US RN moving to London UK

kaitfinder, BSN, RN · Apr 26, 2020

Hey! No problem.

I looked into another one or two agencies but ultimately I went with this agency because it seemed competent and also worked with the hospital I wanted to work at specifically, and they were the only agency I found that did so. Definitely be thorough in your research of agencies, though. Jordannecc makes a good point, that you will be under contract if you go through an agency. My contract is for 3 years at my current hospital. But that's alright for me because I'm not interested in working for another hospital and I need to stay in this area to be with my partner (which is a big reason why I moved haha). It's up to you, though! I'd definitely recommend not moving hospitals sooner than 2 years though because you need to get adjusted to things, and the time goes fast. You can always change departments if you get frustrated.

I don't know what a "standard" UK resume looks like; I had my updated "american" resume that I modified at their request. They asked me to list out ALL of my skills and ALL of my work sites and a few other really very detailed bits that made my resume almost 11 pages long (they sent me a sample "good" resume from another applicant as example). But I would not say this is the norm or something you should do unless it is asked for specifically. I think this was their way of determining how qualified international applicants are, because schools/programs/international hospitals may not have the same standards. Make your resume updated to the usual standard for any job position and then update as they request.

The CBT was not hard but was fairly stressful just because I didn't know exactly how to prepare for it (there is little information and almost no prep books like there are for NCLEX) and I was on a timetable. There are also 10 (I think?) KEY questions and if you get any of those wrong, you fail the exam. They don't tell you which ones they are, but it's safe to say they involve patient safety and critical things that I suspect would be difficult to miss if you are a competent american nurse. I used the Royal Marsden Manual of Clinical Nursing Procedures (for Students) to help study for both CBT and OSCE. Brush up on your med calculation questions (also you will NOT be allowed to use a calculator) and make sure you know how to calculate drip rate. I studied for about a month because I had a lot to lose if I failed. But I'd say a month of leisurely (but regular) studying would be sufficient. If you did well on the NCLEX, you'll likely do well on the CBT.

@yamilet

Hey! I'm glad to help, there wasn't much information (or anything that wasn't 10 years old) for me when I was applying so I'm happy to provide what I went through. Oxford is good actually! The weather has been nice and we're holding our own with COVID 19, so not to worry. Feel free to ask any other questions you may have!

hypnotizer90, BSN, RN · May 4, 2020

@kaitfinder & the responders. Very good content, thanks. I'm Canadian and currently just started my career as RN in the US. I have 4 active RN licenses/ registration (CAN & USA) because I got excited after graduating last year ?. I also went to 3 schools in CAN so definitely a hassle.

I'm gonna be here in the US until 2022 but I thought of UK/ Australia as my next destination. I feel like the UK is a better option since travelling really is part of that plan. 3 years is going to be fast and I wanna think about my future.

With the currency exchange rate, it's a bonus that I'm get something from working in the US. Maine has medium cost of living and OK starting pay rate ~56k/year.

I googled Band 5 NHS wage and it is ~ 24k - 30k pounds/ year. Do you know if this is enough to pay rent and bills in a smaller city there?

Silverdragon102, BSN · May 4, 2020

Lots of UK nurses survive on that money. I did when I trained and when I worked in the Uk and managed a mortgage and did so for 20 years before I met my husband

kaitfinder, BSN, RN · May 7, 2020

@hypnotizer90

Yes that's accurate pay for a starting nurse Band 5 and yes you can easily make enough to pay rent/bills and save. You won't make as much (as you can see) as USA or Canada however you don't have to pay for health insurance (this comes out of your pay as tax) and I've found various other little things don't cost as much either (if you use public transportation or walk, you'll save a lot by not having a car). One of my Australian coworkers came over with the intent of not saving very much so she could use the proximity to Europe to travel, so if that's your plan (stay for only 3 years and then go back to Canada/America), it's definitely feasible, especially if you have a roommate.

