uk nurses who have come to the usa

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I am in the usvi, and have been here nearly a year, maybe all the nurses who have posted their news about immigration, can now post about the differences in the us hospitals. I dont think that american doctors and nurses fully understand where we come from, and the working environment of the nhs, its only when we get here that we can understand the differences. I am sure that stateside hospitals are different even from here. and that they also vary from state to state, but maybe nurses who are waiting to come will be able to pick up some tips and know more than us what to expect.

christine....from wales to scotland to united states virgin islands, and then to the states, in january.

Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.
Just an aside, but was talking to a collegue who worked in the US last year - I can't believe they only get two weeks annual leave a year!!!! I don't know if my body could cope with going from 28 days off to 14, lol :)

I know I get 41 days now with Afc :madface:

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Specializes in Midwifery,Ambulatory Care, Community.

Hi this is a good post, i wish i saw it before now- I have been in Florida nearly 4 weeks now and so far so good! Firstly:

immigration at the airport is SLOW(3hrs wait) so tell anyone picking you up not to come too early! All they do is check your paperwork from embassey and take fingerprints.

Social Security No. is taking upto 6weeks to be sent so you maynot start work immediately. And you cannot do anything without SSN.

Open a bank account asap(i had one previously for about 4 years now)

To Register children in school if in florida you will need to get a physical done for them and immunisations transferred onto their DOH Blue Forms before they can start.

Anyway all is good, I passed my driving tests(written& practical), children are in school and making friends(they are the youngest in their years as the UK education is way way ahead)

Weather is good although 1 hurricane scare already, and probably more to come!

My hospital (Kidney diaylsis centre )is good so far,I've been there a week training for 6wks and orientation for 6 months and people seem friendly. The pay is low though $22 per hour I got £29,000 in UK. Had to fill in W-4 tax form what is this about -it's confusing!

I have to take out health insurance either with Bluecross or Aetna-which is best?

I tried to get credit cards with American Xpress they declined as no sufficient credit history so its not that easy, BOA gave card with $500 so thats a start. Got a car to buy 2001 ford explorer and took small auto loan to build credit also .

This is a good post can any1 answer my ?? on W-4 tax and health insurance?:confused: Thanks

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

Hi,

I notice you are a nurse/midwife, did you have HD experience prior to going to US? I did renal for 7 years, but am going to do med/sur-neuro in AZ

Kay

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Specializes in Midwifery,Ambulatory Care, Community.
Hi,

I notice you are a nurse/midwife, did you have HD experience prior to going to US? I did renal for 7 years, but am going to do med/sur-neuro in AZ

Kay

Hi No i have no renal/dialysis experience prior, the agency was recruiting whether or not you had experience so i went for it because they offered all day shifts , and the latest you may work is 10:30pm and saturdays no sundays. I did surgical/ambulatory care for 3 yrs and district nursing for 2years and midwifery for nearly 3 years then haemoglobinopathies for 1 year.. So i'm trying a different angle now -just hope i like it! :uhoh21: what is renal like?

Nov x

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.
Hi No i have no renal/dialysis experience prior, the agency was recruiting whether or not you had experience so i went for it because they offered all day shifts , and the latest you may work is 10:30pm and saturdays no sundays. I did surgical/ambulatory care for 3 yrs and district nursing for 2years and midwifery for nearly 3 years then haemoglobinopathies for 1 year.. So i'm trying a different angle now -just hope i like it! :uhoh21: what is renal like?

Nov x

Loved renal it was great :)

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good to hear from a couple of new uk nurses who are now here..

for ogp nurses, they start work when scheduled before they leave the uk, they dont have to wait for the social security number to arrive with them, but we are always given time in the area with the meet and greet person to acclimatise to our new surroundings and they will advise on how to get things done.

bank of america sponsor ogp for credit cards with up to approx $5,000, and loans for cars houses etc, if thats what you want.

all children have to have proof of vaccination history and physicals before they start school, I wasnt sure if that was an island thing or not.

if you look at the other sites you will see that florida has a reputation of being one of the lowest paying states.....its a cheaper state to live in, so it all works out.

theres no tv licence to pay, no mot for the car, and fuel.....americans dont realise how lucky they are $2 a gallon!!!!!!!!!!!

and I forgot, if you come to a warm climate, no winter clothes to buy!

and yes holidays are something that americans dont have much of, but 7 days work in a 2 week period give us a lot of time off. thats with every other weekend off as well, something that I never got in the uk.

keep in touch

christine

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good to hear from a couple of new uk nurses who are now here..

for ogp nurses, they start work when scheduled before they leave the uk, they dont have to wait for the social security number to arrive with them, but we are always given time in the area with the meet and greet person to acclimatise to our new surroundings and they will advise on how to get things done.

bank of america sponsor ogp for credit cards with up to approx $5,000, and loans for cars houses etc, if thats what you want.

