USA trained Nurse registering with UK - NMC

Silverdragon102, BSN · May 20, 2011

Moved to the international forum

babyNP., APRN · May 21, 2011

You should look into if you can practice as a mental health nurse despite being labeled as a general nurse. I've only done NICU as a BSN grad and I've been told and have seen that I can still work in the NICU with a general adult nurse UK license.

Look into the NHS jobs site (http://www.jobs.nhs.uk/) and search for mental health positions and look at the requirements. There are also manager contacts on the positions and you could ask them directly as scenario, although I don't know how many would reply.

I'm hoping to go over in the far future as a neonatal NP--there's no degree program over there for it like we have nor is there even a board for NPs; it's a very new role from what I've read. So, the NMC really doesn't have any jurisidiction on what qualifies a nurse practitioner; it seems more like the manager hiring looks at your credentials and decides if you fit.

From everything I've read, the NMC phone people just read off a script, much like USCIS immigration (a US federal agency). They don't/can't/won't tell you anything beyond what's on the script. Try not to get too frustrated at them: they're just doing their job, but know that you probably won't get detailed answers specific to your situation.

As an aside: how do you plan to get a work permit in the UK? Are you married to a UK/EU citizen or are one yourself? I know it's hard to get one if you're not...

Best of luck! Please keep us updated on your progress as it's invaluable to other reading this :) I'm planning to take the IELTS soon!

15isto2 · May 22, 2011

you should look into if you can practice as a mental health nurse despite being labeled as a general nurse. i've only done nicu as a bsn grad and i've been told and have seen that i can still work in the nicu with a general adult nurse uk license.
look into the nhs jobs site (http://www.jobs.nhs.uk/) and search for mental health positions and look at the requirements. there are also manager contacts on the positions and you could ask them directly as scenario, although i don't know how many would reply.
i'm hoping to go over in the far future as a neonatal np--there's no degree program over there for it like we have nor is there even a board for nps; it's a very new role from what i've read. so, the nmc really doesn't have any jurisidiction on what qualifies a nurse practitioner; it seems more like the manager hiring looks at your credentials and decides if you fit.
from everything i've read, the nmc phone people just read off a script, much like uscis immigration (a us federal agency). they don't/can't/won't tell you anything beyond what's on the script. try not to get too frustrated at them: they're just doing their job, but know that you probably won't get detailed answers specific to your situation.
as an aside: how do you plan to get a work permit in the uk? are you married to a uk/eu citizen or are one yourself? i know it's hard to get one if you're not...
best of luck! please keep us updated on your progress as it's invaluable to other reading this :) i'm planning to take the ielts soon!

a quick google search and i have found three masters courses for neonatal nurse practitioner in the uk, [color=#3e3e40][color=#3e3e40][color=#3e3e40]

courses are offered at the university of salford, university of east anglia and the university of

central lancashire.

babyNP., APRN · May 23, 2011

Right, but here in the U.S. we are transferring practice from masters level to doctoral level. It will be many moons, I imagine, before all universities change (the cut-off date is supposedly 2015, but I don't think it will reach it quite then). I haven't found any doctoral level NNP degree courses over there nor could I find any board certifications like we have through the NCC. Definitely correct me if I'm wrong--I'd be very curious.

15isto2 · May 23, 2011

Right, but here in the U.S. we are transferring practice from masters level to doctoral level. It will be many moons, I imagine, before all universities change (the cut-off date is supposedly 2015, but I don't think it will reach it quite then). I haven't found any doctoral level NNP degree courses over there nor could I find any board certifications like we have through the NCC. Definitely correct me if I'm wrong--I'd be very curious.

I was correcting you when you said you could not find a degree course as I said a simple google search found three courses, I am unaware of any doctorial course, but as you said you are only moving to that in the US at the moment so it may be difficult to find there and in all honesty I have not bothered to google for the information. You will find board certification difficult to find in the UK as it does not exist.

babyNP., APRN · May 23, 2011

It's actually not difficult to find; it's very common in the US. It's just not "required" just yet. And yes, exactly, there is no board certification in the UK (that I've been able to find), which is why I originally commented on that in the first place to help out the OP in his/her frustration about NP licensure/getting registration with the NMC :)

In my research, I have read that there is something of a push to have a board for NPs though, which would be awesome. I'm actually pretty surprised they haven't had that already considering that NPs are more cost-effective than docs--considering that you have government health care. I can only hope that my country can follow yours and Europe's mode of thinking about health care one of these days...

grebearen · May 23, 2011

Thank you for your responses. I am married to a EU citizen so that has taken care of the work permit. I appreciate that the NMC staff are doing a difficult and important Job, but I think what I have found surprising was how unorganised it all seems. Good luck on the IELTS, it is not particularly difficult. I will keep you updated on my progress.