Nurse Practitioners in the UK

allnurses Guide · May 31, 2008

Nurse practitioners in the UK are paid usually on a band 6 or band 7 under Agenda for change, there may be a few who are 8's but these are very rare.

Band 6

£23,458 - £31,779

Band 7

£28,313 - £37,326

As with all jobs in the UK there are not an abundance but they do come up occasionally. The role is quite different to the ANP in the US as well, at the moment the future of ANP's in the Uk is under review by our governing body the NMC. We are not regulated at present and there is no restriction to the use of the title of NP but there are moves to change this and make a mandatory minimum qualification with protecting the title of NP to those who meet the criteria of the ANP. This is a positive move and many hospitals are already striving to achieve this. I think you will find the role of a nurse practitioner very different here as well.

Looking at some of you other posts would indicate you are not a UK nurse. You would really struggle to get work as a NP here. It's just there are many restrictions on employing international nurses in the UK, preferance goes to UK then EU nurses first.

karenG · May 31, 2008

NP pay can vary widely, particulary if you work in primary care as I do. out here in GP land, I do know of NP's who earn £80k and there are a few of us paid on band 8A/B/C. so in the £40-£50K pay brackets but it is very dependant on market forces and your qualifications. It depends on your negotiating skills and how desperate the GP's are to have you. out in gp land, our pay and conditions are different- for example, I only get 4 wks sick pay- in the NHS that would be 6 mths. I dont get the same annual leave as an NHS nurse and dont have the same study leave.. but I do earn a lot more! so its something that needs to be thought out very carefully. I've worked in primary care for 20 yrs now and been an NP for 11yrs.. and there is nothing you could offer me to get me back in to secondary care and working in a hospital!!

as Sherrie said, we are not recognised yet- despite there being a few of us around now, and it is beginning to look as if a register will be opened by the NMC soon, though how you gain entry to the register is still not clear but it will probably require you to have done a recognised course at masters level. its a waiting game..

K