Greetings from London fellow traveling nurses/ aspiring traveling nurses!
Wow what another busy week it has been! I am typing this to you all while sitting in bed with a generous glass of red wine (which I fully deserve).
I am getting loads of questions relating to costs of living in London and if traveling is feasible money wise. And the short answer is: you can make anything happen if you want it bad enough.
It is true that the cost of living in London isn't cheap and in fact can be quite stressful on the wallet. On the other hand, if you are willing to branch out and explore you will find that London can be done cheaply without sacrificing fun. Nurses are not as well paid here in comparison to the United States but we are decently paid in London is regards to other professions. Also, as a traveling nurse, we do get a higher salary along with the perks of significantly reduced cost housing compared to permanent staff. Not to mention the flexibility of working in 3 month contracts. I cannot even begin to describe the bliss of not being tied down to a place or having to fight politics that inevitably come with any permanent healthcare job after a while.
My nurse travel companions and I make our salaries work for us and are able to travel about pretty freely. In fact, we just took a weekend hike to Scafell Pike up north in the Lakes District. We had a great time and it didn't cost a fortune. Of course I am not saving much and definitely not contributing to a 401K but I am finding life enriching ways to spend my money. If I spend it on travel, I never feel a cent (or pence) is wasted. But if I spend it on clothes, I would feel guilty. I do think cider and good wine are the exceptions because I will always have spare change to grab a drink with friends!
To make my traveling work, I am a regular visitor of sites such as Travel Zoo and lastminute.com. I am on their alert lists so new deals are always popping up. These range from mini breaks away throughout Europe to great deals west end musicals and dinners. I have also recently discovered the amazing world of travel shows! I just attended a TNT travel show in Angel last week and came out of it with two amazing holidays for next year at 50% off ! Also when I travel, staying in hostels can save a whole heap of money and flying budget airlines always helps reduce costs.
In London, there are loads of free things to do. I am a regular wanderer of Borough Markets and Shoreditch. My Kiwi friend and I have made it a regular thing to go to a new area of London and try different coffee shops. Also, a lot of the museums are free and there are always events to attend! You can even find cheap pints at great pubs and you don't even have to search for them!
Now, I do also love going on a great date. I find my dating life has come alive since moving here. I always suggests going to a new wine bar, pub, restaurant, or exhibition as part of them. Not only is it a great way to meet new and interesting people but it's also a great way to come out of it with a couple of drinks and possibly dinner (sorry guys, this won't help you). But for the ladies, if you aren't attached then I say open your mind to meeting new people! I find that here my confidence has increased ten fold and I genuinely enjoy the differences in everyone I meet.
I try to keep dining out to a minimum but of course splurge every now and then. What's the fun in moving to a new city and not trying the food or getting fancy once in a while? When it comes to groceries, I keep it to the essentials. I am no culinary wizard but have learned to put together cheap meals that last longer. I do find groceries are much cheaper here in comparison to the states though. It is easy to eat more fresh, less processed foods at a good price.
Those are just some of the ways I make a nurses salary work for me while still keeping hold of funds for travel. Of course everyone is different. I can only tell you what works for me. With that being said, I do need to save some money before Christmas since I will be off to Australia for a road trip! Eeeks! Countdown is on!
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Back in action!
Jumbo All! (My new Swahili term I've picked up while away)
It has been a wonderful 6 weeks away but now I have returned to London with a filled passport and a lot less money. Summiting Kilimanjaro and adventuring through Africa was well worth it though.
Two weeks before returning, my agency offered me the same job I had on Beach ward before I left so I am back in action with all of my old work mates. Good thing is, my next big adventure isn't until December and my passport has officially been collected by the USA embassy in order to get an early renewal. So it looks like I will not be leaving the UK for a few weeks!
I have to say it is good to be back in London. For some reason this city keeps pulling me back in. I will be coming back to the states for a month over Christmas and I am not sure how I will handle this. On one hand it'll be good to see the family, and on the other Louisiana feels like it suffocates me. I know some of you feel the same way or you wouldn't consider moving to the UK in the first place!
One of the questions from the blog was about male nurses and how they are treated. Surprisingly on my ward there are no male nurses. I am not sure if it is the area but on my last pediatric ward in the states I only had one male nurse that I worked with. Don't worry though, they are here. Mostly in ER, ICU, and I've seen quite a few on the general surgical wards. Since I don't work with any, I am not sure exactly how they are treated or how they find it. What I can do is ask one of the guys from the agency how he finds nursing here. From an outward glance they blend right in as nurses who are getting on with their job, but I know there is no way to tell for sure until you ask.
Since I have lots more time to post (now that I'm passportless) I promise to be much better about answering any questions you have! Please ask away and I'll post back in a timely manner!
