This article is based on moving to the United Kingdom (UK), where it comes with both a positive lifestyle and experience. It is important for prospective expats to weigh up these before making the decision to relocate.
We are going to be telling you a little bit about living in the UK and what the benefits are.
Living in the UK
The UK is a popular choice with many expats from all over the world. As one of the world’s top economies, it has plenty to offer those who are seeking excellent employment opportunities and a high standard of living.
The country’s diverse, tolerant culture makes most welcomers feel welcome. Even if it can sometimes be hard to break through when you can’t speak or understand the English language that well.
However, don’t be afraid of that because it’s just the beginning of a new life and career for you.
With a rich history and diverse scenery comprising four nations and numerous regions, it truly has something to attract everyone. Whether you’re looking for city excitement or quiet relaxation, the UK has lots to offer such as:
Arts, Culture and Sporting Events:
- People living in the UK will find that they’ll have access to some of the world’s leading arts, culture and sporting events. A place where there are top museums and art galleries, music venues and theatres.
- Many international events are held in UK’s major cities such as London, Manchester, Liverpool or Edinburgh.
- Thanks to the UK being a relatively small country with an efficient transport network, travelling around seeing one’s favourite team play football, or to catch an international music act on tour isn’t too much of a hassle.
Foods:
- It’s easy to find good food in the UK and have some world’s top restaurants. There are lots of cheap restaurants and food markets that are available for International Nurses that want to be on a budget.
- It is possible to try food from all over the world, even in small towns. For instance, India, Italian, Chinese, Thai and Mexican food are all very popular.
- The Traditional British foods that are popular are full English breakfast, Sunday roast dinners, fish & chips, Yorkshire pudding, cornish pasties, pies, local cheese and of course plenty of tea and cake.
Sightseeing and attraction:
- Outside the cities there is beautiful countryside and many castles, historic houses, parks and gardens. You can visit lovely places like Oxford, Cambridge, London, York, Edinburgh and many more in the UK.
- As an International Nurse you may not have a car to travel to these places.Thats why there is public transport to explore, such as Trains are the fastest way to travel, especially for long journeys and to avoid traffic.
All you have to do is book your tickets in advance for the cheapest prices. You also have coaches and airplanes to travel to short places and far too.
Benefits of living in the UK
Have you been contemplating a nursing career in the UK, but not sure if it is the right move? Well, we all know the thought of moving to a different country can be scary because you will be miles apart from family and friends.
In the meantime, here are the top 5 benefits of living in the UK:
Flexibility:
Nurses benefit greatly from the fact that NHS hospitals are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The NHS recognises the value of providing flexibility in order to attract and retain top talent, maintain a good work life balance and reduce health care costs. Full and part time work, flexi-time, job sharing, and night shifts with days off in between are all available, the option is yours.
This will assist you in achieving a work/life balance, minimising burnout and allowing you to relax. Nursing can be exhausting and unpleasant at times, so it’s crucial to take some time off. Also, it allows you to devote more time for healthy activities, family time and personal obligations.
Competitive Salary:
Each nurse in the NHS is paid according to their skills, abilities and job responsibilities. If you choose to work as a nurse in the UK, you may rest assured that you will be financially secure.
Nurses who are just beginning their professions are paid a minimum of £24k per year. You will also be eligible for a significant pension plan as well as a number of discounts on transport, accommodation, and children’s education.
Wide Range of Career Options
The wide range of career options about working as a nurse in the UK is that there are many specialities you can pursue. Below are just a few of them specialities:
- Certified Midwife Nurse
- Neonatal Nurse
- Paediatric Nurse
- Critical Care Nurse
Flexible Working Schedule:
The NHS focuses on providing skilled nurses with a range of flexible working policies, which include part-time, voluntary, flexi-time and more. That’s not all, you also have the option of working the usual 9-5 shift, rotational or night shifts. This way, you can focus on work as well as your family. You get the perfect work-life balance and can give your family proper time.
Continuous Learning:
Lastly, the high-quality healthcare standards of the NHS are maintained through training, development and support. As part of the NHS, you are entitled to an annual personal development review and plan to support your professional goals. You will have access to a range of training courses, which will allow you to learn and pick up new skills as your career progresses. This way, you will continue to learn and grow in your career as a nurse in the UK.
Working in areas that have high living costs:
As well as the basic pay, there is also extra pay for those who work in areas where living costs are high, such as London. The NHS has one of the UK’s best pension schemes and offers learning opportunities through training programmes.
Career Progression:
There are many routes a nurse can take when it comes to career progression, and what’s even better is that you can gain first hand experience before deciding on the path you wish to take.
Specialisms in nursing are endless, you can choose from many areas such as emergency care, anaesthetics, midwifery, neonatology, orthopaedics, fertility to surgery. You even have the option of moving into a management role, advanced practitioners and consultant nurses where they have the option to prescribe medicine to patients.
As a nurse everyday will be different and you’ll learn something new and invaluable all the time. There are also opportunities to work on research projects and be involved in new innovations. You will be exposed to a variety of different healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and outpatient healthcare settings. This will help to keep your work varied, interesting and increase your learning and development.
Job Security:
Over these years, COVID-19 has shown us the significant role nurses play in healthcare and without them hospitals would not be able to function.
At Elios, we want to see an increase in people living longer as a result of better healthcare and advances in medicine, this means the need for nurses will increase.
Every Year new nurses are required to replace those who retire or leave the profession, it is a continuous cycle and as a result, there will always be a job for nurses giving you peace of mind that your job is here to stay.
Working as a nurse in the UK is a phenomenal opportunity!
If yes, you can go visit our website and contact us to find more job opportunities.
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