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.

Yay. its so great to hear someone excited about the same things as me!!! I am going through an agency. I tried and failed getting my license from Australia so decided an agency that helps is the best thing so I don't fail again. It was all about paperwork on the Australia deny.

I think with the timeline January is the earliest I would be able to move, I am a travel nurse so can plan my move whenever I am registered! I tried to pick a latter date to plan for a month or so home with family before leaving so I am going to spend Christmas home then move! but I have 5 licenses to verify. And Cali is a miserable nursing board that cost 100$ to verify and takes 8+weeks!!! since NMC won't look at my file until everything is submitted I figure I have at least 12 weeks until I will be approved.

I am so nervous about the breakdown too for school and just emailed my consultant about it. I googled it and only found 2300 clinical hours needed for a UK nursing registration..... I only have 697 hours..... very confusing. And all my classes were called "nursing throughout the lifespan" so there really is not breakdown for hours in each specialty. I know with the ireland nursing license transferring credits to hours had a specific equation.... I don't know if this is needed for the UK too. Hopefully he gets back to me in the morning.

I just had my references write the letter on the letterhead paper in place of the stamp. I don't anticipate getting any stamps and just plan on the letters.

Its trying and stressful but if all goes through it will be an amazing adventure.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing in USA and UK.
Yay. its so great to hear someone excited about the same things as me!!! . . . amazing adventure.

Yeah so far agency seems to be the best way to go because they can get you in contact with the hospital and seem to provide a lot more assistance with all the aspects of registration with the board of nursing and visa acquisition etc. Are you looking to work in the U.K., or just anywhere including England, Ireland, Australia? And good grief, $100??? Georgia board of nursing just required $35 and quoted me about 5-10 days to fill out and then expedited mailing was quoted at like 5-7 days to get the UK. Bummer that you have 5 licenses to verify ;( Fortunately I've only worked in GA so I don't have to request verification from that many locations.

I was told you need 500 clinical practice hours while you were in nursing schools and at least 1 year of post-grad work experience, so you should be good? Maybe it's different for Ireland/Australia but that's what I know from UK. My classes were all mixed up with content as well so I have to have someone specific breakdown the hours.

I'm trying to get the letterhead but am getting pushback from my facility since they don't seem to understand what I'm asking for and it's not typical, and no one has a stamp haha.

Eventually it'll go through though for both of us, I'm sure! I'm really excited and looking for a good new change.

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Yeah so far agency seems to be the best way to go .... Eventually it'll go through though for both of us, I'm sure! I'm really excited and looking for a good new change.

I am just planning the UK. Ireland and Australia have different processes. I have looked into them all tho! I visited Ireland a few years back and fell in love with the country but I also was in a relationship in the states (which has since ended) so I picked to stay here, but now have the chance to go overseas and am trying my hardest to make it a reality. I originally started with my Australia license because it was cheeper.... but there is really no help and one of my travel hospital refused to fill out the paperwork needed and I was denied. Now I am working towards UK. it really was my first choice but I needed to pay off some credit card bills to be able to realistically go. It really is an expensive process and its not good pay there either.....

I ran into the problem that all the managers from the hospital I worked at for 3 years have since quit..... so trying to find someone for that reference was a challenge. Since I have been traveling the past 3 years I have only been 3 - 6 months in each location so can't use them as both references. The hopes we jump through!!

Hopefully the consultant says 500 hours are good! that would make me so happy!!!

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing in USA and UK.
I am just planning the UK. . . . that would make me so happy!!!

I studied abroad in Ireland a few years back and it was beautiful! I hope to visit again once I move to the UK since it'll be closer and cheaper to fly haha.

It is pretty expensive to apply for licensure and testing etc. but if you go through a hospital, that hospital will likely pay some or all of the fees associated, and some will even provide you with housing or provide 1-3 months rent when you first arrive to aid your transition. The only consideration is that many will require 2-3 years commitment if they are to do this.

Hopefully you can get your references! That's unfortunate you had that issue :(

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Hey Kaitlyn, were you able to get your application submitted? I am hoping to mail it off on Saturday!!!

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing in USA and UK.
Hey Kaitlyn, were you able to get your application submitted? I am hoping to mail it off on Saturday!!!

Yeah I did! I submitted it a few weeks ago. I had to expedite some things but I was also told by my agency today that you don't have to have an official NMC decision letter (about your application) in order to move and start working (as a tech, not a nurse) and train for the OSCE. Which is a relief for me because now all I have to do is apply for my VISA since I already have my Certificate of Sponsorship.

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Yeah I did! I submitted it a few weeks ago. I had to expedite some things but I was also told by my agency today that you don't have to have an official NMC decision letter (about your application) in order to move and start working (as a tech, not a nurse) and train for the OSCE. Which is a relief for me because now all I have to do is apply for my VISA since I already have my Certificate of Sponsorship.

So exciting!!! What agency are you working with? I was told that I cannot even get sponsorship until I get the OK to take the OSCE.... and then its at least 3 months til I would be over there. with that timeline I don't think Id even be ok for my planned January move.....

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing in USA and UK.
So exciting!!! What agency are you working with? I was told that I cannot even get sponsorship until I get the OK to take the OSCE.... and then its at least 3 months til I would be over there. with that timeline I don't think Id even be ok for my planned January move.....

I'm working with NEU Professionals and so far they've been pretty organized and very professional, so I'm pleased. My contract is with the hospital I'm working for and not the agency as well (presumably the agency gets a finders fee since I don't pay them anything either).

Not sure who told you you can't get CoS (certificate of sponsorship) until you get the okay to take OSCE as that isn't the general trajectory of things as I've been told or experienced. So far my trajectory has been this: reach out to agency, agency had me do a mini interview with them and medicationcalculation/essay test (proctored on skype), they then set up interview with the hospital I was interested in, passed the interview and given job offer which I signed, began to work on pre employment checks (copy of passport, references from work history, etc.) while studying to take CBT test (registered/made an account with NMC online to obtain clearance with Pearson Vue to take CBT, took a month to study for the exam), passed CBT and began process of submitting all pre employment check documents to NEU Professionals agency (necessary as these documents are required for the hospital to request a CoS for me, must submit by end of the month as CoS are only awarded at start of each month). Submitted NMC application once all documents were acquired. Once CoS received, I have been told to register to apply for my tier 2 work VISA (requires FBI background check, passport, etc.) which will give my passport a stamp good for 30 days. Must move within 30 days of stamp, CoS is only good for 3 months. Once I arrive, I'm told I will train/be educated on their healthcare system and work as what sounds like a tech (not a nurse) for up to 3 months at which point I must take OSCE (will receive training for this as well). Can work as tech while awaiting official NMC Decision Letter. Once NMC DL received and OSCE passed, I can officially work as a nurse.

Does that make sense? I'd definitley recommend working with an agency because they have been exceedingly helpful thus far.

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Kaitlyn. Thanks for the information. I have been working with ContinentalTravel Nurse. They have been great. It's just a lot of information and work. I'd love to talk more if you had time. My email is [email protected]

Robin

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing in USA and UK.
Kaitlyn. Thanks for the information. I have been working with ContinentalTravel Nurse. They have been great. It's just a lot of information and work. I'd love to talk more if you had time. My email is [email protected]

Robin

Sure! My email is [email protected] go ahead an email me any questions you (or anyone else) might have about this.

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Specializes in Practice educator.

If you have any OSCE questions at any point feel free to PM me.

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