Vivian Yue · May 18, 2020

On 5/14/2019 at 4:19 AM, kaitfinder said:
Heyoo
I'm a US RN just moved to the UK in January and been working as an RN since that time as well.
Studying advice for CBT:
Get the Royal Marsden Manual of Nursing Procedures textbook. That will help you loads with both CBT and OSCE. CBT is not as difficult as NCLEX by any means, but you do need to pay attention. Brush up on your med calculation and get used to doing them without a calculator because you won't be provided with one. Also look up how to manually calculate drip rate as that is not something we do at all in the US and is something you will do frequently in the UK. I had a few questions about it on my CBT. CBT is mostly patient safety and safeguarding rather then pathophysiology and complex pharmacology questions. You will have plenty of time to take the test so don't stress from that perspective.
OSCE:
Same. Royal Marsden Manual of Nursing Procedures textbook. Most hospitals though, as far as I can tell, will have an OSCE prep course they'll force you through. Definitely ask if they do this when you interview for positions but most hospitals will provide a training course and practice for OSCE as you are a huge investment and they want you to pass. OSCE is frustrating and challenging only for pedantic reasons. It is a practical exam and will have you demonstrate compentency in certain skills (like giving an I'm or subcu injection) and also a writing section where you have to write a care plan. You don't write care plans in nursing in the UK though???
In any case I wouldn't worry about OSCE until you have a job offer and pass the CBT as you can't prepare for OSCE really. My hospital ran us through a roughly 2week course with 2 weeks of studying after to prep for it and I passed both CBT and OSCE on the first try.
When are you due to take your CBT and do you have a job offer in the UK yet?

Dear Kaitlyn,

Seeing your post, may I ask a simple question? Do you think a 1 year's Accelerated BSN obtained from the US will be accepted by NMC? Or qualify me to an Band 5 RN exam in the UK? Because it is just 1 year. Thank you a lot！

Silverdragon102, BSN · May 18, 2020

5 hours ago, Vivian Yue said:
Dear Kaitlyn,
Seeing your post, may I ask a simple question? Do you think a 1 year's Accelerated BSN obtained from the US will be accepted by NMC? Or qualify me to an Band 5 RN exam in the UK? Because it is just 1 year. Thank you a lot！

What are you currently? RN or LPN

Vivian Yue · May 18, 2020

8 minutes ago, Silverdragon102 said:
What are you currently? RN or LPN

Hi, suppose I am an RN in the US. Is an Accelerated Bachelor of nursing recognized by the UK? Because I’m just about to study for an Accelerated Bachelor of Nursing in the US. UK does not seem to have Accelerated BSN program. Thank you a lot.

Silverdragon102, BSN · May 18, 2020

2 hours ago, Vivian Yue said:
Hi, suppose I am an RN in the US. Is an Accelerated Bachelor of nursing recognized by the UK? Because I’m just about to study for an Accelerated Bachelor of Nursing in the US. UK does not seem to have Accelerated BSN program. Thank you a lot.

Things are always changing with the NMC. Suggest checking their website out for requirements but a lot does depend or did depend on transcripts and what clinical and theory hours you have on there

Vivian Yue · May 18, 2020

2 minutes ago, Silverdragon102 said:
Things are always changing with the NMC. Suggest checking their website out for requirements but a lot does depend or did depend on transcripts and what clinical and theory hours you have on there

Oh thank u! I checked and still got confused with their 3 year’s length of education requirements. I asked the US schools, their Accelerated BSN would include 500 to 650 clinical hours. If it’s still not recognized, I would rather regard it as fate!

heyred823, BSN, RN · May 19, 2020

14 hours ago, Vivian Yue said:
Oh thank u! I checked and still got confused with their 3 year’s length of education requirements. I asked the US schools, their Accelerated BSN would include 500 to 650 clinical hours. If it’s still not recognized, I would rather regard it as fate!

Hey @Vivian Yue !

