QUESTIONS ABOUT NURSING IN ENGLAND

[Seattle WA]

Hello all!

I am an American nurse (RN) working in the Operating Room in the U.S. I have been a nurse and working in the OR for 2 years. (I have a BSN). (I have worked only in the OR- no other nursing units). Also, I have completed my MSN in nursing education last year. 

I'm researching about potentially moving to the UK, specifically London, Bath or somewhere in between and wondered if anybody had any guidance on what sort of jobs I could do within U.K. healthcare/ nursing with my current qualifications?

I understand that I would need to apply for a visa and in order to do that I would need to find a job and be “sponsored”. My goal in England would be to work as a nurse (RN), live there, and have the opportunity to explore new surroundings (while I am young ?). In the U.S, I can use my MSN to teach at a nursing university part-time, but in the U.K. does anyone know if the U.S Master’s Degree in Nursing is worth anything? – For example, in the U.K. would I be able to use my Master’s in Nursing (in nursing education) degree to teach at a nursing university/ program part-time. Furthermore, how is the OR (at a large hospital) in the U.S compared to the Operating theatre in the U.K (in regards of nursing)?  

I am at square one of researching, so any insight and experiences from anyone would be so welcomed as I navigate this new adventure. ?

If anybody has any experience navigating a US to UK move within nursing, I would really love to hear from you and all about your experiences.

Thanks!

 

More Questions:

1. How did you apply for nursing positions while still working/ living in the U.S?

2. How different is U.K nursing vs. U.S nursing?

3. Are the nursing and healthcare shortages as extreme as they are in the U.S? -especially due to COVID. Furthermore, are the staffing shortages (in every industry) as extreme as they are in the U.S from COVID?

3. How / which websites do you find affordable places to live?

4. Here I have a general (worst-case) scenario: What if you move to the U.K, working as a nurse, but do not like your job?- Would this affect the visa and sponsorship?

[XB9S, BSN, MSN, EdD, RN, APN]

There are quite a few threads here about UK nursing, I can't answer about how it compares to US as I've only worked in the UK 

 

Jobs for registered nurses are abundant so if you don't like where you work moving shouldn't be a problem and as long as you have an employer who will sponsor your visa it will be fine.  If you use an agency there may be a penalty for leaving early.

UK jobs can be found here 

www.jobs.nhs.uk 

You will need to register with the NMC they will evaluate your qualifications and let you know if you are eligible.   Information found here 

https://www.nmc.org.uk/registration/joining-the-register/register-nurse-midwife/trained-outside-the-eueea/new-application/

 

 

[skylark, BSN, RN]

There are plenty of posts here about moving to the UK, but here are a few thoughts about the differences between nursing in the two countries.

Some of this might be out of date, I've been in the US ten years now, so although I do the occasional agency shift in London, I'm pretty much behind the times with a lot of issues there.

 

Nursing is relatively poorly paid in the UK, most registered nurses will be in a pay range of around $20-30 an hour. Pay is calculated in "bands", with RNs starting at a Band 5, and the more senior leadership roles at a Band 7. The rate is the same throughout the NHS, except for additional payments in London due to the cost of living there.

Cost of living is higher for housing and for transport. London is the worst, you won't find any apartment under around $400,000, and its impossible for nurses to get mortgages without family support.

Houses are smaller, no basements, the washing machine is in the kitchen, and most don't have garages, you park on the street.

Gas is around $10 a gallon, car insurance is crazy high in the south east. Transit fares are reasonable if you buy in advance or have season tickets, but 'on the day' fares are expensive.

Food is cheaper and better quality, less processed stuff, more vegetarian and vegan choices.

Nursing is more "hands-on" in the UK, expect to do your own vitals, EKGs, wound dressings, bed baths, etc. Also more cleaning and bed changing! And you are unlikely to get premixed IV antibiotics, you do it yourself! Oh and you don't 'start an IV', you cannulate!