U.S. RN wanting to work in England

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I have been accepted to Durham University for Fall 2018. I am a U.S. RN with 26 years of experience in ICU, ER, PACU, UC, Cath Lab, Orthopaedics. I would like to work in the U.K. while attending the university. Does anyone have any advise where I should start? I know I need a work visa and sponsorship from a hospital, but how do I go about getting in touch with the NHS for clearance? Thank you.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

You need to get registered with the NMC and that process currently is not easy or cheap

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing in USA and UK.

Hi!

I'm currently in the middle of this process, and from the people I've spoken to, the general framework is as such:

1. Register with the NMC (Nursing Midwifery Council) here NMC International Registration > Login This process, from what I'm told, can take 2-3 months to gain full clearance.

2. Take CBT (combuter-based test) in the U.S., given through Pearson Vue. You gain clearance to take this test after completing the first part of the NMC registration process at the link I listed above. The first part of that application takes about 5 minutes, upon completion you receive an email confirming your registration and notifying you of your ability to take the CBT and how to contact Pearson Vue to do so.

3. After taking and passing the CBT, the NMC, once they receive your pass information, will issue a decision letter confirming your ability to continue with the process.

4. A hospital MUST sponsor you to work in the U.K. and have to provide a Certificate of Sponsorship as well as pay for a tier 2 work visa. They will often have you pay up front and then reimburse you.They also have to pay an immigration fee.

5. At this point you will have moved to the U.K., as, once a hospital has accepted/hired you, you must work for 1 month as a healthcare worker (unsure about this part, but key to this is that you are not able to practice as a full nurse) while you study to take your OSCE as well as are trained by the hospital itself.

6. The OSCE is a practical skills test where you must demonstrate competency in a variety of different fields and skills. I don't know much about this because I have yet to reach this point and, from what I understand, the details of the test are kept secretive (???)

7. Once you pass, you will receive an NMC Pin Number and can practice as a full nurse as of that point.

Additional points of interest:

Because you are a U.S. trained nurse, my understanding is that you do not have to take an English Language Test, which is a new change as far as I'm aware.

From what I understand you have two options for aquiring a job (and thus sponsorship): you can either go through an international nursing agency OR you can approach a hospital directly.

That's all the information I have at this time as given to me by an international travel nurse agency and I hope it helps because it's been a pain trying to gather it from a variety of inconsistent and outdated sources.

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If you're attending University in the UK on a student visa, you are already work authorised for up to 20 hours per week during term time and 40 hours a week outside of term time. You do not need an additional work visa. However, as the others said, getting registered with the NMC will take time and money.

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May I ask what you are going to school for? Did they give you significant scholarship to attend or are you using US loans? Curious, as I am thinking about the same thing...

Also, regarding this issue of visa and sponsorship...say hypothetically you are on a fiancee visa, etc do you still need a hospital to sponsor you or any work post for that matter? Or will this type visa suffice to authorize you to work there? If you are married to a Brit...does that also require you to have a visa to work?

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
May I ask what you are going to school for? Did they give you significant scholarship to attend or are you using US loans? Curious, as I am thinking about the same thing...

Also, regarding this issue of visa and sponsorship...say hypothetically you are on a fiancee visa, etc do you still need a hospital to sponsor you or any work post for that matter? Or will this type visa suffice to authorize you to work there? If you are married to a Brit...does that also require you to have a visa to work?

Requirements if married or partner to a British citizen Family visas: apply, extend or switch: Apply as a partner or spouse - GOV.UK

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Hey Kaitfinder, how has your registration been? did you make it to England yet??

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing in USA and UK.
Hey Kaitfinder, how has your registration been? did you make it to England yet??

Hey!

Registration so far is still in progress, but I have a job offer and passed the CBT so I'm just gathering documents to submit to NMC. Expected to move either mid october or mid november, depending on when the NMC approves everything. If you (or anyone else) has any questions about the process for a U.S. nurse, let me know!

Best,

Kaitlyn

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Have you taken the OCSE exam yet, or are you moving before you do that? Do you have to work as a CNA for 6 months or something like that as well before you can take the exam? Curious, because I read that somewhere...

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing in USA and UK.
Have you taken the OCSE exam yet, or are you moving before you do that? Do you have to work as a CNA for 6 months or something like that as well before you can take the exam? Curious, because I read that somewhere...

No, I haven't taken the OSCE yet because you take that after you have a job and are working in the U.K. You must work as a "Nurse Assistant" for at least 1 month and up to 3 months after moving to acclimate to their hospital/medical system, your job, and study and receive training for the OSCE. I am unsure exactly what a Nurse Assistant is but my best understanding is it's similar to a tech in the U.S., if you know what that is. Once you pass OSCE your pay will be adjusted (read: increased) to the typical staff nurse pay and you can practice as a licensed nurse at that time. The hospital you work for is generally responsible for training and prepping you for the OSCE, as far as I'm aware.

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Thats so exciting!

I am also in the process. I passed the CBT and am in the paperwork stage, ugh!!!!!!!!! I am looking at a hopeful January move tho. I have a California license so that will take 8 or more weeks then the added 4-10 weeks for a decision..... I am still waiting for paperwork back from my school, the goal is to have everything submitted by the end of August. I am nervous about the clinical and theory hour breakdown. But trying to stay positive. It is a lot of work. Where are you planning to work? I am looking at Cambridge!

Robin

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing in USA and UK.
Thats so exciting!

I am also in the process. I passed the CBT and am in the paperwork stage, ugh!!!!!!!!! I am looking at a hopeful January move tho. I have a California license so that will take 8 or more weeks then the added 4-10 weeks for a decision..... I am still waiting for paperwork back from my school, the goal is to have everything submitted by the end of August. I am nervous about the clinical and theory hour breakdown. But trying to stay positive. It is a lot of work. Where are you planning to work? I am looking at Cambridge!

Robin

Oh, it sounds like we're at about the same place! Is January the earliest you think you will move, or just when you're personally planning on moving? I was quoted about 1-2 months for NMC to approve documents, 2 weeks to approve Certificate of Sponsorship, and about 1-2 months to approve Tier 2 Work Visa (applied for at the same time as NMC is submitted). I've submitted or requested most everything, just trying to get that pesky verification stamp for my references. I've already dropped off the forms at my school and mailed off to my board of nursing (I'm in Georgia) to confirm my license, so hopefully they'll get those mailed off in the next 10 days and will be able to submit by end of august as well. I'm also worried about the clinical breakdown and theory; I know I have at least 500 clinical practice hours in school, but I'm worried they'll be nitpicky about the the specific hourly breakdown. We'll see! Because I was quoted October at the earliest and my current job requires 1 month notice, I had to give notice last week for quitting early September (need some time to pack/sell things). Here's hoping they don't throw up a fuss.

I'll be working at an Oxford University Hospital in A&E! I'm very excited! Are you going through an agency or looking to approach a hospital directly?

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