I just went looking for this PDF booklet that NMC had on registering if you trained outside the EU/EEA, but I can’t seem to find it...I remember around the time they took away the requirement to have 1 year of experience in your home country, they changed the wording of the 3-year degree requirement to something like “3-year blah blah or equivalent that would lead to registration in the home country” or something like that.

Now the website says:

“We need to know that your qualification will or has allowed you to register in the country you trained in.

The easiest way to show this is to provide evidence you registered using your qualification in your country of training.

If you do not hold a qualification that meets this eligibility criteria, we won’t be able to consider your application and it will be closed.

We’ll also use the information you provide about your qualification to determine whether it is comparable to a qualification we’d approve. If it isn’t, but you meet our eligibility criteria, we’ll ask you to take the test of competence.” https://www.nmc.org.uk/registration/joining-the-register/register-nurse-midwife/trained-outside-the-eueea/new-application/how-to-guide/eligibility-and-qualification-application/qualification-and-registration/

This would lead me to believe that an accelerated BSN would qualify, but! I’ll be trying to register within the next year and I have an accelerated BSN, so I can report back on how it goes. :)

C. Southern, ADN, ASN · May 19, 2020

Quote

@kaitfinder Thank you for all this information! I, too, live in the UK. I have been here for 2 years now with my husband. I have found it an enormous struggle to figure out the NMC I.e. Brexit and all the changes that have been made to their process for international nurses. That combined with other things, I had not started my registration process until recently. I take my test in June. I am a bit dismayed that I wasn’t as quick to understand and complete the process as you have been. There was not as much clarity for sure, but I really thank you for sharing your knowledge with all of us! I have been working in the NHS in Birmingham for 6 months now as an Infection Prevention and Control Assistant. My background is in the ICU and Med/Surge nursing though and I am so eager to get back to this kind of nursing. The UK’s system, while similar in principle to the USA, had a large learning curve. I appreciate both for the good that they bring separately to their communities.

I am really nervous about taking the CBT, but from all I have heard, and read, even on your own posts, I know it shouldn’t be too difficult. I need to brush up on my labs and med calculations though. Would you recommend anything for diagnostic values? The OSCE, weirdly, doesn’t seem to worry me too much. How was it compared to like skills test or check offs that you experience in nursing school?

Again, I REALLY appreciate your insight on this matter. I wish I could be in your shoes! How are you liking the UK? The summers here, when it is sunny, are the best!

-Cayaana

Vivian Yue · May 19, 2020

9 hours ago, heyred823 said:
Hey @Vivian Yue !
I just went looking for this PDF booklet that NMC had on registering if you trained outside the EU/EEA, but I can’t seem to find it...I remember around the time they took away the requirement to have 1 year of experience in your home country, they changed the wording of the 3-year degree requirement to something like “3-year blah blah or equivalent that would lead to registration in the home country” or something like that.

Now the website says:
“We need to know that your qualification will or has allowed you to register in the country you trained in.
The easiest way to show this is to provide evidence you registered using your qualification in your country of training.
If you do not hold a qualification that meets this eligibility criteria, we won’t be able to consider your application and it will be closed.
We’ll also use the information you provide about your qualification to determine whether it is comparable to a qualification we’d approve. If it isn’t, but you meet our eligibility criteria, we’ll ask you to take the test of competence.” https://www.nmc.org.uk/registration/joining-the-register/register-nurse-midwife/trained-outside-the-eueea/new-application/how-to-guide/eligibility-and-qualification-application/qualification-and-registration/
This would lead me to believe that an accelerated BSN would qualify, but! I’ll be trying to register within the next year and I have an accelerated BSN, so I can report back on how it goes. ?

Oh you are such a kind person providing so many details. I do appreciate your help. Are you currently studying an Accelerated BSN in the US and planning on to move to the UK? Your information just gives me all kinds of hope and encouragement! I already hold a Bachelor and Master degree in a non-nursing field and the only choice is to study an Accelerated BSN. I even cannot wait to see that you are already registered with the UK. Hahah