UK nurse looking to emmigrate to houston- I need some help!!

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Specializes in respiratory.

Hi Everyone,

I am 25 years old and have 4 years nursing experience. I qualified with a Bachelor of Nursing (Hons) and have worked in medicine ( mostly pulmonary) since. I am currently half way through my Masters (this is a general master in Respiratory disease rather that purely nursing) and am currently undertaking my nurse prescribing course. I work as a specialist nurse for a COPD service, both in the community (clinics and homes) and in the hospital. I also continue to do a large amount of bank work on the wards on the the side.

My brother lives in texas (houston) and i am keen to join him. My boyfriend is keen to come as well and has been nursing 10yrs with intensive care, recovery and management experience.

I have had a look into the process to get a license in texas ( its very long) and i understand all that but I cant quite understand how are jobs would translate, what the salaries are like, the impact of health insurance in ( obviously we dont have that here) how your annual leave pans out, what sort of indemnity insurance you would need and how you apply for a job when you eventually get a license. phew!! lots of questions!!

If anyone can help that would be amazing!

Thank you

Elinor

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

We love our UK & Anzac nurses! In fact, there are some large apartment complexes close to the Texas Medical Center that are referred to as 'kangaroo alley' because of the concentration of Aussies. I am sure that it will be a culture shock because of all the factors you have outlined - and probably some you haven't even thought of . .but if your brother already lives here, you undoubtedly have a pretty good idea of what H-town is like.

Your best source of information would probably be a fellow ex-pat working here that has already gone through the process. Hopefully, one of them will chime in with some feedback for you.

Your questions are pretty general.. I will be happy to provide answers for specific questions if you send me a PM.

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Specializes in respiratory.

thanks so much of replying! really appreciate it. will PM.

Thanks

Elinor

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Starting point would be Checking out the International forum under the region tab above, next would be meeting license requirements for the state and all information regarding applying to the state can be found via the links to state boards of nursing at the bottom of the page (need to look at International trained once on the site)

If you can get a job using your masters then you will find it easier to get a immigrant visa as generally nurses come under EB3 and that has been retrogressed for several years, having a masters and a job involving your masters will bring you up to EB2 or EB1 and if born in the UK may be current and the process much quicker as long as you have a employer. Unless you are married your boyfriend will have to get his own visa and he will have the same battle of finding a employer and then if he comes under the EB3 will have a 5+ year wait for a immigrant visa. H1b requires a minimum of BSN with experience and then a employer willing to pay and go the route of H1b.

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Specializes in respiratory.

and i thought the Nclex and nursing board bit would be the hard part.... been looking at the visa situation and it looks hopeless. Is the job shortage in the US still very bad for nurses? some of the threads are a couple of years old that i have been reading so not sure if its still the same. Im worried that I will do all the license stuff and then have no hope of being employed.

Also- if I applied for a job once I had my license- if it had a UK address- is it unlikely it would be taken seriously? I wasnt keen on considering a international nursing agency to get first employment but maybe this would be better?

Understandably if there are job shortages they should be going to US citizens not to people trying to emigrate there.

oh deah!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Is the job shortage in the US still very bad for nurses?
There is no shortage of nursing jobs in most parts of the U.S., including Houston. Actually, many regions have a surplus of nurses competing for jobs. The nursing job market took a turn for the worse in many cities and states soon after the financial meltdown in 2008.
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Specializes in respiratory.

is there any information on how to compare a uk nursing post to a usa one?

In the uk the jobs are banded, and across the board because of the national health service ie a newly qualified nurse is a staff nurse at band 5, junior sister band 6 senior sister or ward manager band 7 matron 8a lead nurse 8b etc... is there a similar structure in the USA?

Thanks

Elinor

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and i thought the Nclex and nursing board bit would be the hard part.... been looking at the visa situation and it looks hopeless. Is the job shortage in the US still very bad for nurses? some of the threads are a couple of years old that i have been reading so not sure if its still the same. Im worried that I will do all the license stuff and then have no hope of being employed.

Also- if I applied for a job once I had my license- if it had a UK address- is it unlikely it would be taken seriously? I wasnt keen on considering a international nursing agency to get first employment but maybe this would be better?

Understandably if there are job shortages they should be going to US citizens not to people trying to emigrate there.

oh deah!

There are many, many local nurses with experience and new graduates that are having trouble finding a job-may not change any time soon.

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Specializes in respiratory.

Thanks so much for all your advice and honestly- the frustrating thing is there are so many websites and adverts about working in the USA- they make it seem so easy. I obviously knew I wouldnt rock up and get a job but I didn't think things would be this difficult. I Have already started my application and am hopefully awaiting permission to take the Nclex and I will continue on that path but am not hopeful on what will come after. I have stubbled across an international forum feed on uk nurses going to the usa and its really interesting.... unfortunately it was started in 2005, a lot has happened since! Im on page 12 at the moment so hopefully there is a silver lining!!

I really appreciate everyone replies though its been so good to get a real view poin, not all the commercial adverts that make the "dream only a step away!"

thanks again

elinor

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I'm not sure there's going to be a "silver lining" any time soon -- employment and economic conditions are the worst I've ever seen in my lifetime (and I'm in my mid-50s), much worse than I ever imagined I would see in my life. You just have the bad luck to have picked a really bad time to be trying to come over here.

In re: your other question, no, there is no systematic organization of nursing jobs in the US outside of the US military and VA system (they are the only part of the US healthcare system which resembles the NHS). Beyond a minimal requirement of abiding by Federal and state employment laws, and some healthcare organizations which are unionized, healthcare employers are each free to "do their own thing" re: job descriptions, minimum requirements, salaries, benefits, etc.

Best wishes!

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