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!
Oh my gosh! I'm in the process of trying to do EXACTLY what you are doing! I'm so excited! Keep posting!!!
ReplyDeleteI am in the process or doing this! Can't wait to finish the process. I'm ready to leave now!
ReplyDeleteWow, Ive read all of your blogs and I have just a couple questions. It looks like the salary as a nurse in London is enough to comfortably make a living and to go on vacations. Is it your plan, or a good idea for the long term? Im starting the bsn program in May, and being that my wife is French, we are looking to move to the UK asap when I finish.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your post. I just sent off my first packet to the same company you are working for. They have be so nice and informative. I too am from Texas, and am a ICU nurse. I have been doing ICU float nursing to prepare for working out of my comfort zone. I think it will be a good fit for me from what I read on your posts. Continue to have fun in the UK and elsewhere! I too have questions about long term cost of living in the UK. Is it worth it to stay long term? Like to have a family settle down, that sort of thing? Also do they honor masters degrees of nursing from the US in Uk? Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteI share the same sentiment with everyone! Thank you so much for posting. It is so hard to decipher some of the red tape with trying to work as an RN in the UK and you've made it so much easer.
ReplyDeleteI am in the midst of this same process as well. My situation is a little different in that I will be graduating RN school with an ADN December 2013 and still have another year of school and work to go before I can qualify.
So glad to hear of all your travels and good experiences meeting new friends, actual TIME to travel (instead of the 2 weeks us yanks get) and satisfaction working in the U.K. I was living in East London then NW London for 6 months from around the time of the Olympics and onwards until December 2012. Wish I had a chance to connect with you!
"This is my city now and I love it." I felt that everyday I was in London and even more so while I am away!
Do you mind if I private message you a question or two?
Happy Holiday - ing, sounds like a fantastic and "funtastic" adventure, just got back from 3 month backpacking adventure in SE Asia.
sorry, and I know this question wasn't directed at me but I think the U.K. is a fantastic place to bring up a family. I think the quality of education is top notch and as a member of the EU, your children would have access to education not just in England but anywhere in the EU. Some countries like Finland, rated the best in the world, still have free or very low cost education. I have a great bias towards education. I felt history come alive at the British Museum and almost wept. I also had a chance to go with some local school children to the Wallace Collection in London and they were the most witty 2nd graders I have ever met with a stunning vocabulary.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how much saving in terms of the equivalent 401K with employer matching that you can get in the states. In my own experience, the average person in the U.K. doesn't seem to be in that much debt, most homes if owned are owned outright or by people who can afford to pay a mortgage.
Living, especially in London, isn't cheap but I think that is the same in most major cities. But if you live close to work, London is a fantastic city to walk in. If you shop smartly, you can find affordable food and you must cook at home. I lived in London six months and I feel that it is doable.
Most of all, I think you can make it anywhere if you the passion for it! I love London ferociously so I did everything I could to make it work there and had the time of my life! Can't wait to go back!
Hi i graduated in December with my bachelors but i have almost zero experience with nursing. It's an option to move to England and work there. Don't worry about my housing and family. Lets set all that aside. :) as a brand new nurse is it a good idea to work in the country in England? How would i adjust to coming back home to America? I would greatly appreciate your insite. From anyone really. My email is gogrodnik9@gmail.com. And if you must know, my fiance is born and raised in England so I'm not foreign to England, but i an foreign to nursing anywhere. Maybe paper charting would humblize me haha is that a word?
ReplyDeleteHey everyone! Sorry for my hiatus, I am just getting back into the swing of work after my holiday.
ReplyDeleteI agree completely with ayios. If you have a passion for something, you find a way to make it work. In terms of saving money, I will be honest and tell you I don't. I spend it down to my last pence on travel. The wage is not very high here in comparison to the states, but when you take into account that most of your housing is paid for and flights are a million times cheaper here then it works out fine. You will find ways to make your money stretch. I love going to free markets and trying out new coffee spots. And as far as long term living goes, I am not sure about that yet. I will tell you that every time I leave I somehow get pulled back.
Savvyy095, The experience I brought over to England from the States was very valuable. I recommend at least 1 year experience, It will build a good foundation and lessen the shock of relocating countries if that is what you decide to do. Also, it gives you a lot more confidence.
Oh and Brandon, to answer your question, they don't really honor master degrees from the states. Their courses are different and they require different certifications. They work on a band system here that requires you to apply for higher positions. It's a tricky one but unfortunately our degrees have a harder time translating (even though we are higher degree qualified).
ReplyDeleteAmazing blog, very jealous!!! I wish I would have done nursing earlier. Any thoughts of going to Australia or NZ to nurse?
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