US RN moving to London UK

kaitfinder, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2020

Hello!

Yes, I did have a Skype interview. You probably won't even need to ask for one, they'll likely just offer it to you. The interview itself went very well and standard to any other interview I've had as a nurse in the US. It was formal but relaxed, I met with the nurse head of international nurses and I think one of the nurses in charge of a few departments in the hospital including A&E. Who you meet with will likely vary, though you can be certain they'll be a higher-up.

They ask all of the basic questions you might expect in an interview for a nursing position. Patient centered care is very big and heavily emphasized in the UK so make sure you prep responses to questions such as, "talk about a time when you showed patient centered care," etc. as well as all of the usual questions like strengths/weaknesses, disagreements, problems, etc. etc. It's a standard interview.

You don't have to ask questions in an interview however I think it is valuable insight for the interviewers because it expresses your enthusiasm and interest in the position. I asked questions like size of the department (how many beds), level of acuity seen there, common health problems of the population the hospital serviced, etc. but ask whatever questions you'd think would help you make a decision if you were offered the position between this place and another A&E. What would make or break working at this department for you? Yadda yadda.

heyred823, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2020

@Apandriano and @KDRN1212

Hi! Would you mind if I ask if you went through an agency to find jobs or did you go through the hospital directly? If you went through an agency, would you be comfortable sharing which one?

@yamilet

Where are you now in your journey? (I hope you've been successful!)

@kaitfinder

Thanks SO MUCH for all of your responses/help to everyone! I'm from the US and lived in the UK from 2010-2012 on a student visa. My best friend who went with me ended up marrying a lovely Brit and I've gone back over to visit them for weeks at a time every year since. I love it there! I'm an oncology/hematology nurse now and had looked into registering/jobs in the UK, but feared it would be impossible until I found this thread. Again, thank you!

app22 · Apr 17, 2020

14 hours ago, kaitfinder said:
@Apandriano
Hello!
Yes, I did have a Skype interview. You probably won't even need to ask for one, they'll likely just offer it to you. The interview itself went very well and standard to any other interview I've had as a nurse in the US. It was formal but relaxed, I met with the nurse head of international nurses and I think one of the nurses in charge of a few departments in the hospital including A&E. Who you meet with will likely vary, though you can be certain they'll be a higher-up.
They ask all of the basic questions you might expect in an interview for a nursing position. Patient centered care is very big and heavily emphasized in the UK so make sure you prep responses to questions such as, "talk about a time when you showed patient centered care," etc. as well as all of the usual questions like strengths/weaknesses, disagreements, problems, etc. etc. It's a standard interview.
You don't have to ask questions in an interview however I think it is valuable insight for the interviewers because it expresses your enthusiasm and interest in the position. I asked questions like size of the department (how many beds), level of acuity seen there, common health problems of the population the hospital serviced, etc. but ask whatever questions you'd think would help you make a decision if you were offered the position between this place and another A&E. What would make or break working at this department for you? Yadda yadda.

Thanks so much! I think I'm just overly nervous because I want it to go well LOL. I'll for sure write some quick thoughts down beforehand.

app22 · Apr 17, 2020

11 minutes ago, heyred823 said:
@Apandriano and @KDRN1212
Hi! Would you mind if I ask if you went through an agency to find jobs or did you go through the hospital directly? If you went through an agency, would you be comfortable sharing which one?

I went through the NHS website. Many people have had great experiences going through an agency but I wanted to try doing it on my own since I won't need help with my visa since I'll be getting a visa through my husband and his job will pay for it. I also felt like I had done enough research and had found a great facebook group that gives good advice about this process. If I started to have more trouble finding a job then I would definitely have considered an agency though!

heyred823, BSN, RN · Apr 18, 2020

41 minutes ago, Apandriano said:
I went through the NHS website. Many people have had great experiences going through an agency but I wanted to try doing it on my own since I won't need help with my visa since I'll be getting a visa through my husband and his job will pay for it. I also felt like I had done enough research and had found a great facebook group that gives good advice about this process. If I started to have more trouble finding a job then I would definitely have considered an agency though!

@Apandriano

Thank you for your reply! Best of luck to you! Do you think the facebook group you found would be helpful to someone who will need to be sponsored for a visa? If so, would you be willing to tell me which it is? I'm looking for all the great info I can! ?

app22 · Apr 18, 2020

51 minutes ago, heyred823 said:
@Apandriano
Thank you for your reply! Best of luck to you! Do you think the facebook group you found would be helpful to someone who will need to be sponsored for a visa? If so, would you be willing to tell me which it is? I'm looking for all the great info I can! ?

