studying nursing in the UK or Boston ,,and informed decisions

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Dear all,

My name is carla, i am a mum of a 12 year old gorgeous boy. I recently became single :oand have now decided to pursue a career in nursing wich was always a dream of mine.

My son has some special needs related to ASD, and for that reason i have been a mum full time, but ironically the divorce i am going through at the moment as with most everything in life as provided me the (get up and go ) needed to just maybe afford to begin to be myself.

I have the possibility to study both in the US Boston, ( because Boston is familiar to me, and have a friend there) or study in cambridge UK, which is HOME.

The difficulty with deciding what is best is because whatever money available i have got right now ...if i make a mistake not only i am risking the opportunity of my career but my son's quality of life too.

The RN nursing program in the UK is 3 year and it is free, no fees...for uk nationals...but the cost of living will be for 3 years...In Boston it is 2 years....or LPN on a community college, such as Bunker Hill or Mass bay, and that go back another year for the RN...

A key aspect that i would like to have some information on is if during the actual period one is studying at college in the US do you guys have essays to write, or tests, in other words how is assessment done by the college in those months you are studying and attending classes?? and i don't mean the Nclex PN or NCLEX RN ...i refering if there is any others assessments done meanwhile...any information would be very useful as it will help me to decide where could i get more value for money but also which program is easier taking in account that i still need to be a very present mum.

One other reason why i have also consider the US is because there is so many possibilities and social skills groups for litle guy that even if i end up studying in the Uk i would like to belive that sometime in future i could apply for a green card for nurses and relocate to Boston not only because i really liked it there, but also because there seems to be a significant difference in salaries for RN's in MA and cambridge or the Uk in general...

If anyone could share some light in how assessments are done with the LPN and or RN before the NCLEX and how manageable you have found it it would really be awseme.

Thanks so much in advance ,,,God bless..Carla

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

I presume for the US you will be applying for F1 status with you mentioning later that you would be looking for GC.

Things to be aware of for GC you need to be RN, LPN will not meet requirements, LPN is not accepted by the NMC in the UK they will only accept RN (states so on their website) LPN is similar to the EN in the UK and that hasn't been trained for in over a decade. The US is affected by retrogression and I know many nurses including UK nurses that have been waiting over 4 years for a GC (immigrant visa) and many US trained foreign nurses have also been affected and had to either stay as a student or return home. You will have high International student fees to pay for in the US where as in the UK training is paid for.

UK training is more specialised and some people are having issues as missing clinical and theory hours in certain subjects that meets US requirements and you can discuss this with the university but they are training you for the UK not to move abroad

I would suggest you think long and hard and also read the International forum which you can find under the region tab above

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Welcome to allnurses! :balloons:

I would suggest that you study nursing wherever you plan on living and practicing once you're licensed. It's a fair amount of hassle and expense to qualify for licensure in another country.

You will be continuously graded in nursing school (in the US, that is) on papers and other written assignments, your clinical performance, and objective written and skills exams throughout your studies. You will receive a cumulative final grade for each individual course each semester, and, if your grade is below a certain level (varies somewhat from school to school), you will be out of the program.

If you look around this site, there are lots of threads of US students talking about their experiences in nursing school. Best wishes!

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Hi there,

really i want to thank both elkpark and silver dragon for your suggestions and insight it was trully apreciated, and i think i will be going for the degree here in the Uk as to go to all the lenght of applying for visas and the college being so strict on grading nursing students there in the US, it too much to risk for now on a limited budget. Perhaps at some point in future i will then be keen to still attempt work in MA...anyway one day at the time...once again thanks and GOD bless!Carla

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

best of luck Carla and check out the UK forum in the International forum (found under the region tab above) a few UK nurses and students post in there

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Specializes in L&D/Maternity nursing.

Bunker Hill is great-is where I did my pre-reqs for nursing school. I applied to direct entry programs (because I already had a bachelor's degree in something else) and go University of New Hampshire.

I have many friends in the Boston area (and lived there myself before my husband and I moved in together, got married and relocated to NH) and in fact two of my classmates commute up to UNH from Beantown. One of the girls is currently an LNA at Brigham and Women's Hospital and the way the market is down in Boston is that most hospitals want nurses who have a BSN. Just something to think about.

I think you should get your degree in the UK and then come to work in the US if you still want to make the move. Another word of caution. I have two Irishmen as professors. They've been nurses their whole career and practiced both in Ireland and the UK before moving to New Hampshire. However, they still had to sit for the NCLEX here if they wanted to practice and/or be a clinical instructor. IF you just want to teach in the classroom its fine, but if you want to be in the clinical setting, you have to sit for the NCLEX.

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IF you just want to teach in the classroom its fine, but if you want to be in the clinical setting, you have to sit for the NCLEX.

Actually, every nurse faculty position posting I've ever seen has required that the person have an active, valid license to practice in the state in which the school is located.

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Specializes in L&D/Maternity nursing.
Actually, every nurse faculty position posting I've ever seen has required that the person have an active, valid license to practice in the state in which the school is located.

they were licensed...just not here in the US. But it could vary state by state (I admit I am not really sure of the exact rules).

All I do know is that my professors taught for the past 2 years and one just sat, and passed the NCLEX in the spring.

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Thanks everyone,

Your replies have indeed been really helpful. Because i am going through a divorce right now my budget needs to be applied with as much cautious as i can master. I also have a child with ASD, and i cannot afford to make many mistakes if any. The main concern for me about Boston and i find it quite puzzling was the fact that grading in the US, can be so rigid or so it seems. As it was mentioned there; if one falls behind a grade you can be sent out of the program, which is a situation i find difficult to understand. Some students must invest quite a some of money or loans to study and the chances to repeat the modules are not there ..how will they manage? How can you garantee to be so good all the time?

I am sorry, just confused..however i can not afford to take that risk ...but once again i am thankful for your suggestions, as rebuilding my life it is scary enough as it is. God bless!Carla

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

If you check out the MA state forum you will see many post especially new grads on struggling to find a job especially in Boston. plus you would be affected by retrogression and would have to return back to the UK and wait for a immigrant visa to be processed.

I would concentrate on getting training done in the UK and gain some experience. (just be aware you need training both clinical and theory in Mental health, Paeds, Obstetrics and general Adult)

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