Australians in the UK: The Secret to Thriving as an International Travel Nurse Revealed!
Careers in medicine have been in high demand for many years. People who choose to work in this branch enjoy taking care of others, healing them and providing them with the best health care. If you already work as a nurse in Australia but want more challenges, you can apply to continue your nursing career in the United Kingdom.
There is a growing need for medical staff in this country, and Australia is known for excellent health care and the quality of medical services. Not only this; travel nurse uk The program allows you to travel from the UK to Europe while doing your job. So you combine the beautiful and the useful and enjoy traveling while doing what you love.
The job of a travel nurse is to go and work in medical facilities with shortages of staff. You will meet short-term personnel shortages caused by increase in volume of work, decline in the number of skilled workers, etc. It can be challenging, but it is very gratifying and looks great on your resume. So, if this sounds attractive, we give you some guidelines if you decide to work as a nurse in the UK.
The initial assumption is that you have already worked or are currently working as a nurse in Australia, and you are now looking for a new career challenge. The UK seems like a dream destination where you can settle down and then travel across Europe while doing what you do best. Apart from the fact that you can enjoy the holidays a bit and get to know new destinations, you also have the chance to improve your knowledge through practice in various medical institutions.
The first thing you need to decide is which path you will take. Of course, no language barrier makes things much easier, even if you decide to go on this adventure alone. Thus, you can search for jobs online by browsing the vacant positions in UK medical facilities. You can try medical forums, social media, advertisements, or directly contacting the medical facilities and practices you are interested in,
If you can’t find what you need or don’t have time to research job offers alone, you can leave that task to one of the recruitment agencies specialized in overseas employment. You can choose Australian or UK-based agencies, as they work on the same principle.
After you’ve decided which route you want to go, your next step is to take the test in Australia (if you go through an agency, they’ll explain the next steps in detail). It is computer-based and online and serves as a competency test for nursing work. Passage is high because the test does not require special preparation, of course, if you already have the necessary knowledge and practice in nursing.
Once you get your results you can go to the UK. Once you arrive, you can start working, provided you have applied and been accepted as a registered nurse from Australia but are a pre-registered candidate to work in the UK. In that case, you must take the OECD test at an authorized UK testing center within three months of your arrival.
You can find more details about this test at the following source:
What is OSCE? , OSCE Overview | geeky medics
The OSCE is not a classic exam that requires questions and answers from you. Instead, it is a simulation of how to handle certain situations from nursing practice. It tests your communication and clinical skills in caring for patients, assessing and evaluating their needs, etc. After passing it, you get a nurse and midwife certificate. If you are unsuccessful, you cannot reapply to the OECD more than three times within the same application.
There is a shortage of medical staff in the UK, so nursing is high on the list of shortage professions. The demand for qualified nurses is very high, so the visa process has been simplified for them. Australians have an advantage when seeking employment and visas to the UK, largely due to the similarities between the two NHS, education systems and language.
After passing the OSCE and obtaining the NMC, you can apply for a visa. If you are planning a long-term stay in the UK, you will need a Skilled Worker visa, which is the most common route taken by most Australian workers to the UK. This is the case if you are employer-sponsored. If you come to the UK and only then start looking for a job, you can apply for a 6-month visitor visa to start with, then extend your stay with a work visa.
To apply, as said, you need a certificate of sponsorship from your potential employer. Then, you’ll need to prove a high level of English proficiency, sufficient funds for starters, and an annual salary of at least £30,000. Once approved, the visa is valid for five years, and you can renew it as needed.
The good thing is, if you go through an agency, you are all set for accommodation, food, test preparation, etc. But when you move to the UK alone, there’s still a good chance of finding an interested employer. Cover these costs, even until you officially start working.
The UK is a land of opportunities for medical staff, and Australian nurses are extremely welcome. If your lifelong dream is to go out there and pursue a career in medicine, becoming a travel nurse is a huge leap towards achieving your dreams.