Nursing In England

Silverdragon102, BSN · Aug 9, 2007

Hello all,
I've just done a study abroad program in London and loved every minute of it. I'm going into my senior year of nursing in America and have learned about some of the differences in American and English nursing. I'm interested in working in London, as I fell in love with the city. It's already been said, but the pay seems to be a lot less yet the cost of living is sky high.
Do any of you know of any 6-12 month programs where foreign nurses come to work in the UK?
Also, I'm interested in these so called "super nurses" or modern matrons...can anyone enlighten me about how one achieves this position?

Glad you enjoyed your experience in the UK, Unfortunately there are immigration issues which makes it very hard for someone outside the EU to obtain a work permit in the UK and I am unaware of any programs allowing you to come for 6-12 months.

Modern matrons are generally RN's with years of experience usually within a certain area. Karen a NP in the UK may be able to tell you more about the role etc

ZippyGBR, BSN, RN · Aug 16, 2007

modern matron is just a fancy name for a divisional / directorate nurse manager (i.e. 2nd line manager after charge /sister posts and unit nurse manager/ senior sister) political spin pure and simple, SOME and i repeat SOME used the political spin to ring fence clinicla time in their working week , others have continued as before just wearing a uniform occaisionally....

karenG · Aug 20, 2007

modern matron is just a fancy name for a divisional / directorate nurse manager (i.e. 2nd line manager after charge /sister posts and unit nurse manager/ senior sister) political spin pure and simple, SOME and i repeat SOME used the political spin to ring fence clinicla time in their working week , others have continued as before just wearing a uniform occaisionally....

This is where this madness over titles is just insane.....

I've worked (many years ago) with matrons who would terrify you.. the one at Moorfields eye hospital still does!! when i was there, she would inspect your fingernails, and if they were too long, she would cut them.... Bring back her type!! but then she was in charge of all the nurses in the hospital, a director of nursing. and I believe she still wears a uniform and goes round the wards.....

I've worked as a community matron and its closer to being an extended role district nurse. Its intended as case management of complicated patients with co-morbitities who are 'frequent flyers' to hospitals. The main driving force is to help them stay at home and manage their conditions without ending up in a&e every 5 mins. You need good management skills, be able to network well and work well as part of a team. you also need to be able to case manage and have a good understanding of chronic disease. I would even go so far as to say you need to be educated to same level as a nurse practitioner. part of my remit was to work with the DN's employed as CM's, to work on learning plans and facilitate them reaching the required standard. The aim was to have a community matron along the lines of case managers in the states. The evercare project was initially used as a template- the job description for that is awesome!! they are required to be educated to masters level....

as a nurse practitioner, I hold a BSc (Nurse practitioner) I am currently doing a masters in respiratory care. I may not have worn a uniform for many years, but I see 42 patients each day in a general practice setting and have to deal with all their problems.. whatever they may be!! Its a skilled job...

I'd hate to work in a hospital.. the understaffing and lack of resources to do the job i was trained to do would drive me insane and I'd probably be hated and considered very old fashioned!!!!!!!

Karen