Asanti Sana! (sorry, I'm getting carried away with the Swahili)
It has been a wonderful 6 weeks away but now I have returned to London with a filled passport and a lot less money. Summiting Kilimanjaro and adventuring through Africa was well worth it though.
Two weeks before returning, my agency offered me the same job I had on Beach ward before I left so I am back in action with all of my old work mates. Good thing is, my next big adventure isn't until December and my passport has officially been collected by the USA embassy in order to get an early renewal. So it looks like I will not be leaving the UK for a few weeks!
I have to say it is good to be back in London. For some reason this city keeps pulling me back in. I will be coming back to the states for a month over Christmas and I am not sure how I will handle this. On one hand it'll be good to see the family, and on the other Louisiana feels like it suffocates me. I know some of you feel the same way or you wouldn't consider moving to the UK in the first place!
One of the questions from the blog was about male nurses and how they are treated. Surprisingly on my ward there are no male nurses. I am not sure if it is the area but on my last pediatric ward in the states I only had one male nurse that I worked with. Don't worry though, they are here. Mostly in ER, ICU, and I've seen quite a few on the general surgical wards. Since I don't work with any, I am not sure exactly how they are treated or how they find it. What I can do is ask one of the guys from the agency how he finds nursing here. From an outward glance they blend right in as nurses who are getting on with their job, but I know there is no way to tell for sure until you ask.
Since I have lots more time to post (now that I'm passportless) I promise to be much better about answering any questions you have! Please ask away and I'll post back in a timely manner!
Asanti Sana! (sorry, I'm getting carried away with the Swahili)
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Livin life on the Beach....
Hello again everyone! My my, I let these posts go much longer than I should! What can I say? London life is a busy one! Your comments keep me going because it feels great to know others are interested to do this same thing! I have just returned from a little 6 day get-a-way to Prague and Budapest and wow is all I have to say. Before I embark on my next advenure I'll update things for y'all......
Despite what the title suggests, I don't actually live on the Beach but I do work on Beach ward (what they call floors or units here)...I know it's very old school. I first came to this lovely yellow ward covered in seashells for my very first interview with the ward sister (manager), Ellen. This was my very first assignment with Continental Travelnurse and Ellen wanted to see if I'd be a good fit for her area. I was so incredibly nervous but over a year later I am still kickin back on Beach ward. I am still with Continental but keep sigining 3 month contracts with this ward.
I mostly work on the peds day surgery side where we do surgeries like cleft palate repairs, tonsils, smashed fingers, tympanoplasties, etc, etc. Occasionally (like my past 4 night shifts) I work on the renal side. I am proud to say my peds ward kicks butt in kidney transplants, bladder augmentations, dialysis, nephrectomies, etc. The entire ward is so different from where I worked in Austin, Texas which was a respiratory/infectious disease unit. But hey, I am now comfortable in a whole new field of nursing.
Although I do find this job much less challenging than my previous one from the states, it did still have it's various challenges.
The hard part:
*Losing some power/respect when coming over to England: Although nursing is trying to become more autonomous here and slightly succeeding, it is still more a traditional role. The whole "yes doctor, you are right." Don't come to nurse in England to enhance your skills....if anything you will lose skills. But really, aren't you coming mainly to travel, galavant through an amazing city (while getting paid), and meet great new people?!!
*Alternating day and night shifts: If you don't work in a clinic here and have a standard ward job with 12 hour shifts, you will have to work day and night shifts. I found this hard at first and even though I still hate night shifts, it is getting better.
*Relearning drug names and getting use to new ones. I still look up everything.
*No computer charting. All paper, sometimes disorganized and somewhat unsafe but that's the way it is...ancient. It is england after all.
*Watching the doctor insert a peripheral IV. Seriously, in pediatrics we cannot insert cannulas...it is the jr doctor's job. If you work adults you may get the priviledge to cannulate.
*Mixing my own antibiotics, NCA's. PCA's, etc and getting ALL IV administered meds co-signed. It's the policy here. If anything this has made me even safer in med administration.
*Wearing a dress to work with stockings underneath. I mean really....who am I? Florence Nightingale? You can opt for the trouser and top but it's just as uncomfortable and stiff.
And now for the GOOD:
*Being the one with the accent. Families love you, the nurses are curious, and you get your America fans who willl ask you loads of questions.
*Walking across Westminster Bridge to work and have Big Ben, the houses of Parliament, and the Thames as my work view.
*Easier workload (in my opinion). I am lucky to work on a very well staffed and well run ward. If you get a bad one, it can be hell. Adult nurses here have a higher workload my friends tell me.
*2 hour sleep break when working night shifts. This is pretty universal. How did I ever work straight nights in the states without this?!!
