United Kingdom is well known as country with lots of health care services. Health care professionals don't just work in hospitals – there is a huge range of settings you can work in. Nurses will find lots of opportunities to become staff nurses, clinical nurses, mental health nurses, learning disability nurses or directors of nursing in UK.
This independent sector depends on migrant workers from other countries. Nurses are on the list of industries experiencing a shortage of qualified personnel, so wage rate for qualified specialist is rather good and starts from 1300 € /month. If you are a psychiatric trained or mental health nurse, then Ireland offers fantastic opportunities for your career! You wage rate will be from 2200 to 3000 € per month.
So, are you from a non European Union country and are interested in living and working as a nurse in the United Kingdom?
Get started! Four steps you have to know about:
1. Nursing and Midwifery Council application process;
2. The Overseas Nursing Program;
3. The International English Language Test;
4. Your work permit or visa.
1. APPLY FOR REGISTRATION
Nursing Jobs in the UK are open to all nurses both graduate nurses and experienced nurses. Anyone wanting to work in the UK as a nurse must register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). This means that they set standards for nurses to meet in their working lives. NMC will compare the training in your country with that required in the UK. When you apply, you must have been practicing as a nurse or midwife for at least one year.
What is different in the process for nurses educated from outside the EEA
Since October 2014 the only route to registration for all nurses trained outside the UK and EEA with the NMC is through the a 2-part application process.
• Part one – a computer based multiple-choice examination which will be accessible in many countries around the world for applicants to access in their home countries.
• Part two – a practical objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) which will always be held in the UK.
This process does not require applicants to complete a period of supervised practice.
2. OVERSEAS NURSING PROGRAM (ONP):
If your application meets the NMC’s minimum standards and you were trained outside of the European Economic Area (EEA), you will be required to undertake the Overseas Nurses Programme (ONP) before your registration can be completed. The program consists of 20 days of learning and assesses your ability to practice as a nurse in the UK. Topics that will be covered include UK law, health and safety issues, record-keeping, drugs administration and NMC Code of Conduct.
3. INTERNATIONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEST (IELTS)
You must be able to communicate effectively in English to practice as a nurse in the UK. If you are from a non-EU country, you will also have to take the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) exam before starting the NMC application process. This exam is fairly easy if you are from an English speaking country. You can visit the British Council website to find out where to take the exam in your home county.
4. WORK PERMITS AND VISAS
Registering with the NHS allows you to practice as a nurse, however, you must still have a valid work permit or visa when you enter the UK.
In order to obtain a UK work permit, you will need to be sponsored by a hospital, private clinic or company (it is very likely because UK employers are interested in such qualified personnel)
ClarusApex advises healthcare professionals on many aspects of living and working in the UK. We provide a free service to all candidates. If you are thinking of going to England to work register now right now and tomorrow you will get your dream job!
Looking forward for your CV: application@gerardacademy.com