Special qualifications for peds nurses

suzanne4, RN · Sep 21, 2005

In the UK they do what they call "Specialist" training, meaning that they now do 18 months of general nursing, then they can chose their area of speciality. They have the choice of maternal/peds/adult medicine/ and mental health.

Not sure where you are going to school, but most US programs do not offer one full year of peds training. Work experience does not count towards this, the hours must actually be in an approved school of nursing.

Then also take into account, in addition to getting a license to practise in the UK, you will need to get a visa that will permit you to work. You can figure on about two years for the entire process. Just wanted to make sure that you are aware of the time frame, many do not.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Sep 21, 2005

hi

Suzanne covered it mostly except we also have courses available for RN general trained who want to specialise in paeds and they can do a course which is roughly 18 months and you are seconded from place of work. Usually this means that during the course you are still working on the paeds ward and doing classroom work to. I know a few people who have gone this route.

It does take a while to go through the nmc and you do need a sponser before you will get a work visa and now as a foreign trained nurse out of the EU there are other things you have to do first. STill don't think there are clear guidelines yet on who is responsible for the placements and training you have to do

Best of luck

lsunurse · Sep 22, 2005

Thanks for the help

uk_nurse · Sep 23, 2005

In the UK they do what they call "Specialist" training, meaning that they now do 18 months of general nursing, then they can chose their area of speciality. They have the choice of maternal/peds/adult medicine/ and mental health.
:

this is no longer happening. u specialise straight away and dont do 18 mths general. u do a common foundation programme for 12 mths but placements are in ur speciality. u can do a conversion course to do paeds if ur adult trained think 18 mths and become a RN (child). i qualified 2 and half yrs ago and didnt do general. im paeds trained. dont think ur paeds schooling counts but do check. good luck

suzanne4, RN · Sep 23, 2005

The common foundation program is the same thing, we just call it general over here. Length of time is going to depend on where you are attneding school. I still know of students that are doing the 18 months first, then the 18 months of their specialty. The basics in nursing are required no matter what area that you are going to specialize in. With either length of program in the US, the training doesn't meet requirement for the US either, as you do not have the training in all three areas.

Peds training in the US is not accepted for the training in the UK. Over here it is just one semester in length, and the clinical is only about 9 weeks. Definitely not the same. Same goes for going to the UK to work...........for the specialty, you would need to do the training in an approved school of nursing, work experience does not count.