summerscoopy26

They are definitely not open to Americans in the UK.

Don't do it. It's not worth the stress, the significant decrease in pay, the withering away of your skills, or an adaptation program where you work as a NA.

So happy for you Uk Gal!!!!

Forgive me if this has become a case of one place is better than another. I can only speak of my entire experience here, not just in healthcare. And that is the truth that I live every day. Your experience will be different than mine. This is a forum where we express our ideas and opinions. I am not a disgruntled employee and I have never ever had an attitude. The patients and nurses I encouter and work with appreciate my work ethic and care. if anyone wants to come here and work...by all means do it. I have a right to be here I am a dual citizen, but I have encountered some extreme behaviors. I was excited to come here and experience nursing in a different paradigm, however, I too had rose coloured glasses. I wasn't going to address the comments above, but I will today. Those of us who have trained and worked in the US, I beleive it is very different and there is a huge cultural adjustment. Of course the entire UK isn't the same, just like the entire Us isn't the same, nor what it appears on TV. I will say the hospitals, in my area, are dingy, old and the pay is so much lower than the U.S., even when you factor is currency difference and cost of living. In in my experience, there is a tit for tat and there seems to be negative comments about Americans every other sentence. It maybe Brit humor that I don't get, but this is my experience. I do ignore it, but I do wondered why is there is comparison to Americans all the time. I do prefer the depth of teaching and knowledge of pathophisilogy, pharmacology, etc that I received at my university because it allows me to see entire view of my patients. And this allows me to provide better care and understanding to them. The nurses I worked with say they didn't learn anything like that in their training courses. I have been been angry at this process, it is unnecessarily long and borders on incompetence. The NMC has lost my paperwork more than once and in turn I need to furnish these documents again. This will be a year and half and no pin yet, because of the slow process. So excuse my frustration when I am a citizen here and this process continues to be an issue. This cannot be effective nor efficient, I have realized that the NMC bends and blows to the political atmosphere here, which is not immigrant friendly right now, everything in the news or the papers denigrates immigrants and blames them for most problems. My issue is with some nurses treating you like $&$@)!. That's it pure and simple. The system of transferring your pin to US, doesn't make you come to the U.S. and work below your level of skill. That is the difference. By the time you get there, it is mostly sorted. I cannot speak for the immigration process, because I am a U.S. citizen, as well as a UK citizen. So, I hope this lends some understanding of my experience. I don't take away from anyone else's either. Forgive those in the US who didn't know where you were from. It could of been a teaching moment, where you both learned about each other. As for me, I want to be in a place where my heart smiles and diversity isn't just something to put on your website or on paper. For me, it isn't here, it is the US. But by any means, experience and live life where you chose and always love nursing!

072bomi, I work bank HCA...and it is one of the most soul destroying experiences. I am under the old system and just finished course. I am disgusted and am on track to go back to the U.S. in a bit. This place ain't worth nothing. I am MSN graduate and N.P. I will not subject myself to this anymore. They are behind here anyway, compared to North America. They will catch up, probably 10 years from now. Nurses here are essentially low wage government workers. The base salary is 33k in US dollars as a RN...so you make more in the US and the cost of living is lower. I truly had high hopes and wanted to experience nursing on an international scale, but no thanks. It's time to go home, my real home with my hubby in toe.

As I work for no money, while I complete the contact hours for the NM.c, under the old system, and newly qualified nurses talk to me like crap....and have no idea about pathophisilogy (that's another story)....I realize, this move really isn't worth it. It's sad, but there is such hostility towards anyone perceived as foreign or gained a thorough education outside of the U.K. Whatever means don't do it. I too am a U.S./UK citizen who trained in America. The NMC process is a nightmare and can take up to a year or more. You are treated very badly if you are perceived as foreign. The level of training in North America is more detailed and you use more of your skills!!! Please save your self the mental headache and do not do it. I will tell anyone who has trained in North America...do not come here to explore nursing. The pay is low, the attitudes of nurses towards you is horrible, and I had to "work as a nurse assistant" before I could get my pin...and I am a board certified adult nurse practitioner and women's health nurse practitioner in the US with 10 years nursing experience. People rave about the NHS, but the system is defunct, over subscribed, and antiquated in some aspects. If you don't speak with a British accent, you are the nothing to them. I hate it hear. I came here for my fiancée and this was 10 steps back career wise. Please do not do it!!!! Take it from me....someone who has lost her confidence and completely demoralised by this process.

