US RN moving to London UK

kaitfinder, BSN, RN · Aug 15, 2020

Oh boy it sounds like there's a bit of misinformation you've been given??

I moved to the UK from the US January 2019. When I moved, I had been a nurse for 2 years working in ED. I now currently work in an ED in the south of England.

Currently, my monthly UK paycheck after tax is just over £1800. I am on the lower end of the Band 5 payscale. It goes up significantly more if I work nights, bank holidays, or weekends, but I hate nights and work at least one day out of every weekend. This equates to roughly $2400/month. My rent, living just outside Oxford (which is extremely high cost of living, almost as much as London, but we do not get a pay increase like London does) is £500/month. I have a car which I purchased on arrival and including insurance was £1400. I have not had an issue in the year and a half I've had it. I cannot take the bus as it doesn't service my village during my work hours, so gas costs about £45 to fill up, roughly once a month. Healthcare tax comes out of your paycheck and thus no further money is put towards health. Groceries between me and my partner (who eats so much more than I do) costs roughly £150/month, so about £70. I also shop at a nicer grocery store because of quality etc. but cheaper stores have higher food quality than cheap American grocery stores as a result of higher expectations and food practices in the UK.

In America, I worked in a smaller A&E just outside the perimeter of Atlanta, GA and was paid roughly $1500 bi-monthly iirc (online banking is down at the moment so can't double check). When I calculated my potential pay back when I first moved, I currently make about $12000 less than I did in America. HOWEVER. As I was under 25 years old, I was under my parent's health insurance and thus didn't have to pay, as well as already owning a car that was paid off. My rent in an apartment in America was roughly $900/month including utilities. My commute was the same as it is in the UK, about 25 minutes, but I also had to drive far to do anything or go anywhere, whereas everything in the UK is nearby or can tkae a bus to. Gas was roughly $60 to fill up and almost bi-monthly.

About the band system: I don't like it on principle, but roughly, at my trust, at the top of my band's payscale, I can make about £2100/monthly after tax, which is roughly $2700. More experienced nurses can apply to be a band 6 (read: charge nurse responsibilities) which can make anywhere from $2800 to $3800/month. This is for working DAY SHIFTS ONLY, no weekends or bank holidays. If you work all nights (3-4 shifts weekly) weekdays (no weekends or bank holidays) you stand to make roughly $6100/month at the upper limit of the band 6 payscale. If you work regular nights and weekends etc pay will increase accordingly. Further, if you work bank shifts (you pick up extra shifts that other wards or your own ward advertize) you are paid £20/hr ish as opposed to £12.74/hr (for the lowest end of band 5 payscale). If you work float pool shifts (you submit your availability and they call you and tell you night before or day of what unit you are to go to) you will get £28.62/hr (numbers for my trust only).

You also get 7 weeks Paid Time Off (vacation days) which is markedly increased from the 2 weeks I had in America which was standard regardless of your experience level or otherwise. This number increases based on how much time you spend here. Pension is also fairly good (can't quote numbers for this at this time, apologies) and general social services (cost and quality of education for all ages/levels, public services like road repair, and general care about the population) are significantly better in the UK compared to America. If you plan on having children, you will save an infinite amount of money on education alone if they choose to go through higher education. For reference, before scholarships in America, my dual-degree 5 year bachelor's nursing program would have cost roughly $260,000 not including room/board, books, etc. There are also good savings programs for buying houses, and houses can be quite cheap depending on where you are looking (in the north you could buy a moderate sized house for as cheap as £100,000 give or take).

You get less pay, at the exchange of more free time and vacation time, better worker's rights, better general civil protections, cheaper cost of education, etc. It has been such a relief to live in a country that expresses a sense of public and personal responsibility to maintain ethical treatment of others, if that makes sense. In America I was getting run over by managers, businesses, government, etc. Here, not so much.

I was afraid that I would not have enough to save, but it is not as difficult as I expected to be able to do so. The culture is different, and this has affected my spending and saving practices.

I cannot speak for the pay of NPs or doctors as I am not one. You will always get paid more privately than via public, however my preferred specialty (ED) is not offered in a private service.

rajan2 · Aug 30, 2020

Hello Nurses. I am so excited and motivated to hear about your experiences!