Thank you! Yes of course, this group is amazing, everyone is so nice and very helpful! If you just search for Overseas nursing in the UK NMC/OSCE it should come up!

app22 · Apr 18, 2020

53 minutes ago, heyred823 said:
@Apandriano
Thank you for your reply! Best of luck to you! Do you think the facebook group you found would be helpful to someone who will need to be sponsored for a visa? If so, would you be willing to tell me which it is? I'm looking for all the great info I can! ?

I tried posting a link but I'm not sure maybe we are not allowed to post links here? It said someone had to approve it...anyway if you search on fb Overseas nursing in the UK NMC/OSCE it should come up!

kaitfinder, BSN, RN · Apr 18, 2020

@app22 don't stress! It's an interview but there will be many opportunities if it doesn't go well. Best of luck!

@heyred823 It's no problem! When I was going through this there was no recent information, all of it was several years old at best or from non-American nurses. If you have any questions, feel free to ask! I see you're going to apply straight to the NHS, but if you decide to go the agency route, let me know! I'm happy to provide tips on agencies, visas, and NMC registration.

heyred823, BSN, RN · Apr 20, 2020

On 4/18/2020 at 8:06 AM, kaitfinder said:
@app22 don't stress! It's an interview but there will be many opportunities if it doesn't go well. Best of luck!
@heyred823 It's no problem! When I was going through this there was no recent information, all of it was several years old at best or from non-American nurses. If you have any questions, feel free to ask! I see you're going to apply straight to the NHS, but if you decide to go the agency route, let me know! I'm happy to provide tips on agencies, visas, and NMC registration.

@kaitfinder

Thank you so much! I plan on applying directly just to one hospital because I know a friend of a friend who is a doctor there, but other than that, I am definitely open to agencies! I have checked out the one you previously mentioned in this thread, Neu Professionals, and plan on checking back frequently with them for oncology positions.

Do you have any other recommendations for agencies? Did you make any changes to your resume to fit a more-UK/CV format or did that really matter all that much? How hard was the CBT and how much did you study for it?

Feel free to email me if you prefer! : [email protected]

-Sara

jordanecc311 · Apr 22, 2020

On ‎4‎/‎20‎/‎2020 at 6:49 PM, heyred823 said:
@kaitfinder
Thank you so much! I plan on applying directly just to one hospital because I know a friend of a friend who is a doctor there, but other than that, I am definitely open to agencies! I have checked out the one you previously mentioned in this thread, Neu Professionals, and plan on checking back frequently with them for oncology positions.
Do you have any other recommendations for agencies? Did you make any changes to your resume to fit a more-UK/CV format or did that really matter all that much? How hard was the CBT and how much did you study for it?
Feel free to email me if you prefer! : [email protected]
-Sara

Hey!

Sorry, I know this wasn't addressed to me, but I found this forum and loved seeing the helpful replies since I couldn't find anything like this when I went through the process.

I am a nurse from Dallas who's been working for the NHS in London since September 2019. I went through an overseas recruiting agency that I'd absolutely reccomend if you want the name. They were very professional, made the stressful process a lot smoother, and they still check in on me from time to time to see how I am doing here. I was only their 2nd US nurse to recruit. They work mostly with Filipino, Indian, and African nurses and so glad I learned about them because the first agency I tried to work with was very unorganized and unhelpful.

The only downside I can see for working with an agency is contracts. For example, I am under a 3 year contract with the NHS Trust I work for because that's the agreement between the Trust and agency. Not sure how other agencies might be. So a plus side of finding a job yourself would be the freedom of not being under contract. If I wanted to quit or change Trusts before the 3 years, I would owe back the price of the OSCE, my visa, and my one way flight here which was all paid for.

I personally didn't change my resume/CV and it didn't seem to matter.

If you've taken and passed the NCLEX, the CBT is not nearly as much to worry about in my opinion. I studied going through the Royal Marsden manual and basically just looking at and answering the questions at the end of each chapter and taking practice questions where I could find them online. It's set at 120 questions and its ABCD only. Also a LOT of questions at the end of the Royal Marsden manual chapters were in my CBT! Not sure if that happens for others, but it certainly helped me having already seen a lot of the questions.

Best of luck to anyone persuing their NMC registration and licensure! It is a stressful process, but the other side exists!

heyred823, BSN, RN · Apr 22, 2020

@jordanecc311

Thank you so much! No need to be sorry AT. ALL., I will take all of the help I can!

Thank you for reaching out and for your great advice. I would love the name of the agency that you went through if you don't mind. ?

-Sara

yam, BSN, RN · Apr 23, 2020

Hi @jordanecc311 !

I'd love to hear about your experience in London! And the name of the agency which helped you. Are you working in a large hospital and how was the transition/ adjustment?

I have been trying to take the plunge and move to England for a while now, but nerves and now this Pandemic are in the way LOL.

Thanks in advance ?

@kaitfinder, you've answered many of my questions before and have been oh so helpful! Your input continues to be so appreciated and helpful. Hope Oxford is treating you well and things aren't too crazy!