Don't do it ashschu! Whatever means don't do it. I too am a U.S./UK citizen who trained in America. The NMC process is a nightmare and can take up to a year or more. You are treated very badly if you are perceived as foreign. The level of training in North America is more detailed and you use more of your skills!!! Please save your self the mental headache and do not do it. I will tell anyone who has trained in North America...do not come here to explore nursing. The pay is low, the attitudes of nurses towards you is horrible, and I had to "work as a nurse assistant" before I could get my pin...and I am a board certified adult nurse practitioner and women's health nurse practitioner in the US with 10 years nursing experience. People rave about the NHS, but the system is defunct, over subscribed, and antiquated in some aspects. If you don't speak with a British accent, you are the nothing to them. I hate it hear. I came here for my fiancée and this was 10 steps back career wise. Please do not do it!!!! Take it from me....someone who has lost her confidence and completely demoralised by this process.

Hi CharliePlus...like you I am a UK citizen as well, but I studied in the US. I refused to change over to the new system, because the NMC lost my documents twice. I too understand your frustration. This process has brought me to my knees and truly has made me think if I want to practice nursing here at all. I can tell you some horror stories of working as a care assistant and the xenophobic prejudice treatment I have received. But I am determined, as I do have a right to be here...sorry my accent has left. I started my Supervised clinical placement with my local trust and my ONP starts next week. My uni is doing the course every 3 months, until the end of the year. Are you in the southwest? Send me a PM and I can give you more information. Hang tight...we will be the best nurses this nation has ever seen because of our global experience!!!

Yes you do. Any course work related to nursing at both, bachelors and graduate level, should be complete the training form.

Hi Daisy67.... You might have to scour your university's website for this information. For me, my university had a specific policy...named credit-hour policy. There is also a link on the U.S. education (Ed.gov) website that explains the credit system in the US, compares to other countries, and conversions. It is a long document, but the info is there. The information should be the same as your university. I hope this helps.

Me too. This process is taking me to my breaking point. Good luck to all of us!

State level should be sufficient. No matter which level you chose, you will be finger printed. On the FBi website, they have a list of certified vendors to go to in your local area....then the info is forwarded to FBI for checks. It takes like one week. Hope this helps.

Go to your local police station...and get the state background check. There are other companies that assist with nation wide checks, like we did for nursing school.

No they do not. You need to follow up at least every other week.

The NMC was encouraging me to switch to the new system, but I chose not once I realized that I neede to re-submit everything. I am so disgusted with this process. I am awaiting to take the OnP course....and add to that another hurdle of finding a clinical placement. It frustrates me the ambiguity. I am a Masters prepared nurse for &@'# sake!

When you convert your nursing course credits to credit hours you may not have enough hours per category on the application. But the NMC have lowered the requirements to 500 and most BSN programs in the US provide this sufficiently. My BSN program provided 1301 credit hours. It can be a daunting process and takes a lot of patience, but still try.

