What is your life like?

[Steph in Boston]

Hello there,

I am a nurse-to-be, and one of the areas I am interested in is International Nursing. I would love it if you gave me a snippet of your life, if you have children, if your job allows you enough time for your family, what the hours are like, the level of stress, the pay, where you work, where your home-country is, and your overall satisfaction with this area of nursing.

I am trying to get a good impression of all the fields of nursing I am intrigued by so that I can play with ideas before I go to school.

Thank you,

Stephanie

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

hi,

I work in the UK, Up until 14 months ago I have worked in hospitals for approx 16 years, the shift pattern varies, one day you work 0700 - 1430 and the next day would be 1330 - 2100 and generally we would work a week of nights 2030 - 0715 and then have a week off work. Pay of wages is usually once a month. Depending where you worked depended on the stress levels. The medical and surgical wards are a seperate speciality in the UK but depended on the bed crisis alot of surgical beds are taken up by medical patients. Pay is a bit on the low side for what we do, a newly qualified RN earns approx £16,500 a year which gradually goes up yearly and with job promotion. But there is a new pay structure coming in which will change the pay that you recieve. I am now working in a doctors surgery working mon-fri and love it but it does make the weekend short. . I don't have children but I have known a few nurses over the years that preferred to work regular night shifts as it gave them time to spend with their children.

At the moment I am trying to work in the USA just because I feel in a rut with the UK nursing and want to try something different.But things do change slightly from one hospital to another.

Hope this gives you some idea of nursing in the UK

Anna

:)

[suehp]

Hi, I am also from the UK and I am a Nurse Manager in a Nursing Home where I have been for the last 10 yrs...pay here in the private sector is just below what you would get in a local hospital. Where I work there is more flexibilty with shifts etc and working enviroment. I generally work 8-8 shifts or 8-2pm or 4-8pm - generally leads to a 40 hour week, but then I am on call about 3-4 times a week throughout the night (means I cant drink alcohol and cant be more than 20 minutes from work (I live 10 minutes from work!) and get called in if there is a problem or get phonecalls). I do enjoy being in a nursing home enviroment mostly because of the continuity of care and we are being more advanced than what we used to be 10 yrs ago...

I do find my job stressful at times but have learnt to relax more on my days off - doing the longer shifts (8-8) means I get 3 days off a week instead of two - which personally I find better as I have 2 boys (7 yrs old and 21 months old) - I end up seeing more of them.

I am also working towards working in the USA (Florida) and hopefully ahcieve this aim by next year!

[brit]

hi,

I moved to England about 5 years ago and have just finished my 3 year Advanced Diploma in Nursing. I love the culture and the people of England but not a big fan of the food :imbar I love the fact that people can walk into a hospital here and get treated without being asked for insurance, you just get them seen which is awesome. My partner is over there in Louisiana so my work is my life at the minute, but I am not complaining, English people are so great to care for. I love the attention they give me everyone I come into contact with asks me where I am from and how long I've been here, although it is harder trying to translate to people who are hard of hearing :imbar Anyway I do love living here it's absolutely beautiful, but I am lonely, I like being around other Americans. I guess there is no place like home :)

Wendi