*The amazing staff. If you are social and easy to get along with, you'll find that the staff adopt you to their ward and look after you. I have made the most amazing friends here on Beach which is why I find it hard to leave. I am even traveling with my new English friends, Jen and Lois, across Australia for 3 months in January 2014.
There are so many pro's to living and working here as a nurse. I have heard the good and bad. Even when my friends and I find something to complain about, we always agree that we would never change this experience for the world. This is my city now and I love it. Even when I get stuck in the rain and miss my bus or train. Living in London is not for everyone and if you are a diehard control freak and stuck in the ways that America does things then this is probably not the right move for you. You have to know why you are coming here and be ready for the challenges a new country and culture will throw your way. You also have to understand that we do things in nursing very differently in the states and bringing up how much better America is will NOT make you easy or enjoyable to work with (I have seen this happen to a nurse from Pennsylvania...she lasted 3 months here and went back).
I will not be posting for another 8 weeks as I am going off on my 6 week holiday! I am going on a 2 week cruise across the Greek Isles, then off to Tanzania to climb Mt Kilimanjaro, then safari, down to Zambia to discover Victoria Falls, and lastly spending a week in Cape Town, South Africa. All that travelling alone should motivate any wandering soul to hop over to England!
And Thank You for making this blog worthwhile!
Despite what the title suggests, I don't actually live on the Beach but I do work on Beach ward (what they call floors or units here)...I know it's very old school. I first came to this lovely yellow ward covered in seashells for my very first interview with the ward sister (manager), Ellen. This was my very first assignment with Continental Travelnurse and Ellen wanted to see if I'd be a good fit for her area. I was so incredibly nervous but over a year later I am still kickin back on Beach ward. I am still with Continental but keep sigining 3 month contracts with this ward.
I mostly work on the peds day surgery side where we do surgeries like cleft palate repairs, tonsils, smashed fingers, tympanoplasties, etc, etc. Occasionally (like my past 4 night shifts) I work on the renal side. I am proud to say my peds ward kicks butt in kidney transplants, bladder augmentations, dialysis, nephrectomies, etc. The entire ward is so different from where I worked in Austin, Texas which was a respiratory/infectious disease unit. But hey, I am now comfortable in a whole new field of nursing.
Although I do find this job much less challenging than my previous one from the states, it did still have it's various challenges.
The hard part:
*Losing some power/respect when coming over to England: Although nursing is trying to become more autonomous here and slightly succeeding, it is still more a traditional role. The whole "yes doctor, you are right." Don't come to nurse in England to enhance your skills....if anything you will lose skills. But really, aren't you coming mainly to travel, galavant through an amazing city (while getting paid), and meet great new people?!!
*Alternating day and night shifts: If you don't work in a clinic here and have a standard ward job with 12 hour shifts, you will have to work day and night shifts. I found this hard at first and even though I still hate night shifts, it is getting better.
*Relearning drug names and getting use to new ones. I still look up everything.
*No computer charting. All paper, sometimes disorganized and somewhat unsafe but that's the way it is...ancient. It is england after all.
*Watching the doctor insert a peripheral IV. Seriously, in pediatrics we cannot insert cannulas...it is the jr doctor's job. If you work adults you may get the priviledge to cannulate.
*Mixing my own antibiotics, NCA's. PCA's, etc and getting ALL IV administered meds co-signed. It's the policy here. If anything this has made me even safer in med administration.
*Wearing a dress to work with stockings underneath. I mean really....who am I? Florence Nightingale? You can opt for the trouser and top but it's just as uncomfortable and stiff.
And now for the GOOD:
*Being the one with the accent. Families love you, the nurses are curious, and you get your America fans who willl ask you loads of questions.
*Walking across Westminster Bridge to work and have Big Ben, the houses of Parliament, and the Thames as my work view.
*Easier workload (in my opinion). I am lucky to work on a very well staffed and well run ward. If you get a bad one, it can be hell. Adult nurses here have a higher workload my friends tell me.
*2 hour sleep break when working night shifts. This is pretty universal. How did I ever work straight nights in the states without this?!!
*The amazing staff. If you are social and easy to get along with, you'll find that the staff adopt you to their ward and look after you. I have made the most amazing friends here on Beach which is why I find it hard to leave. I am even traveling with my new English friends, Jen and Lois, across Australia for 3 months in January 2014.
There are so many pro's to living and working here as a nurse. I have heard the good and bad. Even when my friends and I find something to complain about, we always agree that we would never change this experience for the world. This is my city now and I love it. Even when I get stuck in the rain and miss my bus or train. Living in London is not for everyone and if you are a diehard control freak and stuck in the ways that America does things then this is probably not the right move for you. You have to know why you are coming here and be ready for the challenges a new country and culture will throw your way. You also have to understand that we do things in nursing very differently in the states and bringing up how much better America is will NOT make you easy or enjoyable to work with (I have seen this happen to a nurse from Pennsylvania...she lasted 3 months here and went back).
