intl_RN

Yes. Maybe I should clarify. I am aware that as professional nurses, we must continue to demonstrate our proficiency and continuing education to renew our licenses no matter which country we live in. I meant that once the initial registration is complete, there would be less interaction with the NMC except to renew licensure, which I would hope they don't make as difficult as the initial registration. Therefore, there would be less stress involved. These must always be a maintenance of standards, and I'm aware of that. Thanks for having me clarify.

I'm a PICU travel nurse from the US that's been practicing for almost 6 years now, and honestly, I was most worried about the adult content on the exam, but while there were a (very) few questions I had to take a minute on, I didn't think the exam was difficult. I took it on 9 Jan. Unfortunately, I too failed this first attempt. I found this very suspicious since there were literally about 10 questions out of the 120 that I was not immediately sure of, and a couple of them were what I thought to be their "essential" questions. Failing was very disappointing, especially since I was under the impression that the essential questions were no longer being included. I called the NMC to verify, and they said that the essential questions are being included, but they are no longer being identified at the top of the screen. They would not, however, give me any indication as to whether I was close to passing or what questions I answered incorrectly "to protect the integrity of their exam." This is SO frustrating! I started this whole registration process in September 2012, and I'm still working on this! That's absolute rubbish, as they say... What frustrates me the most is that I know I'm a competent nurse, and several times when I've called the NMC they either directly or indirectly call me an incompetent nurse. Just today, when I called about the exam, the NMC representative said, "Well, you just have to be good enough. When you're competent, you'll pass." Seriously?? Get a grip, NMC... The good news is that they have heard our complaints, and they are making changes to the exam. The bad news is the exam is still broken. I could not have missed more than 10 questions on that exam, and 110 questions out of 120 is still a passing score. I've heard that once you're licensed in the UK, and you don't have to deal with the NMC anymore, everything gets much better, but I really am starting to hate the NMC for their ineffective management and unfair and irrational assessment of nursing competencies. What they need to assess is whether we will be able to care for the British people competently, not whether we have memorized their publications on nursing legislation. This is important, but it can be taught on-the-job in the first week of orientation without messing with the minds of so many people, and it can be done in a much less condescending manner. If they call me incompetent one more time, I will be going up the chain of command and complaining until I get a satisfactory and professional response!

On a side note, I have heard that more people are starting to pass the exam, so it is possible!

Well, I took the exam for the first time last week and failed... It seems the essential questions are no longer being identified, or at least they weren't on my exam. I had heard a rumor that the NMC had gotten rid of the essential questions, but I called them directly, and they said that the essential questions are still on the exam. Since none of them were identified on my exam, this means they are just hidden and blended in with the rest. They mostly have to do with the Code, so know it well. I thought the test was easy, and it took me about an hour to complete in a non-rushed pace, so I was surprised that I failed. The NMC, of course, will release no information as to how close I came to passing or what information I should study more of. They say it's to "preserve the integrity of their exam," but they've apparently never had an exam before, and they've published an entire blueprint on the exam, so what are they afraid of? We know not to post any questions that were on the exam, etc. Anyway, this is what I've learned so far. I'm getting off my soap box. I resit the exam in two months, so hopefully it goes better. Good luck!

I've heard that a lot of people have failed, and only a few have been reassessed and passed because there could've been more than one correct answer depending on how certain questions were interpreted. From what I've seen on the NMC's blueprint, a lot of the essential questions are related to their laws and their "code," so I'm trying to become more familiar with everything the blueprint says is "essential" information. I sit the exam in less than 2 weeks...

Thank you, everyone! I will be taking the test of competence later this month. I'm studying for it and almost as nervous as I was when I first took my NCLEX since I've waited so long for this opportunity, but I'm hoping I'll do well with this first attempt at the NMC's test of competence. I've heard it's pretty difficult with the many "essential" questions that are required to be passed.

One more question: Was there a lot of pharmacology in the CBT portion? I'm just trying to see what I should prepare for. Drugs in the UK seem to have different names than in the US. Thanks!

I am curious about this exam as well. I know you can't release any details, but was the exam easier than you expected or was it difficult in your opinion? What were some resources you used to study for it? Obviously you passed if you're getting ready for part two, so what resources are you using to study for that? Any response would be very helpful! Thanks!

I am a travel nurse in the US working on getting my UK license. I know of one agency that deals with US and international travel assignments called Premier Healthcare Professionals. Their website is The Leader in Travel Nursing | Start Your Adventure. Another agency I know of handles travel RN's interested in moving to the UK. It's called Continental Travelnurse. Their website is Home - Continental Travelnurse. I hope this helps!

Having been dealing and struggling with the NMC for the past two years as a BSN RN from a good US nursing program, I can tell you that previously, the NMC would not even consider an ADN RN, and any and all hours from the university had to be related to nursing or they would not consider them. However, like Silverdragon102 mentioned, things are changing right now. They made it practically impossible for even BSN RN's from the US to get licensed in the UK for the past two years, and I'm sure they felt the effect as they're now attempting to correct their mistakes and make it slightly easier for US RN's to get registered in the UK. Check out their website at Trained outside Europe | Nursing and Midwifery Council . They have posted a lot of information about their registration requirement changes for overseas-trained nurses and how they will review your application. Best of luck!

Also, I've noticed that there are several drugs in the UK that I've never heard of here in the US. I imagine these will be included in the test of competence. I would like to study these different drug names, etc, prior to taking the exam. Does anyone have any recommendations as to study material (i.e. books, flashcards, etc.) for a crash course in UK pharmacology?

Thank you for your response, Silverdragon102! Does this mean that there is no comprehensive examination at the end of their studies in nursing school in order to receive their license? Are there simply exams during each course rather than a final comprehensive examination similar to the NCLEX which we take in the US?

Hello! I just got my authorisation to test for the first part of the test of competence to register with the UK NMC. I would like to prepare for this exam as best as I can since I know there are some differences between US and UK nursing. Does anyone know the name of the exam that UK nurses take in order to qualify for registration? I know that in the US we take the NCLEX, but I don't know what the name of the UK exam is. Any and all help with this is appreciated. Also, I've noticed that drug names are different as well in the UK. Is there any way to study for this? Thanks, intl_RN

From what I've heard, that's about as good as it gets right now if you're a foreign nurse being licensed in the UK. Congratulations! I hope it all goes well for you! Now, if some US nurses could get UK licensure, it would be great...

Exactly! That's what I'm waiting to see if they'll do. Thanks again!