Hyacinth55

This would be a question for one of the moderators for this site. I work in the Operating Rooms and not midwifery. There are better able to help you with this question - sorry, Bloss

Hi PA Brit - I did my EN at the QE in 1981 and worked on Ward 7 at the Birmingham Maternity (Matty) 1981-1983 and also 1985. I`m sure we know a few of the same people from there! I know a lot of the midwives! I moved here in 1989 - would love to catch up and perhaps offer advice to a fellow Brit, Blossom48

Suemsu, I will definitely let you know - planning to call next week to start asking questions! Thanks for the additional info, Blossom

Sue, I did my EN training in Birmingham and worked for 10 yrs in England before I emigrated to the US where I got my RN. I will definitely check into it some more or find out if they is something else I can do instead of the course. It`s having to do it within two yrs and take a month off from work to do it which has got me irate, Bloss

Hi Sharrie, I`m going to look at other options before I just give in and do the course! Bloss

Sue, I`ve been in continuous practise in theatres for 30 yrs, Bloss

Hi Sue, I am definitely going to question that decision - I was ready to just go with the flow and just do the ONP. I will call them and find out how the decision was made that I do the ONP and who I can appeal to in order to possibly change or reverse this decision. I have a National Ins number, passport, active EN, BSN, master degree and almost 30 yrs in theatre (10 yrs in London, Coventry and Birmingham), I `d say I`ve done quite a bit. If they won`t budge I`ll sign up with an agency and go through them! I`ll let you know, Bloss

Thank you SilverDragon for that info, Bloss

Another question I have is - would I need a work permit to work back in the UK. I do have a British passport and dual nationality (naturalized American)! I just wondered. My backgroung is in theatres which I understand is very much in demand in the UK as it is here in the US according to a previous post- is this still the case? Bloss

Hi Sharrie, Definitely a thought! My youngest graduates High School in 2012 and I`m looking at possibly working in the UK through an agency for a while or as a travel nurse once he is done. I started my registration with the NMC with the idea that if my family needed me in the UK for 3 month plus I could work there and still pay the mortgage on my home here. I do have my EN activated - I had to do that to be able to waive the IEFTS? English Test. Maybe I will give the NMC a call and see if there are other options available. To take off 4 weeks off work to do the 20 day learning is not easy and I would hate to give up my job to complete this requirment by 2011. I would be interested to find out if there are other US trained RNs who had to negotiate something with their employer to be able to take the month off! Bloss

Hi Sue, Your post got me thinking. I am a Brit, did not take the English test, completed my SEN in 1981, my ADN 1996, BSN 2001 and Masters in 2008 and I have to do the ONP? In your post you did not have to do the ONP - is it because you went through Continentaltravel nurse agency? I`m looking at them for travel nursing in the future I did the process by myself which took less than 6 months but I have to complete the ONP by 2011 or I have to start over - which I think is wrong!! Wondering now if I should challenge the decision to do the ONP? Bloss

Cariad, All what you just said was on my mind which is why I renewed my UK passport, Bloss

I broke down and send off for my UK passport so I`ll have two (UK & US) to travel with - I just wanting to cover as many bases as possible, Thanks, Bloss

Everything I`ve read on the UK and the US passport sites definitely states that you can have dual citizenship and carry a US and UK passport. When I posted this thread I was just debating whether it would be worth it to me to renew my UK passport after I let it lapse 10 yrs ago. Bloss

My sheets are also done the same way just as I learned as an SEN in the UK back in 1979! Some things we learned as 18 yr old nurses would be very difficult to undo 25-30 yrs later, Bloss

I do my pillows like that at home too (facing away from the door and /or windows) - it`s that ingrained in me! Bloss

Hi Scott, I did take the pictures for my UK passport and they are awful, no smiling staring straight ahead? I got my doc to sign the picture but I`ve only known him for a yr (I changed my doc) instead of the two yrs required, I just throw up my hands and said "enough already" Did you have to pay an extra fee to have them process your new pictures? It`s just an aggravating process whereas the US passport is so easy!! Bloss

When I told nurses here back in 1989 when I arrived in the US that I had never catheterized a male patient they thought I was joking. I told them we were not allowed to catheterize male pts and I could not give them a good enough answer to why not! I was terrified doing it the first time - I can`t believe how easy it is compared to female catheterization! Bloss

They pay well, plus I did my own research on what pay I should expect for the position. The benefits such as holidays (I get 6 weeks a yr now) is very important to me which I`ve made known! Bloss

Such a rip-off!! I`ve used my US passport everywhere for the past 12 yrs (including enter and exit UK - no problems) and we travel alot so I`m thinking I`ll use my money for a nice day at the Spa or towards the process I`ve started with the NMC to re-activate my registration, LOL, Bloss

I did my SEN peds training at B`ham childrens in 1980 and it wasn`t a great experience - dirty and unorganized is what I remember the most. Never wanted to do peds after that until I worked at Shriners Children`s hosp in Sacramento - what an amazing difference. A much better pediatric experience in a absolutely beautiful facility! Blossom

Hi Brighteyes, It just seems like I throwing money $241 for a passport that will just sit there! I got my US citizenship back in 1996 and have never had any problems going to the UK using my US passport - I go home every 2-3 yrs. I thought about re-activating so it would be easy to work in the UK again as a travel nurse/contract/temp, etc., but from what I`m seeing it will make no difference. Plus I`ve realize that I could never live there permanently again - I`ve been so blessed living here with my wonderful American hubby, kids family (East Coast) and amazing friends, Blossom P.S The life I have here I could not replicate there - nice house, the pool, nice car, etc.

Hi Brighteyes, Thank you! Where I work is being brought out by a management company who has offered me the position once this transition is complete - next week. Initially I wasn`t sure I wanted it but realize I`ve been doing the job all along as Unit Supervisor-OR without the real title of DON, plus they told me I was the only one they wanted for the job!! I did my RN-BSN part-time (18 months-ground) going to classes 2 days a week, best educational experience of my life - learned so much! I did my masters with University of St Francis out of Joliet Illinois which was all online -made so many friends there too and we are planning a girls weekend next yr somewhere in the middle of the USA. I was going for the MSN but wanted more, the MHA with legal, finance,econ, ethics made me who I am - so much more well-rounded as a leader than I ever thought I could be - reach for your dreams - you`ll never regret it. Blossom

Brighteyes, I just completed my Master of Science in Health Administration this past Oct after arriving in the US as a SEN back in 1989. My transcripts from my SEN program were difficult to read but I did get some credit for the program. I visited my local college and they got me started (I did get my LPN in CA which there said was equilvalent to the SEN program). They told me which classes to take and ones I could challenge and then I could enter the 2nd yr of the ADN program. After that it was RN-BSN, then my master`s. I thought about doing my MBA or PhD but my hubby says no-more - I love going to school but $25,000 school loan (my hospitals paid a small tuition fee) needs to be paid off, plus I have teens to put through college. I don`t regret it for a minute - I`ve been offered Director of Nursing at my present job so it pays off in the end. Good luck, if you need any info feel free to contact me, Blossom48

Brighteyes, I just completed my Master of Science in Health Administration this past Oct after arriving in the US as a SEN back in 1989.