Working overseas in the UK/Ireland! Help!?

Question

After I complete nursing school, I would love to spend a few years in England or Ireland working as a Registered Nurse. I plan on getting a work visa after I have had a few years experience in the USA.

1. How expensive would it be for me to live over there?

2. How much roughly would a nurse make?

3. Cost of living? Is it outrageous?

4. Would they even hire an American nurse?

Thank you!!

Answer 1

1. It would be quite expensive. looking at about £600+ for a flat to rent.

2. A nurse would make about £18,000, if you have any other medical qualifications this may go up.

3. The UK/Ireland are going through an inflation period, there fore it is more expensive. For example a weekly average shop would be about £60.

4. Yes they would, however you would need a work permit, and basically if you get the job, they appy for a work permit which could take up to a month to obtain... meaning a month with no income.

I hope this has helped.

Answer 2

it would be expensive so you need to save a lot of money and get a work permit

Answer 3

They would employ you but it is fairly expensive to live here

x

Answer 4

To work in the UK you have to register with the NMC (nursing and midwifery council).

http://www.nmc-uk.org/aArticle.aspx?Arti...

http://www.nmc-uk.org/aArticle.aspx?Arti...

This is a booklet that says how you register as a nurse as you trained outside the UK/ EU

http://www.nmc-uk.org/aFrameDisplay.aspx...

You need one years experience post graduate to apply. If you want to register as a mental health nurse, childrens nurse, or disability nurse you need additional postgraduate requirements (a one year course, such as a postgraduate diploma or a masters).

Next is you fill out some forms and pay a fee (all in the booklet- it's not cheap), then if they deem your education and experience as good enough you do the Overseas Nurses Programme. The ONP is run at various unis in the UK, it can be hard to get a place (o, this costs about £3000!!).

This whole process takes about 9 months and in this time the NMC will probably lose your documentation about 3 times.

Job wise it is near impossible to get a job as there is a rule here that they have to employ UK/ EU nurses before they can employ a nurse from outside the EU.

The pay is not very good (starts on £18,000), I got paid a lot more in Australia. (First year out in Australia I earned $60,000 after tax! working a rotating roster).

Also, pay scales go up, but when you go to the UK you go back to a first year pay.

The cost of living in the UK is high, (in comparison to what you will get paid as a nurse), they seem to tax everything here. You even pay a tax to watch TV!!

Registering in Ireland is a similar process (my friend recently did it and she had a similar experience). This is a link to Irelands registration board http://www.nursingboard.ie/en/homepage.a...

I am not sure what visa you would get either as hospital sponship is now out of the question. (I'm here on a spouse visa).

Have you considered nursing in Australia or New Zealand? If you want to register and work in Australia you don't need a years experience, you will get to do a new graduate programme, the pay is not bad, and the cost of living in Australia is OK, and the quality of life is good.

I'm going back in two weeks!