I was invited to take my CBT and begin the application process. My experience is in postpartum and mental health, so I will be taking the CBT for mental health. I am a lactation counselor and about to sit my IBCLC exam (which is recognized in the UK). I am also in NP mental health school, but I will address that qualification with the NMC after CBT & OSCE.

I hope to be a Perinatal mental health consultant in the UK at some point (depending on how long I stay there).

1) Apart from transcripts, did you have to provide documentation of clinical hours earned from your nursing school?

2) Has anyone taken the mental health CBT by itself, or did everyone complete the Adult nursing?

3) Is anyone working in mental health in the UK can give some ideas on "good" places to work? I started the process without an agency. If I have to use one, then I will, eventually.

4) Did anyone pay for mock exams for CBT or just use the "Royal" book?

5) What is the average for a flat mate, do you have to share bathroom? Has anyone rented like a studio that was reasonable or rented where they did not have to share bathroom?

My goal is to save as much as I can, travel, and enjoy cultures.

Thank you. Stay safe.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Aug 30, 2020

Cost of living like rental, sharing with people will all depend on where in the UK you plan on living. @rajan2

many just use the Royal Marsden book

C. Southern, ADN, ASN · Aug 31, 2020

Hello Everyone!

Just a small update. I take my OSCE in 3 weeks in Oxford, a little nervous about it but from what I can tell, it looks very easy and self explanatory. A nurse here told me to not over think it, as in the States we are expected to do and know a lot more than the nurses here, critical thinking wise...

I have also been offered a job at the HMP Birmingham (which is the Prison) but they have offered to pay my registration fees and have offered me the job before I even qualify. It is a post called Band 4 Transition Practitioner, in which, effectively they hire a person prior to qualifying with the NMC and you are just under the supervision of one of their RNs in the mean time. I would suggest looking at NHS jobs and searching terms like Newly Qualified Nurses, Transition Practitioner, or Pre-Registration Nurses if you arent choosing to go with an agency (I chose not to).

I live here in the UK already and work within the NHS so this is how I figured this part out. Generally, while you may not be newly qualified (like me I have 6 years experience including in an ICU) but to the NHS you ARE new and will start at the lowest banding. I also don't agree with the whole idea of banding, I think it is a bit crass and people gauge their self-work at work based on their band, but this is how it is within the NHS.

Any tips or suggestions from those who have taken the OSCE would be greatly appreciated!

C. Southern, ADN, ASN · Aug 31, 2020

On 6/26/2020 at 8:27 PM, alainamarieowens said:

alainamarieowens

Hi Alaina,

Thanks for all your tips, these are MUCH appreciated. I am also doing this off my own back as well, and it can be a bit overwhelming with the wealth (or lack thereof) information out there. I think the script idea is wonderful I will definitely give that a try. I am taking mine at Oxford, and they have provided a ton of information to study with. What did you wear to your appointment, as far as a uniform?

Any other tips? I have 3 weeks to go?

Thanks!

C. Southern, ADN, ASN · Sep 8, 2020

On 5/13/2019 at 9:19 PM, 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 IM 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?

Hi,

I have my OSCE in Oxford in less than 2 weeks. I have just been studying the prep materials they give us on Moodle as well as supplementary information from the Royal Marsden and other online sources like Asthma UK, BNF, etc.

I am starting to get a bit worried because it seems deceivingly easy. It just seems very much based on hitting all the marks on their grading criteria. Would you say it is possible to over prep? I have been doing an 1-2 hours about 4 times a week for the last two weeks and I have 2 weeks to go yet.

Any clarification would be wonderful!

Thank you,

Cayaana

Iloveogurachicken · Sep 16, 2020

On 6/30/2020 at 8:34 PM, heyred823 said:

Hey all,

I just wanted to give an update, especially in case others who find this thread are in the same boat...

An accelerated BSN (mine was a year/3 terms in length) is eligible for application to the register...I submitted my license and qualification info for the first check, the Eligibility and Qualification Evaluation. I got an email today saying I'm eligible and I can now take the CBT, OSCE, then complete my registration application!

