Single free and ready to travel/earn money

NedRN · Mar 18, 2014

Are you working now in the US?

sophie_cheeks · Mar 18, 2014

Working in the UK

NedRN · Mar 18, 2014

Cruise nurses do not make more than UK staff nurses, you do it for the change. Most cruise ship nurses have an emergency room background.

The middle east may be a better way for a UK nurse to build up a savings account, but the culture is not really good for most westerners, especially women. For an American to go, it is usually an interest in the culture and getting away from home. I make more as an American traveler than I could make on one of those contracts.

You have posted in the travel nursing forum. It may not mean what you think it does. "Travel nursing" is primarily an American thing, doing three month contracts almost anywhere in the country.

America pays more than anywhere else in the world for nurses, and there are many UK nurses working here for that reason. So this is your best bet for making enough money to buy a house in the UK, but it is a long process to come here. I would try to do it independently as the money will be better than going through an agency's assistance and being locked into two or three years of bad pay. You will probably still have to be locked into an agency or hospital sponsor when you come, but the money will be better having gotten the license on your own.

I worked for 6 months in the UK (Blackpool) and it was amazing to get paid less, and have everything cost more (except cauliflower). I did learn that agency pay in London was comparable to the US though (perhaps still less considering taxes). If you can find a reasonable place to live, that seems like the best bet locally to make good money.

BD-RN, BSN, RN · Mar 20, 2014

Ned, I would love to hear of your experience in the UK! I've considered it as a new adventure, but licensure out there seems a bit complicated; you have to be there a month before it becomes active, is that correct?

NedRN · Mar 20, 2014

I got mine a long time ago and things are probably different now. Generally in most countries though, you have to enter with a valid work permit so I don't understand a waiting period inside the country. In some ways, it should be somewhat easier, no test to pass.

BD-RN, BSN, RN · Mar 21, 2014

Thanks! I'll look into it. My friend just got accepted to grad school there so I figured it would be a great opportunity next year if perhaps we went over there together.