard of living very high, food is cheaper than the UK. I could go on and on. Hope this helps.

Clarecartwright · Jan 24, 2007

Hi, I am a UK trained nurse and I would say stay away from the UK. Pay is low, workload is very high and staff patient ratios are criminal. Meal breaks are non existant for most staff on the wards.

I just want too add though that although the conditions may not be ideal in the UK the nurses and Doctors are great they love their patients and they are extrememly caring, Im very lucky where I work the pt ratios are usually 10 patients to 1 trained and 1 untrained nurse, I think my pay is good compared to alot of other jobs I could be doing for alot less money and we always have one half hour and one 15 minute concessionary break throughout a eight hour shift.

suzanne7575 · Jan 26, 2007

I just want too add though that although the conditions may not be ideal in the UK the nurses and Doctors are great they love their patients and they are extrememly caring, Im very lucky where I work the pt ratios are usually 10 patients to 1 trained and 1 untrained nurse, I think my pay is good compared to alot of other jobs I could be doing for alot less money and we always have one half hour and one 15 minute concessionary break throughout a eight hour shift.

Well said Clare!

I think sometimes we give others a really poor image of nursing conditions in the UK, granted our hospitals are for the most part old and run down, and equipment is pretty scarce, and as for staff, well yes they are thin on the ground and jobs are not being created due to lack of funds BUT the doctors and nurses do care about their patients and their job and make the best of a bad job. We do have a pretty good health system here and although sometimes you have to wait for surgery and what have you for the majority of patients they get the treatment and care they need, and nursing and medicine are as advanced here as they are anywhere in the world. Unfortunatly there isn't enough money and the resources are extremely stretched. It actually makes me sad to see it going this way when the UK health system used to be the envy of the world providing health care for all no matter what your circumstances.

Saying that i don't think that coming to the Uk is anywhere as easy as it used to be for overseas nurses, due to the fact that jobs are now scarce and because of all the new regulations the NMC has.