Hi everyone, I am currently finishing the registration process under the old system with the NMC. I started my application last May. I have had a horrendous time with the NMC. I am a British Citizen, but have spent most of my life in the US. I studied in the US and became a nurse practitioner. I relocated to the UK for love and to work within a different healthcare model. With that said, the NMC lost my documents 2 times, in spite of it being sent with a courier. In addition, the NMC doesn't give your school of nursing any directive for calculations from credits to course hours, under the North American System. With much research, the U.S Department of Education has standardized this as a credit hour policy, which all universities abide by. Your University needs to type out each course with the credit hour conversion. I ultimately ended up doing this for my University and had them verify it. My case was little more complicated due to the fact that I'm working internationally, outside of the U.S. After about 9 months, I received a letter stating I need to take the ONP. I chose to stay under the old system, because there seems to be a lot of confusion with the new competency test and there were not appropriate reference materials for which to study from. There just seems to be a lot of confusion around the NMC and the NHS right now. Hope this helps someone. BTW UKGal....don't ever think it was a mistake to study abroad. You have an edge and gained a wealth of experience in nursing from a different point of view. That's gives you greater depth as a nurse.

Thank you all very much for the advice and information. Now it is time for me to put it into practice.

REALLY!!!!!! My NP license is in GA and PA. I have gone to conferences, as well as continue education. I've done over 150 CU credits for the last year, just to stay current on topics. I am looking at areas of primary care and/or women's health. I have a dual degree WHNP and ANP certified. Well, I am brushing off my resume and am about to plow back in and start applying for jobs. Its just that before I had to leave when I couldn't find a job back in 2010, I remember applying for some many jobs...and with everyone: REJECTION! I guess the advice I am looking for when during an interview they ask, "why didn't you secure a job as an NP how do I not look like a failure for the past two years?"

To all the NPs out there, I really would like some honest advice on how to get back into the job market in the US. A little background: I graduated from an excellent NP school in 2010 (in the US, I am a US citizen as well), however, when the bottom fell from under me and the economy imploded I was unable to get a job as a NP or as a RN. Running out of money, I had to move back to the place where I was born (I hadn't been there since I was a baby). So I work as a Med-Surg Registered Nurse here (I don't want to name the place, because it is awful. Nursing standards are low and archaic. I feel like I'm working in the 1940s). I HATE it!!!!! I never wanted to be a hospital nurse. The insults, verbal abuse, threats, hostile/sexist remarks from physicians, and unethical treatment of patients I cannot take anymore. I learned in a much more advancing and empowering environment. All I do is clean poop, the patients don't care, and the residents don't want to listen to anything I have to say. The nurses are not allowed to think, intervene, or advocate for their patients. I feel like a true failure. I went to school and struggled to become a Women's Health/Adult Health NP. I did everything right (I thought). 2 yrs post graduate degree and I am not working as a NP. I believe I have some experience under my belt. HOW DO I BREAK BACK IN TO THE JOB MARKET? Thanks in advance.

Good day Med-Surg nurses, I just want to get a feel about how long it takes for nurse handovers at your workplace? Also, how are your schedules done in order to make time for nurse handover. Thanks for all the info...

Don't mean to bust your bubble, but prepare to wait much longer than 25 days for a license in Ga. The Ga BON system is very slow, you would think they were chiseling it out on stone! Good Luck!

Okay, this is about one of the slowest and "just about" competent BON out there. Be aware if you move to this state and need to get license endorsement or just passed any of the NP exams and need a license. The process takes 6-8 weeks (while I hope my job prospects will be patient with me)!!!!!!!! I called to see the status of my application to which I mailed two weeks ago. The Ga BON stated it takes 10-14 days to reach their office??? What??? Does that make sense?? So, the application reaches the facility and takes an additional time to reach your office, then on top of that another 25-30 days to process. Im sorry I must be living in 1970 or something like that when there were no computers, etc!! Just needed to vent!

Hi everyone, I just passed my boards a couple of days ago and I really want to encourage everyone to have an organized study period for preparation for the exam. The exam was not extremely difficult, but it was challenging at some points. Also, it truly touches on just about every system in the body, including OB and GYN issues....Oh and don't forget Derm. I wish everyone good luck...now off to the job hunt :D:D

To think that the United States is the only country to have "quality medical schools" is very ARROGANT and depicts a shallow depth of thought!