UK nurse wanting to go to the USA
#1
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Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 2
UK nurse wanting to go to the USA
Hi I’m a UK trained nurse with a BSc with honours degree in Adult Nursing... I am an A&E nurse but are currently sitting another seconded degree in midwifery. I have been reading a lot about the transfer to the USA and how difficult it is to have the desired amount of hours etc in the different fields of nursing that they require. Wanted to see if anyone had an experience with this at all? Whether the CGFNS accepted your university transcripts with no problems or not? And how smooth the whole process went from applying for transcripts to sitting the NCLEX. Would love to hear everyone’s experiences please.
Thankyou
Danni x
Thankyou
Danni x
#2
Re: UK nurse wanting to go to the USA
Hi
Do you have a visa to allow you to move to the USA?
Please have a look at the following to see if you any of the information applies to you:
https://britishexpats.com/wiki/Pulas...rk_in_the_USA_
This group will require further information before giving relevant advice.
Do you have a visa to allow you to move to the USA?
Please have a look at the following to see if you any of the information applies to you:
https://britishexpats.com/wiki/Pulas...rk_in_the_USA_
This group will require further information before giving relevant advice.
#3
Sad old Crinkly Member
Joined: Oct 2003
Location: Tallahassee, Florida
Posts: 807
Re: UK nurse wanting to go to the USA
There are several members of the group that were UK nurses that have made the transition.
Hopefully they can provide a more useful answer.
My wife is a nurse, Pediatric ICU.
She trained in the US early 80's. Moved to the UK when she married me. Worked for the NHS as a cardiac ICU nurse for about 8 years, now back in the US as a Pediatric ICU.
She says, 'Don't do it' Yes the pays great, but the job sucks. Too few staff, too long hours, no Tea trolley at 3.. She really misses that for some reason. A completely different style of nursing and patient care.
She would return to the UK in a heartbeat.
Hopefully they can provide a more useful answer.
My wife is a nurse, Pediatric ICU.
She trained in the US early 80's. Moved to the UK when she married me. Worked for the NHS as a cardiac ICU nurse for about 8 years, now back in the US as a Pediatric ICU.
She says, 'Don't do it' Yes the pays great, but the job sucks. Too few staff, too long hours, no Tea trolley at 3.. She really misses that for some reason. A completely different style of nursing and patient care.
She would return to the UK in a heartbeat.
#4
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 2
Re: UK nurse wanting to go to the USA
There are several members of the group that were UK nurses that have made the transition.
Hopefully they can provide a more useful answer.
My wife is a nurse, Pediatric ICU.
She trained in the US early 80's. Moved to the UK when she married me. Worked for the NHS as a cardiac ICU nurse for about 8 years, now back in the US as a Pediatric ICU.
She says, 'Don't do it' Yes the pays great, but the job sucks. Too few staff, too long hours, no Tea trolley at 3.. She really misses that for some reason. A completely different style of nursing and patient care.
She would return to the UK in a heartbeat.
Hopefully they can provide a more useful answer.
My wife is a nurse, Pediatric ICU.
She trained in the US early 80's. Moved to the UK when she married me. Worked for the NHS as a cardiac ICU nurse for about 8 years, now back in the US as a Pediatric ICU.
She says, 'Don't do it' Yes the pays great, but the job sucks. Too few staff, too long hours, no Tea trolley at 3.. She really misses that for some reason. A completely different style of nursing and patient care.
She would return to the UK in a heartbeat.
It just feels like I’m in a vicious circle tbh here.
thankyou for your comment I appreciate! I’m hoping someone can help me with how difficult the process was
Danni
#5
Re: UK nurse wanting to go to the USA
It's come up a lot. You might have luck searching for the threads. There might be some in the US immigration forums too.
Some of the details depends on the state you are moving too.
You say partner, but unless you're married, it doesn't help much.
Some of the details depends on the state you are moving too.
You say partner, but unless you're married, it doesn't help much.
#6
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 946
Re: UK nurse wanting to go to the USA
What visa is your partner coming on? If it's anything other than a H visa you would likely be able to work but you'd need to be married. You might earn more as a nurse in the US but you may not be factoring in the very high cost of living in some area and the massive costs of health insurance (even if included with your job, you still need to pay and the costs can be staggering). Where is your partner relocating to?
#7
Re: UK nurse wanting to go to the USA
The comparison I often make is to car insurance - if you expected your car insurance to pay for wipers, oil changes, and tyres, which are necessary running expenses if you own a vehicle, then car insurance would be "staggeringly expensive" too!
Last edited by Pulaski; Apr 5th 2020 at 4:31 pm.
#8
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 946
Re: UK nurse wanting to go to the USA
The costs can be "staggering" if you make the mistake of buying insurance that attempts to replicate "all you can eat buffet" NHS-style coverage, however if you take a more pragmatic approach (I would say "logical"), and be prepared to pay for occasional GP visits "out of pocket", then good quality health insurance can be quite affordable. ... We pay less than $200/mth (family of three) and save about $550/mth tax free in a ISA-like Healthcare Saving Account, to cover medical costs.
The comparison I often make is to car insurance - if you expected your car insurance to pay for wipers, oil changes, and tyres, which are necessary running expenses if you own a vehicle, then car insurance would be "staggeringly expensive" too!
The comparison I often make is to car insurance - if you expected your car insurance to pay for wipers, oil changes, and tyres, which are necessary running expenses if you own a vehicle, then car insurance would be "staggeringly expensive" too!
#9
Re: UK nurse wanting to go to the USA
Obviously if you have low income and/or a medical condition requiring expensive and/or ongoing medical treatment then you might be better off in the UK, but IMO a household including a doctor's salary and a US nurses salary may be better off in the US even in a high ccost area.
Last edited by Pulaski; Apr 5th 2020 at 8:05 pm.
#10
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 946
Re: UK nurse wanting to go to the USA
Obviously if you have low income and/or a medical condition requiring expensive and/or ongoing medical treatment then you might be better off in the UK, but IMO a household including a doctor's salary and a US nurses salary may be better off in the US even in a high ccost area.
#11
Re: UK nurse wanting to go to the USA
Anyway, you've still missed half my point - if you add that $750 to my US tax bill (mandatory deductions each month) is still significantly LESS than the tax I was paying in the UK!
Oh, and before you bring up the old canard of property taxes in the US being higher - when I bought a home, which I still live in, the property taxes were the same as on my home in the UK (despite my home in the US having a double garage (v no garage) and four times the living area) and obviously sales tax/VAT is lower too.
Last edited by Pulaski; Apr 6th 2020 at 12:09 am.
#12
Re: UK nurse wanting to go to the USA
I've had the same experience as Pulaski. Few years later and have enough in a HSA for the wife and I to get hit by a bus. If we don't get hit by a bus then the money can be treated in a similar way to a traditional IRA later in life.
I haven't yet been bothered to do the math, but there is definitely a tipping point based on income (and expected benefits) where the USA health/tax system becomes more cost effective than NHS + PAYE. That said there are some serious issues with the tax system here and healthcare regulations that do need some overhaul.
I haven't yet been bothered to do the math, but there is definitely a tipping point based on income (and expected benefits) where the USA health/tax system becomes more cost effective than NHS + PAYE. That said there are some serious issues with the tax system here and healthcare regulations that do need some overhaul.