Have you considered working as a nurse in the UK but are unsure if it is the correct choice?
Well, the prospect of relocating to a new country is always frightening. You’ll be moving to a new country far away from your family and friends. It’s understandable if you’re worried about relocating to the United Kingdom.
But it’s one of the best places in the world to work and live for nurses. With over 620,000 nurses, the NHS is the largest employer in the UK. Despite this, there are approximately 43,000 open nursing positions. As a result, we’d like to discuss some of the primary advantages of working as a nurse in the UK!
Job Security for nurses in the UK
One of the key advantages of working as a nurse in the NHS is guaranteed job stability. People’s need for healthcare services grows as their lifespan lengthens. As a result, more nurses are needed to support and assist people who require various forms of therapy.
The range of healthcare services available is also expanding. Mental health services, for example, are growing as we learn more about how to help people with mental illnesses properly. And with each new healthcare service, additional nurses are needed to ensure that it runs smoothly.
Furthermore, more nurses retire each year than new nurses to replace them. That is one of the main reasons the NHS relies on international recruitment.
Competitive Salary for nurses
A nursing career in the NHS pays well and offers many benefits. The ‘Agenda for Change’ ensures that each nurse is paid a wage commensurate with their skills, competencies, and job duties. Band 5 Staff Nurses, for example, can expect to earn more than the median wage when working full-time, with a salary range of £22,128 to £28,746.
A nurse who has gained more experience and specialized in a particular area of nursing can earn up to £37,890. If they go one step further and obtain a master’s to become an Advanced Nurse Practitioner, they can earn up to £44,503, Head Nurses can earn up to £51,668, and Consultant Nurses can earn up to £104,927.
The flexible Working schedule for NHS nurses
The NHS prioritizes providing qualified nurses with various flexible work options, such as part-time, volunteer, flextime, and more. Not only that, but you can choose between working the standard 9-5 schedule, rotating shifts, or night shifts. This allows you to concentrate on both your work and your family. You achieve the ideal work-life balance and devote adequate time to your family.
Different career opportunities for nurses in the UK
Nurses make up most of the NHS staff and play an important role in private hospitals. There are many distinct roles and paths to take in nursing and many various ways to get there! You can register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council if you have a diploma or degree in nursing (NMC)
From there, you can choose to work in a wide variety of nursing roles, such as:
- Healthcare Assistant
- Advanced Nurse Practitioner
- Healthcare Assistant
- Clinical Advisors
- Nurse Practitioners
- Emergency Nurse Practitioner
- Registered General Nurses
- Urgent Care Practitioners
- Mental Health Nursing
- Community nursing
- Health Visitors
- Practice Nurse
- Health and Justice /School Nursing
- Children’s nursing/pediatrics
- Triage nursing
- Learning Disability Nursing
- Neonatal Nursing
Relocation Packages for international nurses
Moving houses is expensive enough, but moving countries is even more so! As an overseas nurse, partnering with the correct recruitment firm can provide you with NHS interviews within trusts, as well as a large relocation package to help you transition to the UK. So, if you choose the correct NHS trust, you’ll get free flights to the UK, paid housing for your first few weeks, refunded visa fees, refunded English language exam fees, refunded Tier 2 visa fees, payment of your OSCE, and a free OSCE training course to help you pass!
Continuous Learning for nursing development
Finally, the NHS maintains its high-quality healthcare standards through training, development, and support. As a member of the NHS, you are entitled to an annual personal development review and plan to help you achieve your professional objectives. As your career grows, you will have access to various training courses that will help you study and pick up new abilities. As a result, you will continue learning and growing as a nurse in the United Kingdom.
Working as a nurse in the UK is a phenomenal opportunity!
Nursing revalidation guides you in every step of the NMC registration and provides an extensive library of CPD accredited courses. For further advice and guidance on working as a nurse in the UK, please email us at info@nursingrevalidation.com, and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have!