US RN Looking to Work in UK...With a Twist?

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Hey Ya'll,

I KNOW that this thead has been around FOREVER but hear it goes: I am currently a dialysis nurse and have been here since I graduated: after school I had no in- hospital experience and I could only work in a clinic/ elder care facility :'( Need less to say, I still can not work in a hospital ( a phenomenon know to new graduates as " How do you gain experience in a hospital if the hospital won' t hire me" Blues. Anyhoo, this circle of crazy is driving me to madness and I am ready for a new challenge. Yeah, nurses are not paid as much in the UK; somethings are just more important than money. My question is: can I break away from dialysis into another discipline ? I have other experiences elder care, emergent care, yet dialysis is my specialty.Thanks for reading my post ♡

PS: Continential Travel Nursing is the company that I have decided to work with to sponsor me in the UK...

Specializes in Critical Care/NICU.

Have you looked at agencies for sponsorship. I think trying to find a nhs hospital to sponsor at present may be difficult, the jobs adverts say they do not offer visa sponsorship. The nhs are employing European nurses because they can work in the uk.

But look at agencies and see if they can provide sponsorship and assist you in getting over here. The situation is the same over here like America the hospitals have stopped sponsoring people.

Good luck

Specializes in ER.
Have you looked at agencies for sponsorship. I think trying to find a nhs hospital to sponsor at present may be difficult, the jobs adverts say they do not offer visa sponsorship. The nhs are employing European nurses because they can work in the uk.

But look at agencies and see if they can provide sponsorship and assist you in getting over here. The situation is the same over here like America the hospitals have stopped sponsoring people.

Good luck

I have to agree, sponsorship is going to be hard to find.

We had a decade of 'importing' huge numbers of Filipino nurses, who have largely settled, and now we seem to be closed to foreign nurses from outside the EU.

There are hospitals bringing in nurses from Portugal, and one or two still recruiting in India, but I personally do not know of anything else right now.

Having said that, I'm based in IL at the moment, and only work 2 months a year in the UK, so my information is likely to be out of date.

Specializes in Critical Care/NICU.
I have to agree sponsorship is going to be hard to find. We had a decade of 'importing' huge numbers of Filipino nurses, who have largely settled, and now we seem to be closed to foreign nurses from outside the EU. There are hospitals bringing in nurses from Portugal, and one or two still recruiting in India, but I personally do not know of anything else right now. Having said that, I'm based in IL at the moment, and only work 2 months a year in the UK, so my information is likely to be out of date.[/quote']

You are correct this is still the situation in the UK. Portugal is currently training a lot of nurses (more than is required in Portugal) and these are being picked up by other European countries. It is a lot easier to employ these people because there is no immigration involvement. My hospital just recruited a lot of nurses from Portugal and they are starting in January.

Continental works very similarly to US travel agencies. They'll help you with the process of applying for a UK license and sponsor your visa ( I believe that they will pay half the fees for the visa). They help with housing as well, although you do have to contribute a set amount. The assignments are 13 weeks, so you'll have a few days orientation and then are expected to function independently. From what I understand it's going to be very difficult to switch into a specialty that you don't have experience in.

Keep in mind that the whole process is extremely expensive. You will have to pay for the ONP course and will have to support yourself in the UK without working for the month (or 3??) that you're taking the course. I think you have wait like another month before you officially get your license and can work. Continental was a little vague when I spoke with them about the availability of assignments, but it might be possible to go through the whole process and not land a job on the other end.

I went as far as taking the IELTS, but never finished the licensing application since my sister moved back to the US. There are a few posts on here by people who have gone through the process and I'm sure others can give you more accurrate information.

Specializes in ER.

I think your 'three month' waiting for a license is a little optimistic!

I have Filipino coworkers in London who waited over a year once they completed the ONP, the trusts like to keep them on a band 2/3 to save money so they aren't in any hurry, and the NMC is not exactly the most efficient of organizations . . . . .

Lol! I can say the same about how 'efficient' NMC is nowadays. Anyway, here in the Philiplines, some NHS hospitals still sponsor a work permit.

Hi skylark;

I see that u work between the US and UK. How are u able to do that? I would love to do this myself.

What specialties are needed over there in the UK?

Specializes in ER.

I'm an English RN who also has state licences in the US.

I sat NCLEX a few years ago and got licences for where I live.

I work registry in both countries.

I'm an ER nurse, but I think from what the nursing agencies keep sending me that home health is the growing field, its called District Nursing in England.

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
I'm an English RN who also has state licences in the US.

I sat NCLEX a few years ago and got licences for where I live.

I work registry in both countries.

I'm an ER nurse, but I think from what the nursing agencies keep sending me that home health is the growing field, its called District Nursing in England.

I think they was asking what sort of visa do you have that allows you to work in the US as well as in the UK.

Specializes in ER.

Ok sorry.

I have a UK passport, and as the wife of an American I also have a green card.

I'm afraid I know little of work related visas, but can help a little with info about the ONP, as my Filipino coworkers have all been through it and I have some insight into the system.

Thanks Skylark;

Do u happen to know what specialties there is a need for in the UK?

Any critical care specialties like ICU; NICU; the OR etc?

Also, do you know of any travel agencies that are based in the UK that sponsor American nurses to work in the UK as travel nurses?

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

try this link http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/workingintheuk/shortageoccupationlistnov11.pdf

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