studying nursing if US citizen married to british citizen?

tbjockny · Jul 23, 2013

Thanks for the info I have been wondering what obstacles UK nurses workinghere

monkeyface496 · Aug 27, 2013

I was in a nearly identical situation almost 10 years ago. I opted not to do nursing school in the states, but instead move straight to the UK. I found a job working as admin at an NHS hospital and worked there for 3 years until I had my resident visa (aka indefinite leave to remain, ILR). Then I applied and was accepted to a UK nursing school (my time working in the NHS already realllllly helped me out). As a permanent resident, I was fully eligible to have the NHS cover my tuition (I wasn't an international student) and have the bursary, which a a stipend paid by the government to help support living costs while training to be a nurse. There were so many financial perks to training here, it really influenced my decision. Plus, the job climate here is nowhere near as dire as it is in lots of areas in the US.

At the time, I didn't realise or appreciate the difference between UK and US nursing. As mentioned, the UK have branch nursing (only country in the world so work in the way) so it is much harder for a brit to work in the US, but much easier the other way around as the training there is much broader. It's worked out well for me, as we're probably never going to move to the states, so I won't have to face moving my qualification.

Training and nursing is regulated by the NMC, Nursing and Midwifery Council. They are our professional body and everyone if us is answerable to them. They regulate the requirements of nursing school on a nation-wide level, so every UK-trained nurse has graduated and met their expectations for being a nurse. I assume this is what the NCLEX aims to do, as nursing schools can vary so widely in the states. That's why we don't need a standardised test- the education is already standardised.

I've been in your shoes- any other questions? :)