UK->USA: What's it like once you're there?

[kermit27]

Hiya..

I know there's been lots of talk about agencies, fees, contracts, NCLEX etc. But I'd love to hear from UK nurses who have already made the jump...

*What's it like in US hospitals -- just like ER? locker rooms and in-house laundrys?

*What's it like without 6-bedded bays? How do you keep an eye on critically ill patients in single and double rooms?

*Is it true that US nurses don't have to make beds? (Are there are little house elves who do it for them?)

*Is it really "goodbye Roper Logan Tierney, hello medical model" as I read somewhere here? I've also heard that US nurses are more like UK junior doctors and do much more diagnosing?

*Are there district/community nurses in the US?

*Is it true that US nurses can easily earn $80K + per year? I actually read here some nurses criticising new recruits for going into nursing FOR THE MONEY!! :rotfl:

There are so many rumours about Nursing in America! Some you can toss out just by reading these forums and learning that many of our issues are the same the world over. But others? And maybe US nurses would be tickled to hear what a paradise (?!) they're supposed to be working in...

[suzanne4, RN]

Yes to all of the above. Be aware that where the hospitals are paying the most, cost of livin gis also going to be sky high. Nurses in the US are responsible for a head to toe assessment on their patient every shift, and this includes hear tones and breath sounds. Many times the nurse is the one that pickes up on somehting before the physician does as they are with the patient the most.

The ICUs have central monitoring so you can view them from all over, as well as if you are in one patient's room, and you are concerned about your other patient, you can actually add their monitor pattern to view in the room that you are in. You will be hard pressed to find six bed wards anywhere in the US except for perhaps some of the older county facilities.

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

Hi Amy,

There is a really great thread already going answering all these questions and more from a UK nurse who has been over there for over a year.

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?t=107795

Here above is the link- let me know what you think :)

[kermit27]

Thanks Madwife! It's pretty cool. And pretty scarey too. All those chest and bowel sounds are pretty intimidating. I just hope it's as much fun (!) as I think it is here...xa

[CCURN]

I always make my patients bed and I work in a CCU....However it is ten times better than working in the NHS