Working in The USA

Scott33, BSN, EMT-P · Jun 2, 2008

Sorry to read you had such a bad time if things in the US. It's just a shame it took you 8 years to come to the conclusion it wasn't for you.

The good news is you are completely right about life in the UK. Although I live in the US, I make a point of going "home" at every opportunity, and I can assure you, you will notice many beneficial things since you last stepped foot on her golden shores.

Taxes are on the decrease, including that of fuel, property, and income. The nursing shortage is global, so you can expect to be spoiled for choice for work upon your return. Rumours of a hiring freeze are only in place to stop foreign nurses stealing all the jobs. The agenda for change initiative has been a runaway success from the outset, and nurses can expect to not only receive higher salaries, but also annual pay increases of at least 2% higher than the cost of living. Sick time is limited only by imagination, and holidays start at 10 weeks per year.

All crime in the UK was snuffed out several years ago, along with Chavs, underage mums, unemployment, antisocial neighbours, and Stock, Aitken, & Waterman songs. These days, guns can only be found in British museums. In fact, the prehistoric USA is now the only place on Earth guns can be found "on the street". Even places like Russia, Columbia, Brazil, and China no longer have guns.

Remember ram-raiding, and car crime? Thing of the past in Blighty. These days it is perfectly normal, to leave your car unlocked, with the engine running, if you are just popping into the shops for a few minutes.

Have to disagree with you about the weather though. Global warming has had a positive effect on the British climate. Do you know that the town of Yately in Hants hasn't had 1 drop of rainfall in over 3 years? With the Solent now a beautiful turquoise in colour, It is now the new Costa Del Sol.

All-in-all you can't go wrong by coming back, and I am sorry those bad Americans made things so hard for you.

PageRespiratory! · Jun 2, 2008

UK nurses need to realise something, the US is NOTHING like the UK. The pay is not great, US nurses think everyone comes from the Philipines, the pay is similar to the US, ONLY the taxes ARE MUCH HIGHER! Try 35% Federal and 12% State tax in some states, e.g. California, that is 47% compared to 25% in the UK. Health care here is very expensive and not free, you get a bill for everything. And the staffing here is HORRIBLE, 1 ICU patient in the UK, 3 or even 4 ICU patients in the US, you will be run ragged. Everyone gets 2 weeks vacation, and if you are sick, they is no sick pay, you have to use your vacation or not get paid.
The managers talk to you like you are crap, the doctors talk to you like crap and the patients and families just sue you. This is like going back in time 20 years, the surgeries, the procedures, being a doctor's hand maiden is archaic. Doctors write orders in the patients chart like Nurse will ambulate pt 3 times a day (the pt was 850 lbs), or pt may not have bathroom priviliges, you are held accountable, and sueable, for everything. The secretary writes the wrong thing, your fault, pharmacy sends wrong drug, your fault, lab draws wrong blood, your fault, your fault, your fault.
I wish someone would have told me this before I came here, after 8 years of 5 States, I give up, glad to come home. They had slavery for 300 years in the US, officially, unofficially, it still exists, few unions, few rights and limited protection.
The UK isn't so bad, not hot as hell and humid, no earthquakes, forest fires, tornadoes, landslides AND NO GUNS, I have never seen poverty like the US, you will die for the sake of cheap meds, or you will get shot in car for your radio. The US is a vicious and violent, more people get shot here peacetime than in the rest of the world put together. See you back in UK SOON!

>

We're all a bunch of cry babies as well.....................................oh wait.

