NMC registration processing times

I've been working with an agency to get my UK registration, and my recruiter told me that the NMC are taking about six weeks to issue decision letters. Good luck, I'm in the waiting boat right there with you!

Hello,

I am a PICU nurse in the US and was interested in maybe traveling abroad to London and doing an assignment there. I was just interested in what travel companies you guys are working with? I have been trying to research it out on the internet but there doesn't seem to be very many options out there. The one I found was Continental travel nurse and I know someone who said they had a bad experience with them. So I want to explore other options. Any help is much appreciated!

Thanks! :)

That's the one I'm working with, yeah. I'd only heard good things about them, and so far they've been really helpful with the whole registration process (hopefully they'll continue to be if/when I get over there and am in their hands, so to speak). Either way, they're really the only game going, aside from O'Grady Peyton (and them I have heard poor things about), so your options are sort of limited.

ETA: Apparently even OGP isn't recruiting from US to UK, so looks like Continental is it.

Thanks for the info...will you please keep me posted as to how your journey is going? Thanks so much and I hope it goes well for you!

Hi,

I've heard six weeks as well. I'm also working with Travel Continental.

I've been waiting for the 2nd pack from the NMC since I sent the mandatory one June 30 but found out today that they'll be sending me a letter saying I sent them the incorrect nursing registration. I think theyre confused because my certificate from Quebec says "permit" and not "registration". Of course this happens on a Friday...

Hello,

I realize it's been a while since anyone has posted on this thread but I was curious about the agency, Continental Travel Nurse. I have been in contact with Continental for a couple months now, taking the IELTS in January. For those of you who are/were working with them, I just wanted an update on how things were going. Has anyone made the move to the UK? How long did it take to get registered? How was the ONP if anyone has taken the class?? Any info would be appreciated, from the registration process to actually living/working in the UK!

Thanks!

Sarena33 -

Where in the UK are you thinking of going? I'm still in the beginning phase with Travel Continental & they have been very helpful with my paperwork & following up the NMC application process (still ongoing, but close to complete!) making things as smooth as possible for me. I will be moving over there towards the end of December or in January. I hear the ONP course is pretty straightforward & basically learning about the health care system in the UK. Mostly online with exception to 3 days of going down to Bournemouth for that once my application from the NMC is approved.

The ONP is more or less straightforward, but be forewarned, it's actually a lot more work than they let on. You'll probably want to allot at least a full week to complete that workbook, since it's not just about the UK healthcare system -- it's a lot of rehashing of banalities like interprofessional practice, health promotion, culture, etc. (not that that's not all important, but it's something that, as a BSN, you've almost certainly had in your nursing program).

Thanks for the warning!!

jbo604, For now I plan on living as close to London as I can, as I have a couple friends there. However, my recruiter from Continental advised me that the less picky I am about the location of my assignment, the better chance I had at being placed...I honestly don't have a preference as to where they place me, I just want to experience a new culture, meet new people, see a new part of the world . Just like you said, Continental has been very helpful, so far, with providing me all the information I need. We'll have to keep in touch after you've actually moved. Are you traveling with a family, or are you like me, traveling alone?? I just wonder what the living arrangements are like and things like that. Keep me updated!!

hey Sarena33,

I made it over!

I travelled here alone but my boyfriend is here & I am living with him, so I'm lucky to not have initial struggles of finding a place/bills/rent, so forth...

How did your IELTS go?

I just started the ONP course yesterday in Bournemouth, better than expected (especially with their GORGEOUS beach) despite it being hoops to jump through (truly I'm just grateful not to have to do some kind of big RN exam to get licensed).

Update!

jbo604,

How exciting! I didn't know Bournemouth had a beach, how's the weather? Where are you and your boyfriend living? Did you have to travel far to get to Bournemouth? You're lucky that you have someone to stay with.

I passed the IELTS, it was a lot easier than expected. Just sent my first pack to the NMC a couple weeks ago, waiting for the second pack. I'm nervous that my documents weren't notarized correctly, (the birth cert., nursing registration, and passport) but we'll see.

Let me know how the rest of the ONP course goes and of course how it is living in the UK. Jealous...

The weather has been really mild & sunny lately. It was super sunny yesterday down in Bournemouth which made for an extremely pleasant visit! After the course I had a walk down to the sea to say hello & do some photography. Even though the ONP is a bit of a pain, it's still the lesser evil I think & better than I expected. Really easygoing, down to earth educator leading the program.

I'm living in London, it took about two hours via train down to Bournemouth. The train system here is really good, and as I love to travel by train, I quite enjoyed it... except the getting up so darn early.

Are you following up with the NMC yourself, or are you going with an agency who'll help out? Just be sure to chase the NMC with phone calls... the post is dreadfully slow, one missing signature or incorrect form (as it happened to me last summer...) cost me 2 months of time.

So far so good living in the UK, although I've only been here 3 months, I think I'll get a better handle on things once I start working...