Hi,

I'm looking into studying as a nurse abroad, I haven't started any training here as yet, but I wondered if anyone had any info on costs and possibilites. I'm particularly looking at America, and I know that foreign nurses actually get paid to come to England and study. Is it the same for us to go elsewhere?

Thanks

its a complicated situation to work as a nurse abroad and it changes all the time. I spent a couple of years working in the USA. Firstly, foreign nurses are NOT paid to come and study here. There was much in the press a while ago about the NHS recruiting from abroad and some trusts did offer 'sweeteners'. This in itself causes problems with draining qualified staff from countries which need them. Remember any person from the EU can request to train as a nurse in the UK and like a UK student will receive a bursary.

In the EU,its similar for a Uk nurse and you can apply to work in other EU countries so there are many nurses working happliy in France, Spain, Germany etc. For non EU countries you need to apply for work visas. Some non EU counties have 'reprocicity' with the UK. For example, Australia and New Zealand, which means that they recognise your UK nursing qualification.

The USA does not.

Im a student nurse and in the uk we recieve a small bursary from the nhs and have our course fees paid. Im not 100% sure but I think that abroad you have to pay you're course fees and dont get paid whilst studying.
I know that nursing courses in the US are shorter than in the uk but we have much more responsibility and are allowed to do a lot more.
Have you looked into studying nursing here?

You are completley wrong about nursing in the USA being easier than here in the UK. for a start all US nurses are degree trained and as well as having to complete a degree also have to pass the local 'state board exams'. The majority of US nurses also take their masters degree within 12 months of qualifying. In the Us you also have much more responsibility in the job and can do mor ethan here in the UK. For example, all US nurses prescribe, can start IV antibiotics, defib, site IV's and start IV fluids, and more. I admit that in the Us the doctors have control - they issue whats called doctors orders - for eg: start an iv, run litre N/S, take arterial blood gasses, take bloods etc, demerol for pain releif - but it is the nurse that does it with a degree of freedom. Dr's orders are their to cover you as in the US its always a risk of being sued if something goes wrong.

But the benefits are much better, and i'm talking pay and conditions. When i worked in los angeles i earned $50,000 per year which was equiv to £38,000 and that was 12 years ago. Not bad as i was newly qual then!!!!