I will not be posting for another 8 weeks as I am going off on my 6 week holiday! I am going on a 2 week cruise across the Greek Isles, then off to Tanzania to climb Mt Kilimanjaro, then safari, down to Zambia to discover Victoria Falls, and lastly spending a week in Cape Town, South Africa. All that travelling alone should motivate any wandering soul to hop over to England!
And Thank You for making this blog worthwhile!
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Update!
I just realized there have been people who actually read this blog and I cannot believe I have let myself abandon it! It has been just over a year since my last post and what a year it has been.
The Process Part II took me to Bournemouth, England to complete a month long course required by all overseas nurses. So after all of the paperwork, waiting around, and two license fees later it was finally time to embark on the journey which officially started in April 2012.
I arrived to the windy (and rainy) south coastal town of Bournemouth on April 22, 2012. I chose to stay in a homestay type situation with a single woman named Judith and her cat, Karen. She was recommended to me by my nursing agency. It turned out to be a great situation since I had my own comfortable room and bathroom. Judith and I ended up getting along brilliantly and we still catch up on facebook every now and then. I should mention it was the wettest spring England had seen in a long time. That didn't make this place any less charming. I walked everywhere and loved going for jogs on the pier and having coffee's on the beach.
Now on to the less charming part....The Overseas Nurse Programme, as the NMC calls it, was really just a very large book, lots of writing, and lots of looking up documents on the internet and reading them. You meet in person 3 days out of the 20 days of the course and the rest is all play time and self study. At the end you turn in your completed book, take a 50 question test, and once you pass, the results get shipped off the the nursing board. It takes 4-6 weeks for them to issue a pin number (your license to practice). In that time I went home to visit the family but the friends I made went traveling. I also have to mention that you must fund your time abroad while doing this course. This was the most expensive part of my journey since I had no job. I did however manage to save money before coming over. Realistically look at saving between $3,000-4000 for this month abroad (mostly because the US dollar is drastically reduced when converted to pounds). It also depends what you want to do with all of the free time. My new friends and I ate at every restaurant in Bournemouth, explored in and around the city, and took trips to Spain, Poland, and Romania. Needless to say, I had an absolute blast.
That month was an amazing one. I was new to this country and things were finally starting to become real. I made an amazing group of friends and still am very close with all of them. We all live within 20 minutes walking distance from each other. They have become my family away from home and my favorite travel companions. Mainly because we all share the same ideals and passions for new places. The group consists of 4 New Zealanders (the Kiwi's) and 1 Aussie.
This is really just the start! I promise to post more about the actual nursing here and all of the amazing things I have been doing in the past year!
The Process Part II took me to Bournemouth, England to complete a month long course required by all overseas nurses. So after all of the paperwork, waiting around, and two license fees later it was finally time to embark on the journey which officially started in April 2012.
I arrived to the windy (and rainy) south coastal town of Bournemouth on April 22, 2012. I chose to stay in a homestay type situation with a single woman named Judith and her cat, Karen. She was recommended to me by my nursing agency. It turned out to be a great situation since I had my own comfortable room and bathroom. Judith and I ended up getting along brilliantly and we still catch up on facebook every now and then. I should mention it was the wettest spring England had seen in a long time. That didn't make this place any less charming. I walked everywhere and loved going for jogs on the pier and having coffee's on the beach.
Now on to the less charming part....The Overseas Nurse Programme, as the NMC calls it, was really just a very large book, lots of writing, and lots of looking up documents on the internet and reading them. You meet in person 3 days out of the 20 days of the course and the rest is all play time and self study. At the end you turn in your completed book, take a 50 question test, and once you pass, the results get shipped off the the nursing board. It takes 4-6 weeks for them to issue a pin number (your license to practice). In that time I went home to visit the family but the friends I made went traveling. I also have to mention that you must fund your time abroad while doing this course. This was the most expensive part of my journey since I had no job. I did however manage to save money before coming over. Realistically look at saving between $3,000-4000 for this month abroad (mostly because the US dollar is drastically reduced when converted to pounds). It also depends what you want to do with all of the free time. My new friends and I ate at every restaurant in Bournemouth, explored in and around the city, and took trips to Spain, Poland, and Romania. Needless to say, I had an absolute blast.
That month was an amazing one. I was new to this country and things were finally starting to become real. I made an amazing group of friends and still am very close with all of them. We all live within 20 minutes walking distance from each other. They have become my family away from home and my favorite travel companions. Mainly because we all share the same ideals and passions for new places. The group consists of 4 New Zealanders (the Kiwi's) and 1 Aussie.
This is really just the start! I promise to post more about the actual nursing here and all of the amazing things I have been doing in the past year!
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