Nepalese Nurse in the UK
The number of students enrolling in nursing education every year is major in Nepal. Willingness to serve and the respect that they gain is the dominating reason students choose nursing as their career. However, having chosen their field of interest, 60% of nurses in Nepal are not satisfied with their job.
Nursing schools are in excess in Nepal and thus the production of nurses is also high. Only some get the job and many remain unemployed while hospitals and clinics run short of nurses. This is because of mismanagement and lack of attention from the government.
There is an absence of training opportunities, empowerment, and management in the field as well as in the policy. Added to that, under-financing is a huge concern.
The career that is high in demand globally, for the same, nurses in their home country are not getting what they should be getting. This is the reason that nurses in Nepal are somehow compelled to move out for the sake of a better career and a better life.
While almost all nurses have thought of a nursing career abroad, the dilemma is natural about where and why! In this case, educating oneself about the country, the opportunities it provides, the quality of life there, and the requirements you need to meet is crucial.
Here we provide you with an option of having a nursing career in the UK and below are the reasons for your ‘WHY?’
- Job security: The most important thing the UK provides for nurses is job security. With a nursing degree, a whole lot of opportunities open up for you in new emerging healthcare services like adult nursing, children’s nurse, health visitor, mental health nurse, learning disability nurse, physician associate, etc.
- Flexible schedule: Nursing is looked at as a job of a high caliber. And thus, nurses are respected and provided with a schedule of their comfort.
Nursing in the UK provides you with flexible working hours. You can choose what days and what time you would like to work. This empowers and encourages them to have a life of their own.
It is a fulfilling job for a family person providing them with plenty of time for family, enough time to take up something, invest in a hobby, and many more.
- Competitive salary: As demanding as the job is, nurses are equally rewarded with a reasonable salary. Usually, the nurses get band 5 jobs in the NHS starting with £25k per year. Pay increases every year until they reach the top of the band. There is room to progress to bands 6 and 7 where the pay rate is higher. Nurses get paid extra for weekends and nights.
- Room for growth: Nursing has got different branches and you can choose which area you want to work in. There are plenty of jobs and training opportunities and options if you want to work 8-4 weekdays only.
- Permanent residency: Becoming a registered nurse qualifies you to be a permanent resident of the United Kingdom. Working as a registered nurse for 5 years in the UK will make you eligible to apply for the PR in the country. This is simply the best opportunity to secure a good life for yourself and your family in the UK.
Requirements for UK registration
To apply for UK registration, you will need:
- PCL or General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) or BN or BSc Nursing qualification.
- Registration in the country where you got your qualification or your home country – no experience required, freshers can apply too.
- English Language requirement:
Occupational English Test (OET) = Grade B in Speaking, Listening and Reading. C+ in Writing.
OR, IELTS (Academic) = 7 in Speaking, Listening, Reading module and 6.5 In Writing.
OET is much easier than IELTS but is three times more expensive.
PTE/TOEFL is not valid for the UK.
- Following that,
You will need to apply for initial registration with NMC-UK.
You can go through the registration requirements from the link below:
Once you get your initial registration, you will need to take the Part 1 exam (CBT).
Part 1 can be done in Nepal. Once you pass Part 1, you can process for a work permit (Tier 2 Sponsorship) and apply for the visa. The visa will be valid for 3 years.
Once you arrive in the UK, you start to work in a hospital as a care worker. You have to take the Part 2 exam after that. Once you pass Part 2 exam, you will become a Registered Nurse.
There is a possibility to bring your spouse too but only after about 3/4 months of arriving in the UK.
You can also extend your visa after 3 years. You do not need to go through agents. The whole process can be done by yourself. If you go through agents, remember you do not need to pay them. Agents get paid by the hospital.
It is suggested that you do not get a work permit from nursing homes or care homes. Make sure you are going to work for NHS Trust or a private hospital.