Good riddance

RGN1 · Jun 2, 2008

Sorry to read you had such a bad time if things in the US. It's just a shame it took you 8 years to come to the conclusion it wasn't for you.
The good news is you are completely right about life in the UK. Although I live in the US, I make a point of going "home" at every opportunity, and I can assure you, you will notice many beneficial things since you last stepped foot on her golden shores.
Taxes are on the decrease, including that of fuel, property, and income. The nursing shortage is global, so you can expect to be spoiled for choice for work upon your return. Rumours of a hiring freeze are only in place to stop foreign nurses stealing all the jobs. The agenda for change initiative has been a runaway success from the outset, and nurses can expect to not only receive higher salaries, but also annual pay increases of at least 2% higher than the cost of living. Sick time is limited only by imagination, and holidays start at 10 weeks per year.
All crime in the UK was snuffed out several years ago, along with Chavs, underage mums, unemployment, antisocial neighbours, and Stock, Aitken, & Waterman songs. These days, guns can only be found in British museums. In fact, the prehistoric USA is now the only place on Earth guns can be found "on the street". Even places like Russia, Columbia, Brazil, and China no longer have guns.
Remember ram-raiding, and car crime? Thing of the past in Blighty. These days it is perfectly normal, to leave your car unlocked, with the engine running, if you are just popping into the shops for a few minutes.
Have to disagree with you about the weather though. Global warming has had a positive effect on the British climate. Do you know that the town of Yately in Hants hasn't had 1 drop of rainfall in over 3 years? With the Solent now a beautiful turquoise in colour, It is now the new Costa Del Sol.
All-in-all you can't go wrong by coming back, and I am sorry those bad Americans made things so hard for you.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

:hhmth:

allnurses Guide · Jun 2, 2008

UK nurses need to realise something, the US is NOTHING like the UK. The pay is not great, US nurses think everyone comes from the Philipines, the pay is similar to the US, ONLY the taxes ARE MUCH HIGHER! Try 35% Federal and 12% State tax in some states, e.g. California, that is 47% compared to 25% in the UK. Health care here is very expensive and not free, you get a bill for everything. And the staffing here is HORRIBLE, 1 ICU patient in the UK, 3 or even 4 ICU patients in the US, you will be run ragged. Everyone gets 2 weeks vacation, and if you are sick, they is no sick pay, you have to use your vacation or not get paid.
The managers talk to you like you are crap, the doctors talk to you like crap and the patients and families just sue you. This is like going back in time 20 years, the surgeries, the procedures, being a doctor's hand maiden is archaic. Doctors write orders in the patients chart like Nurse will ambulate pt 3 times a day (the pt was 850 lbs), or pt may not have bathroom priviliges, you are held accountable, and sueable, for everything. The secretary writes the wrong thing, your fault, pharmacy sends wrong drug, your fault, lab draws wrong blood, your fault, your fault, your fault.
I wish someone would have told me this before I came here, after 8 years of 5 States, I give up, glad to come home. They had slavery for 300 years in the US, officially, unofficially, it still exists, few unions, few rights and limited protection.
The UK isn't so bad, not hot as hell and humid, no earthquakes, forest fires, tornadoes, landslides AND NO GUNS, I have never seen poverty like the US, you will die for the sake of cheap meds, or you will get shot in car for your radio. The US is a vicious and violent, more people get shot here peacetime than in the rest of the world put together. See you back in UK SOON!

Welcome to allnurses, it sounds like you have had such a horrible time in the US and maybe the grass isn't always greener but I think that every country has it's own difficulties and the UK is no different.

Having said that I am just a big scaredy cat, I have never lived outside of Wales the thought of living and working in England would terrify me, I think that the fact you uprooted and experienced another country is commendable, it is a shame it was not all you wanted but you had the courage to try.

I admire all of the nurses here who make that step, it may not turn out as you would have liked but the fact you were prepared to take that experience is fantastic.

Trauma Columnist · Jun 2, 2008

Having lived in Spain, Korea and Japan for extended periods of time, I realize that when you live in another country it is better to look on the bright side. Sorry you didn't like it in the US. Every country has its ups and downs.

