This is a caution to any American nurses thinking about UK nursing. I was admitted to the registry in the UK 3 years ago and hated every minute of it. You will be deskilled beyond belief, bullied, and abused. Nurses here are trained in the Nightengale style - you will spend most of your time making beds, fending off the physical aggressions of patients, and trying to practice what you paid dearly to achieve.
The NHS is greatly strapped right now and will not give anyone who is "overseas trained" a work permit.
My voice is not the only one. The only reason I stay is I am based here to do international emergency relief work elsewhere - and I do not intend to stay on the long term.
I am not aiming personal criticism at individual nurses, but hoping to put some reality into the picture - as I wish someone had done for me when I came here 4 years ago.
Specializes in ICU, midwifery, Nurse Practitioner.
This is a caution to any American nurses thinking about UK nursing. I was admitted to the registry in the UK 3 years ago and hated every minute of it. You will be deskilled beyond belief, bullied, and abused. Nurses here are trained in the Nightengale style - you will spend most of your time making beds, fending off the physical aggressions of patients, and trying to practice what you paid dearly to achieve.
Good grief, where exactly are you in the UK? I've been doing this job nearly 20 years have never personally experienced anything that you are saying.
What do you mean by Nightingale style? If you are making reference to Florence, (if so do get your spelling right) then I for one am proud that I work that way, I care for and respect the wishes of my patients, isn't that what nursing is all about?
As for being deskilled, that is utter tosh. I could say exactly the same about nursing in the US. I, for one, cant use many of the skills I use daily in the UK. Nurse prescribing for one and actually being able to make a descision on patient care without having to get the "order" of an MD is another. I can think of many other skills I'm not allowed to use over there too.
And as for "fending off physical aggressions of patients" I assume you mean you resent actually trying to help and calm them without the use of physical restraints, (which I personally think is absolutly barbaric).
Its OK to vent, but don't try to bring the profession down with your rantings, especially when most of it is pure fantasy.
Thank you all for your comments. It seems that my experienc was really in the tail of the curve. And I appreciate knowing this.. honestly. I am now withdrawing the thread (if I can figure out how!) and I will no longer comment. I did not mean to imply (although it cam across that way) that UK nurses are any less qualified, or any less caring than in other countries. I again apologize deeply for giving that impression. I was very hurt by my experience and feel very sad about it. I only worked in one trust and had just the one experience. I'm sorry to offended - truly.
I know that this thread has upset many of us - me included but can I just point out that JK7777 has apologised and requested that the thread be withdrawn / locked.
Specializes in renal,peritoneal dialysis, medicine.
This is a caution to any American nurses thinking about UK nursing. I was admitted to the registry in the UK 3 years ago and hated every minute of it. You will be deskilled beyond belief, bullied, and abused. Nurses here are trained in the Nightengale style - you will spend most of your time making beds, fending off the physical aggressions of patients, and trying to practice what you paid dearly to achieve.
The NHS is greatly strapped right now and will not give anyone who is "overseas trained" a work permit.
My voice is not the only one. The only reason I stay is I am based here to do international emergency relief work elsewhere - and I do not intend to stay on the long term.
I am not aiming personal criticism at individual nurses, but hoping to put some reality into the picture - as I wish someone had done for me when I came here 4 years ago.
Tanvi Tusti
164 Posts
Good grief, where exactly are you in the UK? I've been doing this job nearly 20 years have never personally experienced anything that you are saying.
What do you mean by Nightingale style? If you are making reference to Florence, (if so do get your spelling right) then I for one am proud that I work that way, I care for and respect the wishes of my patients, isn't that what nursing is all about?
As for being deskilled, that is utter tosh. I could say exactly the same about nursing in the US. I, for one, cant use many of the skills I use daily in the UK. Nurse prescribing for one and actually being able to make a descision on patient care without having to get the "order" of an MD is another. I can think of many other skills I'm not allowed to use over there too.
And as for "fending off physical aggressions of patients" I assume you mean you resent actually trying to help and calm them without the use of physical restraints, (which I personally think is absolutly barbaric).
Its OK to vent, but don't try to bring the profession down with your rantings, especially when most of it is pure fantasy.