all children have to have proof of vaccination history and physicals before they start school, I wasnt sure if that was an island thing or not.

if you look at the other sites you will see that florida has a reputation of being one of the lowest paying states.....its a cheaper state to live in, so it all works out.

theres no tv licence to pay, no mot for the car, and fuel.....americans dont realise how lucky they are $2 a gallon!!!!!!!!!!!

and I forgot, if you come to a warm climate, no winter clothes to buy!

and yes holidays are something that americans dont have much of, but 7 days work in a 2 week period give us a lot of time off. thats with every other weekend off as well, something that I never got in the uk.

keep in touch

christine

Hi Kay & Christine

Christine have you found that compared to 'us' (UK population in general) that in the US there is a much stronger work ethic with people having two or more jobs to maintain a certain lifestyle? And that 'keeping up with the Jones' is evident. Might be different where you are though I guess with all those sandy beaches!!! Actualy I read somewhere that a lot of the young generation in the US do not hold to the strong work ethic and this has caused some concern. Don't know if this is correct or not.

I have 2 problems here you see a) I like my time off :chuckle b) I'm too lazy/laid back to be bothered to keep up with anybody on the housing front. :beercuphe :rotfl:

Kay x

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hi kay...life here is very laid back and some nurses have the same attitude towards their work. call in at the drop of a hat.....and as they are employed by the hospital they get paid. travel nurses are usually more work orientated because if you dont work you dont get paid. the houses in the states are usually cheaper to buy than back home. we bought a condo, that looks straight out onto the sea, you couldnt put a value on the view that we have. we will rent it when we leave here, and are already looking to buy in the states. theres no pressure to work overtime, but usually plenty of it available no matter where you go. the lifestyle is very different to what we are used to, and no doubt when we go stateside again in january it will be different again. theres no keeping up with the jones....usually everybody has the same as you. except of course the people with mega bucks who live in the mountaintop million dollar houses, that are here. celebs from all over the world buy houses in these islands as vacation homes.

christine

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hi kay...life here is very laid back and some nurses have the same attitude towards their work. call in at the drop of a hat.....and as they are employed by the hospital they get paid. travel nurses are usually more work orientated because if you dont work you dont get paid. the houses in the states are usually cheaper to buy than back home. we bought a condo, that looks straight out onto the sea, you couldnt put a value on the view that we have. we will rent it when we leave here, and are already looking to buy in the states. theres no pressure to work overtime, but usually plenty of it available no matter where you go. the lifestyle is very different to what we are used to, and no doubt when we go stateside again in january it will be different again. theres no keeping up with the jones....usually everybody has the same as you. except of course the people with mega bucks who live in the mountaintop million dollar houses, that are here. celebs from all over the world buy houses in these islands as vacation homes.

christine

Sounds good to me :wink2:

Kay x

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Just an aside, but was talking to a collegue who worked in the US last year - I can't believe they only get two weeks annual leave a year!!!! I don't know if my body could cope with going from 28 days off to 14, lol :)

that depends on where you work. If you work for the private sector, I could well believe that, I think most start out at 2 weeks annual leave, and as you gain seniority you gain more leave. If you work for a military or Veteran's Affairs hospital/clinic it's a different story, a RN will get 26 days of annual leave, and 13 days of sick leave a year. You are paid every two weeks and you accrue 8 hours AL and 4 hours SL per pay period. But to work at a military/VA hospital you have to jump some hoops, a lot of paperwork and a lot of hassle just to get hired. Also, patient to nurse ratio is higher than in the private sector.

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

I have some very important questions to ask the UK nurses who have emigrated to the US.

1. Do you intend to stay in US and try to become an US citizen or do you intend to return to UK one day?

2. Is the quality of life better out there than in UK?

3. As an NHS nurse I get 8 weeks holidays and the full sickness package here in UK. I know when I live in US I wont get any of this at least for the first 20 months. Will i struggle with lack of holidays or more to the point have you struggled?

4. Is there such an insurance as critical illness so if you go off sick your bills are paid?

5. Is the banking system as difficult as it seems and do you all get paid by cheque?

Sorry lots of questions but very important ones for me.

Kay

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
I have some very important questions to ask the UK nurses who have emigrated to the US.

1. Do you intend to stay in US and try to become an US citizen or do you intend to return to UK one day?

2. Is the quality of life better out there than in UK?

3. As an NHS nurse I get 8 weeks holidays and the full sickness package here in UK. I know when I live in US I wont get any of this at least for the first 20 months. Will i struggle with lack of holidays or more to the point have you struggled?

4. Is there such an insurance as critical illness so if you go off sick your bills are paid?

5. Is the banking system as difficult as it seems and do you all get paid by cheque?

Sorry lots of questions but very important ones for me.

Kay

good questions kay and myself can't wait to read some of the answers

(ps are you always out or just don't want to speak to me when I ring :bluecry1: )

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