Rn w/o 12 months exp looking to work in UK

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Hi Everyone!

I just joined the site and I'm not sure if I'm posting in the correct place but I need help and info so I hope someone can give me some direction!

I recently graduated with my BSN and passed my NCLEX in February. I have my heart set on working in the UK for a year and traveling before really starting my career back here in the US. I know I don't have the 12 months experience to register with the NMC to work as an RN, but I was wondering if anyone knows any other options for me. I want to work in a hospital or clinic so I can continue learning and being involved with nursing somehow while I'm on my year of travel and adventure. I know the UK doesn't have LPN's but is there something similar that I can do so I can still use my nursing skills and work in a nursing environment? I know my timing doesn't make the most sense and I should wait until i work for a year, but my heart is set on going. I just want to be involved with nursing somehow. I guess I could always work as a nursing assistant, which I believe is similar to a nurses aid here in the US. I am a dual Canadian citizen so getting a visa is not a problem. With my visa I will be able to work so I just want to find a job that I can learn and stay as sharp as possible on my nursing skills before coming back to be an RN in the US.

Any information would be a BIG help! I love this nursing community! Thanks everyone!

xoxo,

Marissa

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

If you have no problems getting a work permit for the UK working as a healthcare worker will not give nurse experience and may not help your nursing skills.

From family members back in the UK they say the unemployment is bad and lots of businesses closing down meaning more people looking for work so you may have problems finding employer for work permit

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Specializes in Advanced Practice, surgery.

Are you a dual Canadian / UK citizen or Canadian / US, if it is the later I am not so sure getting a work visa will be so easy as you will fall outside the EU and need to meet the criteria s for work Visa's in the UK. If you have only been qualified a short time your not going to fall into the shortage occupation requirements, and I seriously doubt you'd be able to get work as a health care support worker because of the current levels of un-employment in the UK at the moment.

Take look at my blog (the link is in my signature) there is advice in there for international nurses who want to work in the UK that may be useful, it has links to the agencies you'll need to contact as well.

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Thanks for your reply!

I am going on a youth mobility visa, which is for young people who want to travel. my main purpose for going is to travel but with this visa i can also work so i wanted to stay involved with nursing if I could. I will take a look at your blog. Thanks for your reply!

xoxo

marissa

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Specializes in Advanced Practice, surgery.
Thanks for your reply!

I am going on a youth mobility visa, which is for young people who want to travel. my main purpose for going is to travel but with this visa i can also work so i wanted to stay involved with nursing if I could. I will take a look at your blog. Thanks for your reply!

xoxo

marissa

I wasn't aware of the youth mobility visa, what a wonderful idea :yeah:

If you want to work as a nurse you'll need to take a look at the nursing and midwifery council's requirements for registration for overseas nurses but I understand that registration is quite a lengthy process so it may be that you will have to work as an unqualified carer while you are here.

Please let us know how you get on and how your travels go

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier5/youthmobilityscheme/

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