Wannabe British Nurse Needing Help!

Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP · Apr 16, 2005

Hey everyone!
I'm new here, this is my first post and I was wondering if someone could help me! I'm just about to finish my exams and hopefully go off to study nursing at uni in the u.k but after I've qualified and got some nursing experience I'd love to travel and hopefully come to the u.s, especially Chicago, New York and Las Vegas as I have some family and friends there. Does anybody know if it would be possible to work there with a british nursing qualification? Would I need to take exams or an extra course before I start? I would ultimately like to work in the e.r so could anybody tell me what it's REALLY like and what's expected of you?
I'm so sorry its been a bit long but any help would be REALLY appreciated!!! Thanks so much! xxx :)

Hi there. Congrats on your choice of profession and welcome to the club! I've done exactly what you want to do. I studied and worked in London and now live and work in Connecticut USA. In a nutshell, this is what you need to know. Get your qualification in England...it's easier to get into Uni and cheaper to study in the UK. Once you've qualified you must get some experience on the wards before you even think about coming to the USA. I suggest getting one years experience in general med/surg, and then 1 year in a specialty like ICU. It will be a long haul plan, as the course will probably take you 3 years, and the visa a further 2. As soon as you've qualified, and while you are getting your experience, then apply to join an agency that will bring you to the US. You will need to take the US exam too, but in order to do that you will need to have done the UK one first. As you would have been studying already, you won't find it that hard.

While you are waiting to take the exam and for the visa to be processed you can gain your experience. It will probably take about 2 years to get your visa. Yes, it really does take that long! Some agencies won't accept you without experience, but some will as long as you are already working in the field, because they know it's going to take time to get the visa, by which time you will have the experience. To make yourself marketable and to get paid as much as you can, get into a specialty ASAP. I'm in ICU and it was the best decision I ever made.

Bottom line is, it will take you 5 years to get to the USA. If you think that sounds like too long, or too much work think about this: I will never be unemployed. I can work and travel anywhere in the world. If I work agency I can work 2 days a week and earn more than most people who work 5 days a week. If I do travel nursing I can get all my rent and travel paid for. I have it made. I think you'll look back and be glad you put in the effort. Once you have a specialty under your belt, you are just about the most desirable employee there is. Good luck!

britishwannabenurse · Apr 16, 2005

Thankyou SO much Rocknurse! :) Your advice was really helpful and it sounds like you're in a really good position! For the 2 years I'm getting my experience and waiting for the visa to come through, would working in A&E have the same appeal as working in ICU because ultimately I want to work in the ER in the U.S? Do you also know if some U.S hospitals prefer you to have a Bachelors Degree in Nursing?

Thanks again it's really appreciated! xxx :)

suzanne4, RN · Apr 16, 2005

You will be required to make up courses for US licensure, if you don't have hours in all required subjects. You do not need to have licensure in the UK to be able to sit for the exam in the US. Just a completed transcript but you will need clinical, as well as theory hours in maternal/peds, mental health, and adult.

The US and Canada require that the nurse have a generalist training, while the UK and Australia now have specialist training..............

Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP · Apr 17, 2005

Thankyou SO much Rocknurse! :) Your advice was really helpful and it sounds like you're in a really good position! For the 2 years I'm getting my experience and waiting for the visa to come through, would working in A&E have the same appeal as working in ICU because ultimately I want to work in the ER in the U.S? Do you also know if some U.S hospitals prefer you to have a Bachelors Degree in Nursing?
Thanks again it's really appreciated! xxx :)

No problem. No you do not need to have a Bachelor's Degree to work in the US, you just need to have an RN (pass the NCLEX). You may not need to have UK licensure in order to take the NCLEX, but if you don't have a UK qualification you won't be accepted by a travel agency, who will pay for all your fees, flights and lawyers, and who will get you a job in the US. I strongly suggest you get UK experience or the culture shock may kill you! Things are a little less intense in the UK.

