US Nurse moving to UK

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Hi everyone, hope you are doing well. I am a US citizen graduated from nursing school on 2019 and since then I have been in ICU, I planning to move to UK in this Summer 2021. My NMC application is in process, all papers were submitted except of OSCE Exam. for a month now I have been applying for jobs on NHS jobs website with no answer, also I applied though some agencies and they receive the CV and then the don't keep me updated with my application. 

I would like to ask for a contact for a good agency? 

I also was thinking to book for OSCE course in UK and travel there and get my NMC PIN and apply for jobs while I am there. any advice.

Thank you

Specializes in ICU Nurse.

I have ADN, make sure to ask them about experience before you start the NMC application process

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Specializes in Cardiac/Telemetry/Covid19.

Thank you so much for your reply Ahmad. Best of Luck to you! Sincerely appreciate your response and advice. Could you please let me know if the agencies offered any assistance with relocation? 

Thank you ?

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Specializes in ICU Nurse.

Non of the agencies offer any assistance, but most of hospital if not all offer assistance like air flight ticket up to certain amount, paid OSCE exam, accommodation for few months when arrive. 

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Specializes in OR.

I started w Continental nurses which they will place you in a A hospital and I believe provide accommodation and flight assistance but in lieu of having a lower salary.

 

but I did not end up going with Continental nurses and did everything directly with hospital . So I went ahead and paid for everything myself and got A flat mate and was able to negotiate for a higher salary with my 10 years experience. 

I'm also able to write off all this with my US taxes since it is for work

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Specializes in Cardiac/Telemetry/Covid19.
7 hours ago, Ahmad Hadi said:

Non of the agencies offer any assistance, but most of hospital if not all offer assistance like air flight ticket up to certain amount, paid OSCE exam, accommodation for few months when arrive. 

Okay thank you, that's great! I will begin my application process in the next couple of months. Will def look at both agencies and NHS. Best of luck and thank you.

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Specializes in Cardiac/Telemetry/Covid19.
3 hours ago, tdbRN said:

I started w Continental nurses which they will place you in a A hospital and I believe provide accommodation and flight assistance but in lieu of having a lower salary.

 

but I did not end up going with Continental nurses and did everything directly with hospital . So I went ahead and paid for everything myself and got A flat mate and was able to negotiate for a higher salary with my 10 years experience. 

I'm also able to write off all this with my US taxes since it is for work

Thank you for this advice! Writing it off is a golden idea! I looked into Continental, but they never respond. It seems their rates are higher than direct NHS at times, hence I understand the negotiation tactics. Were you able to get the Trust you wanted? Are you still there? Thank you ?

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Specializes in ICU Nurse.

That’s true if you want to be a travel nurse, I was applying for a permanent position for NHS hospitals. I don’t know much about travel nurse agencies.

For permanent position at NHS hospitals, the same agency can offer different benefit packages based on the hospital offered benefit.

you can apply directly to any NHS hospital, I preferred to go through agency and use my time to pick up extra shifts. They will do everything for you.

Also I preferred that hospital pays for the relocations instead of writing it off with US tax, do the calculations and compare with the benefits.

NHS pays are lower than privet hospitals, they have the band system and every band has a range of minimum and maximum, you can’t go above maximum regardless how many years of experience. 

Good luck 

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Specializes in Cardiac/Telemetry/Covid19.

Thank you so much for this informed advice. I will certainly do my research before I make the decision. I love the NHS and do aim to work for them on a permanent basis. Can't beat the NHS benefits! 

Are you already set to take the OSCE yet or will you get some training first? 

Thanks again for all your advice ? 

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Specializes in ICU Nurse.

not yet the hospital will arrange that, they will train us and set the exam date, I don't have much info on OSCE yet.

for the CBT I registered with ONT course, it helped a lot, 1 month of study and I was working full time, it cost me around 60 pounds

https://ontuk.co.uk

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Specializes in Cardiac/Telemetry/Covid19.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!! I'll definitely use the website as my resource to prepare. Good luck with everything and thank you again for all your help. Enjoy London.

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Specializes in Cardiac/Telemetry/Covid19.

Hello Ahmad, 

Hope you've been well.  Can you please provide an update as to the process/NHS/your role thus far? 

Thank you.

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.

Hi all, 

I am just starting the process of applying for a nursing license in the UK. I just submitted my NMC application today. I was just wondering if anyone could share their timeline if they've applied recently as well as experience for anyone currently living and working in London!

 

Thanks! I look forward to hearing from you. 

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