In re-reading your posts, your generalizations are not going to win you any points and are untrue. Would doubt you would tolerate such postings if made in relation to the UK.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jun 2, 2008

Sorry you are having a bad time in the US but many nurses from the UK have gone and done really well. You may find it hard to get a job in the UK as a nurse, in fact things have probably changed a lot since you have gone. Good luck any way and don't know if you have US citizenship but maybe something to think about before coming bck to the UK in case it doesn't meet expectations and you decide you want to go back

TavellerCA · Jun 2, 2008

Having lived in Spain, Korea and Japan for extended periods of time, I realize that when you live in another country it is better to look on the bright side. Sorry you didn't like it in the US. Every country has its ups and downs.
In re-reading your posts, your generalizations are not going to win you any points and are untrue. Would doubt you would tolerate such postings if made in relation to the UK.

'are untrue' Only one state has staffing laws, California, UCLA, USC, Good Samaritan, Sant Monica, Baylor, Tenent, Comumbia, Tulane, I spend 8 years trying to find somewhere tolerable, from Missiissipp all the way to Califonia, dreadful places, hospitals i wouldn't take my dog too. We stopped sternotomies 10 years ago in the UK, the US is still doing them and ridicules the mid or mini cabg. I have to get my debit card out to see the doctor, to get an xray, to get labs drawn, then for everything I get at the pharmacy.

Exactly what is it that is 'untrue' exactly what do you disagree with and why is it not true? I have been perfectly honest, do you disagree with the staffing? Or high US taxes? Or absence of sick pay? Or just 2 weeks a year for vacation? Thiis is common knowledge to nurses working here, 2 patient minimum in a US ICU, I have been doing chest compressions and defilbrilating in one room, while the night nurse yelled report at door for my other patient, I didn't get out of the extended code room for 5 hours, and no one helped the other patient.

I repeat Hell on Earth, splintered, broken healthcare system with poor care even for the 'privildged ones' with double health insurance.

I have worked in San Diego, Los Angeles, Dallas, Garland, Gulfport MS, New Orleans, Sherman Oaks, think these are the main ones.

Again, let me know what you disagree with, and let me know where you work, it must be somewhere unlike any place else in the US.

TavellerCA · Jun 2, 2008

Cry baby? For not sucking all the crap of nursing in the US and keeping my mouth shut, in lots of States, most nurses don't even nurse, they leave and would rather do something else. I am trying to warn off other UK nurses from wasting their time here, you calling me a cry baby is childish, can't bear to hear anyone tell you working conditions here are awful. Do you disagree with 3 ICU patients, compulsory overtime, being forced to work 24 hour shifts, being threatened with being fired if you even say anthing.

Currently in Dalls, the PACU I work in leaves me with 2 patients alone! I can't run a code myself can I, but shhusssh,shuussssh, don't tell people, keep it secret. We don't want people to know the truth now do we?

You might work in the US and be docile and keep your mouth shut, but I have a brain and wil not keep from telling the truth so other nurses don't come here either.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jun 2, 2008

You may have your opinions on how your experience has worked in the US but I know on several nurses who have moved to the US and made a great success of it and have no intentions what so ever on returning to the UK. I am sorry you had bad experiences but taking it out on the members here isn't going to help.

elkpark · Jun 2, 2008

"Hell on earth"??? If you don't like living and working in the US, you are free to leave and go somewhere you'll be happier. If I hated it as much here as you appear to, that's what I'd do ... (I certainly woudn't put up with it for 8 years!)

You've stated your views; you're certainly entitled to your opinions, but I'm not sure what you hope to accomplish by arguing with people who disagree with you.

suemsu · Jun 2, 2008

Sorry to hear you have had a bad experience in the USA. I agree with others on this site that many Brits have come over here and had a great time. I am one of them and have been here for 12 yrs. I am quite amazed that the only people on this forum you have been harsh and bitter with are the American replies. Scott 33 was very sarcastic in his reply and you never even acknowledged his response, which was a great reply by the way. It sounds like you have no positive thoughts at all towards americans and their country. I wish you luck on your trip back to the UK.