What is nursing like in the U.S.A? Please explain for a Scottish nurse

[calastro]

Hey there,

I'm not sure whether anyone else has made any similar posts, if so please forgive me for clogging up the board.

I'm a staff nurse - band 5 - working in Scotland in the U.K. I've recently joined an overseas recruitment company as I want to relocate overseas to nurse. The whole application, green card process will probably take about a year so by the time I move I'll have been nursing 2-3 years so still relativley new.

Anyway, I want to move to America, preferably a big city such as New York or Chicago. I am quite good at meeting new people, am friendly and sociable but can be somewhat reserved and am definatley a bit of a pushover, I have real difficulty standing up for myself. Despite this I haven't ran into too much trouble and have learned not to let any 'ward politics' get to me and can quite easily laugh things off if anyone acts negativley.

The ward I work in is busy but I have worked in busier wards before so its not mega busy I would say. I get on well with my colleagues and there is a happy and almost laid back attitude in my ward. I want to move to America because I have always loved to travel and one of the reasons I became a nurse was that it would easily allow me to travel, meet new people, aquire new skills etc. The notion of a big city like New York appeals to me because I think it will be a real challenge and I will increase my skills and knowledge as well as my life experiences.

So my question is to any American nurses or any nurses who live work in New York or a similar big city. Do you think I could handle it? What is nursing like in general in America/NewYork/Chicago? Is it completely different to how I described nursing in Scotland? Do you think I will be faced with a major culture shock? Are people friendly or do they tend to be more upfront or aggressive? what can I expect from patients? colleagues? what about everyday life there not just nursing? Is it easy to fit in?

Thank you so so much to anyone who can answer any of my many questions or give me any advice. I really really appreciate it.

[FlyingScot, RN]

I have PM'd you

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

calastro,

Hey there girl! Can I ask why you aren't considering Houston? Our employment situation is much better than other areas - haven't really had the big declines or economic hard times that other states are experiencing. We have a very large Brit ex-pat community here. Lots of Aussies & Kiwis too - enough to host their own Anzac holiday each year. The major difference (from NY or Chi) would be that you'd definitely need a car. Our tropical climate may taking some getting used to, but you'd get a very warm welcome.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

It is hard to answer the question because interpretation of "aggressive" means different things to different people. I bet you would fit right in. Come to east Texas. We are a little more laid back in attitude, but try to be cutting edge on nursing practice.

[LuxCalidaNP]

It TOTALLY depends on where you work.

I am sure it is similar in Scotland, but here most units are divided by the type of care they provide, for example labor & delivery is different than the nursery, most intensive care units are divided into sub-units (like peds, cardiac, surgical-trauma), etc. Hospitalist care ranges from standard medical-surgical to specialized CCU and ICU, and outpatient care can be provided at community clinics, physician's offices, nurse practitioner's offices, etc. Home health care can also be provided through certain agencies or independently for the whole age range.

As for the interpersonal dynamics, it always depends on where you work. Some units you might think would be "laid back" are catty, riddled with gossip and unfortunate negativism. Others, like emergency departments and CCUs, can be totally mellow. It just depends. The places with the fastest pace and the tightest schedules tend to be emergency (depending on the hospital and location), intensive/critical care) and ANY overloaded med-surg. floor.

I also find that the stereotype of "doctor-trailing-angel-in-white-helpers" is finally changing here, bit by bit. Some facilities are still old fashioned, but for the most part, US nurses are REALLY trying to "remind" everyone that we are autonomous, educated, well-trained healthcare professionals that provide more bedside hours than and other provider.

I want to hear more about working in the UK!

Best of Luck!

B

[DogWalk]

I wish I would have more time to write now... (I try later on) but all I say now that wherever you end up to, try to get a job from a teaching hospital. Not a smaller community hospital, as my experience (as a foreign nurse from Scandinavia) is that it was far easier to work in a University hospital than in the current (smaller) one. I'm glad my first job was at a well-known large teaching hospital, where it was easier to learn stuff I needed. I have to pm you more about stuff when I get a chance!!:)

[calastro]

Thanks for all the good replies, they're so helpful.

I haven't considered Houston simply because I am pretty clueless about American towns/cities. I've only visited the U.S on vacations (just back from Vegas last week!!) so I only have a tourist point of view or what I see on T.V or in films. So any more reccomendations of where to go would be appreciated.

I can't drive though and I can't really afford lessons or a car just now so does that really rule out certain places? I use a lot of public transport just now, are there certain areas where this isnt available? Oh and I don't mind a hot climate but I'm not too keen on somewhere really humid, I like a dry, desert heat :) lol.

I guess I just meant aggressive as in the 'hard ass, don't take any crap' stuff you see from New Yorkers on T.V but I know that everyone is different and you can't really stereotype an area.

As I have Resp experience I think it would be a good idea to stick with what I know and get a job in a Respiratory ward until i am comfortable working in a different country then spread my wings to other areas/specialities. That way I won't be so useless when I first start. What do you think?

I know that Dogwalk has said that working in a large teaching hospital is favourable but my experience here was the complete opposite. I trained and then worked in a very big teaching hospital for 3 years and found the environment to be hostile, ****** and unsupportive. Because I had never worked anywhere else I just accepted that that was what nursing was like. Then I got transferred to a smaller hospital where I still work now and I love it! Its so much more laid back, people are friendlier and I have more time to talk to patients. I actually find I have learned more here because people have time to explain things and I don't find it difficult to ask anyone for help. Because we are not short staffed like most areas, I can go on training days etc.

I think not understanding American terms for things might hold me back a bit. Sometimes when I read posts I don't understand what anyone is talking about. I'd be happy to explain how things in Scotland work if someone in return would explain how things are run in the U.S?

[time4meRN]

Hello, I find this interesting because I want to go to Scotland to work. Somewhere near Greenock. So anyway, I have been to hospitals in Scotland, I think you will find them to be much the same. However, I will say perhaps you should start in a smaller city and travel to the bigger cities for fun or to live. Then, after you've been here a year then take the jump to a big city hospital. I say that because you say you are a bit of a push-over. It may be a help to you to know that there are Scottish communites in most cities in the USA, you know that most of "Scotts" are more than willing to support each other. So..... GOOD for you ! Have fun and good luck. Feel free to leave me a privit email if you like. I would love to converse more about this with you. Have a good day !

[calastro]

Just wanted to say that a couple of people have Pm'ed me but unfortunatley I can't reply because I don't have 15+ posts yet. If anyone wants to talk to me on msn then please add me. I'm [email protected].