A&E/ER would definitely have appeal as there are probably more vacancies for ER than any other specialty right now. From what I've heard the UK unis are trying to make sure that UK nurses don't go abroad by deliberately missing out some of the required classes so that UK nurses don't fulfil the requirements for the US, but I don't know how true that is. If it's so then you may need to do a few extra classes at the end but it's not a big deal.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Apr 17, 2005

From what I've heard the UK unis are trying to make sure that UK nurses don't go abroad by deliberately missing out some of the required classes so that UK nurses don't fulfil the requirements for the US, but I don't know how true that is. If it's so then you may need to do a few extra classes at the end but it's not a big deal.

nursing has changed over here in the UK and is now more specialised, 18 month foundation (everyone does the same) and then split out to do what ever speciality chosen. I would suggest the OP talks to the uni and arrange to do time with both theory and practical in Paeds, Mental health, Community and Maternal. I am not sure how many hours is required but would suggest trying for approx 75 hours theory and practical in Paeds, maternal and mental health and approx 37 hours community

britishwannabenurse · Apr 17, 2005

Thankyou! :) I'm still a little confused as to how to get the experience in all of the areas I will need to get to the U.S, because for my nursing degree after the foundation period, I was going to specialise in adult nursing as oppose to mental, childrens, disability etc... Does any British trained nurse know how to go about getting extra theory and practical in all the different sectors like mental health, paeds, maternal etc during my degree course? Is it really as easy as just talking to the uni and asking to get this extra experience during my degree course? Will it be possible to do this even if I am supposed to specialising in adult nursing for my course?

Many thanks!!! :) xxx

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2005

Thankyou! :) I'm still a little confused as to how to get the experience in all of the areas I will need to get to the U.S, because for my nursing degree after the foundation period, I was going to specialise in adult nursing as oppose to mental, childrens, disability etc... Does any British trained nurse know how to go about getting extra theory and practical in all the different sectors like mental health, paeds, maternal etc during my degree course? Is it really as easy as just talking to the uni and asking to get this extra experience during my degree course? Will it be possible to do this even if I am supposed to specialising in adult nursing for my course?
Many thanks!!! :) xxx

When are you starting your nursing course? Because I think you need to worry about that before you worry for 3-5 years ahead.

Go onto the UK or international nursing forum and a lot of your questions have already been answered there.

At this moment you dont even know if you are going to enjoy nursing let alone go to US as a nurse.

Sorry if I seem hard but get your first year under your belt and then start investigating.

britishwannabenurse · Apr 17, 2005

I understand what you're saying and I might seem a little ahead of myself (!), but I just want to find out as much as I can about the potential opportunities I can take up, before I jump into anything. In the future, I really want to travel with my work so I'm just trying to find out as much as I can now before I miss out on something during my training that prevents me from doing this.

Thanks! xxx :)

suzanne4, RN · Apr 17, 2005

Let me pass on one more suggestion. There is no reason, absolutely none, especially for a UK nurse, to have to use an agency to go to the US. You can actually get everything done much quicker and contract directly with a hospital as a new grad. For some reason, there seems to be quite a bit of problems popping up with nurses that used agencies in the UK. From them not being there if there is a problem, to any number of problems. And for what reason..............As stated above, get thru your first two years of school, then think of what you want to do...........priorities can change quite a bit............

Good luck with your schooling.................... :balloons:

britishwannabenurse · Apr 17, 2005

Let me pass on one more suggestion. There is no reason, absolutely none, especially for a UK nurse, to have to use an agency to go to the US. You can actually get everything done much quicker and contract directly with a hospital as a new grad. For some reason, there seems to be quite a bit of problems popping up with nurses that used agencies in the UK. From them not being there if there is a problem, to any number of problems. And for what reason..............As stated above, get thru your first two years of school, then think of what you want to do...........priorities can change quite a bit............
Good luck with your schooling.................... :balloons:

Thank you!!! :) xxx

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2005

I understand what you're saying and I might seem a little ahead of myself (!), but I just want to find out as much as I can about the potential opportunities I can take up, before I jump into anything. In the future, I really want to travel with my work so I'm just trying to find out as much as I can now before I miss out on something during my training that prevents me from doing this.
Thanks! xxx :)

You say you are doing the degree, you need to look into what the 3 yrs involves because the course content for the degree differs from the diploma and you may not have to make up the same hours or you may have to make up more.

Have you been accepted on the course for sept yet, or are you waiting for interview?

I interviewed potential candidates for a Uni last year and believe me you dont wanna mention travelling abroad because if the competition is great that could be your downfall. Just a bit of advice.

Can I ask you why you want to be a nurse, is it just to travel?