Should I go to nursing school in another country?

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My goal with nursing would ultimately be to do it around the world. I'm a U.S. citizen, but I'd love the chance to work in relief efforts in various countries, as well as the opportunity to work for a while in Australia, NZ, UK, Ireland...

I've been obsessed with Scotland since doing undergrad there and have this idea in the back of my mind that I'd like to immigrate there. All things considered, would it be better to go to nursing school in the UK rather than the US? The ABSN programs I was considering aren't accepted everywhere, and it seems to me like a UK degree is acceptable everywhere.

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uk degrees can be specialsed into branches what the usa calls domains and may not be aceptable in the USA we

either do adult, child, mental health or learning disability nursing and midwifery is considered a sister profession. Adult brach nurses do briefly cover the other areas but may not be enough.

however to get a UK license you must have a 3 year nurisng course with 4060 hours 50/50 theroy to practice

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Welcome to allnurses! :balloons:

Before you decide to do that, take a look at some of the threads on the UK forum about how much trouble UK nurses have getting licenses in the US. Their system of nursing education is entirely different from ours. If you know that you want to remain permanently in Scotland, then, yes, it would make the most sense to take your nursing education there; however, if you anticipate returning to the US at some point, you may want to think twice.

Be aware that, even as a "born & bred" US citizen, if you take your nursing education abroad, you will always, forever be considered a "foreign graduate" in the US and will have to jump through additional hoops for licensure, when you apply for initial licensure and any time you attempt to endorse your license to another state, for the rest of your career.

There are lots of US-based and international relief agencies that send staff and volunteer RNs to different venues around the world, but, in terms of just traveling around the world and working as a nurse in different countries, it is very difficult to get licensure in other countries (just as it is difficult for nurses from other countries to get licensure in the US). Also, in recent years, many countries (including the US) have gotten a lot more persnickety about immigration and it's much harder to get a visa and permission to work in other countries than it used to be.

There is lots of info available on this board; I suggest you read through some of the threads in the International Nursing forums, where you will find lots of stuff about immigration and licensure in other countries. Here is a good place to start:

https://allnurses.com/forums/f124/must-read-uk-nursing-topics-consolidated-stickies-272189.html

Best wishes!

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Also I would add doing your training in the UK will not guarantee that you can stay and get a work permit, many hospitals actually say they are unable to assist in getting a work permit. Also as an International student which ever country you go to will involve International fees which can be very high

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