Thanks again to everyone contributing on this thread, it's so helpful! Now to study for the CBT and find a job. ?

Ahh, I’m so happy to hear this. Congratulations! I am currently in the middle of applying to ABSNs and hope to work in the UK someday. I’m glad they will accept. I also wonder if they might accept new grads. It would be awesome to be able to go to the UK straight away if I could!

Littlebutterfly · Sep 26, 2020

So I am currently looking into transferring over to the UK if I can but I have a couple of questions first on how it works. Has any one tried doing it with kids and if so has anyone had to try and do anything with custody because of it? How does housing work? Do you have to have a place lined up before you even move there? What are some agencies you recommend?

C. Southern, ADN, ASN · Sep 26, 2020

Hi everyone!

I took my OSCE on Monday and got my pass results on Thursday! So happy. Now I am just going to finish up some of the registration paper work and submit my application.

Thanks for all your help and tips! I found Youtube to be the most helpful to be honest...in conjuction with the materials they give you once you book a test and the Royal Marsden.

It was nerve wracking and I for sure thought I failed it...but the ladies were super nice at Oxford Brookes and made me feel as welcomed and comfortable as possible.

Hope this helps!

Cayaana

Bethany Imsland · Sep 30, 2020

After reading through this whole thread, the question that I have is, how does the salary for nursing compare to other sectors which don’t require preparation? Like, fast food workers. Or grocery store workers. What is minimum wage in the UK? I’m stunned by the low wages offered to nurses there. How is it that rent is so low ($550??) when the cost of living is very high? Rent is accounted for in cost of living equations, so that isn’t quite adding up for me unless I’m just missing something. I’m just now applying to nursing school, and am definitely interested in living in the UK for at least a few years. Thanks for any input!

Silverdragon102, BSN · Sep 30, 2020

3 hours ago, Bethany Imsland said:

After reading through this whole thread, the question that I have is, how does the salary for nursing compare to other sectors which don’t require preparation? Like, fast food workers. Or grocery store workers. What is minimum wage in the UK? I’m stunned by the low wages offered to nurses there. How is it that rent is so low ($550??) when the cost of living is very high? Rent is accounted for in cost of living equations, so that isn’t quite adding up for me unless I’m just missing something. I’m just now applying to nursing school, and am definitely interested in living in the UK for at least a few years. Thanks for any input!

Like anything else you manage with what you can get. You may only be able to afford rent in a less than desirable location. Minimum wage in the UK is £8.72 an hour for over age 25 which roughly equates to $11.18 US, the US I see has a minimum wage roughly $7.25

You could always Google wage comparisons to compare.

Many years ago as a single person I was able to afford a mortgage and have a terraced house in a small town but did need a car to commute to work as bus times didn’t work

invalidcharacters · Sep 30, 2020

8 hours ago, Bethany Imsland said:

After reading through this whole thread, the question that I have is, how does the salary for nursing compare to other sectors which don’t require preparation? Like, fast food workers. Or grocery store workers. What is minimum wage in the UK? I’m stunned by the low wages offered to nurses there. How is it that rent is so low ($550??) when the cost of living is very high? Rent is accounted for in cost of living equations, so that isn’t quite adding up for me unless I’m just missing something. I’m just now applying to nursing school, and am definitely interested in living in the UK for at least a few years. Thanks for any input!

I have been following this thread too... the nurses who have moved to the UK seem to be trying to convince *themselves* that is was a good choice. If you access your intuition, you will find that it is not a good idea. First, the pay is dismal. Second, you lose the benefit of however much experience you have. Third, you lose your connections. Fourth, the cost of living *is* higher in the UK than the US. Really read this threads. People talking about ... you'll have to start at a lower band despite your experience... you'll make 1800 monthly... you'll have to public transportation... you'll have to work night shift and weekends...no thanks. The US may be devolving but I didn't go to nursing school and work my fingers to the bone for the past eight and a half years to start over as a new grad, get paid 1800 per month, and live in a bad part of town. Maybe if I *was* a new grad, it wouldn't be so bad. But I'm not.