The NHS needs international nurses

The latest research for NHS England revealed that recruiting nurses from overseas is becoming increasingly important. The UK is facing a severe shortage of nurses with almost 40,000 vacant positions for registered nurses and more than 90,000 available openings across the NHS in England.

The government is committed to decreasing this number by 2028. One of the ways to meet this objective is to recruit more nurses from abroad.

What are the benefits of recruiting nurses from abroad?

Having more potential nurses is not the only benefit of looking for nursing recruits abroad. Research has shown that nurses that come from abroad are more likely to stay with the NHS for longer than British nurses. Moreover, foreign nurses often work longer hours than their UK counterparts. International nurses can also bring a new perspective and skills to the UK.

How to attract international nurses?

As international nurses tend to be highly qualified, you might face competition from other countries looking to recruit talent from overseas. Here are some tips to help you convince international nurses that working in the UK is the best option.

Promote the benefits of working in the UK

One of the things that people looking for a job in nursing pay attention to is the benefits package. Luckily, the NHS is known for numerous benefits that other medical centres and organisations do not offer. When you are placing an ad targeting potential nurses, make sure to list all the perks they would have access to if they came to work for the NHS.

Understand the priorities of international nurses

International nurses might have different needs than UK nurses as taking on a job would mean relocating to a new country. That is why they might require, for example, a longer contract to be sure that they have a stable, secure position. To effectively target and recruit international nurses, take some time to understand what aspects of the job matter the most to them.

Make the recruitment process straightforward

Of course, recruiting nurses from abroad might be a slightly more complicated process than recruiting UK-based candidates. There will more likely be more paperwork involved, especially now that the UK has left the EU and new workers need to have visas. Because of that international nurses might not initially apply to your job ad. That is why, you should clearly state that you will help them make the whole recruitment process as smooth as possible.

What challenges do international nurses face?

Recruiting international nurses can help close the gap between nurses needed and staff available. Nevertheless, the process of getting used to living and working in a new country might be difficult for some.

Here are some examples of challenges that foreign nurses might face:

Effective communication	Communicating with patients is crucial to create a bond with them and make them feel like they are in good hands. Even though nurses who come from abroad usually speak English very well, they might find it difficult to understand some accents and colloquialisms.
Culture shock	Regardless of where the nurses come from, the culture in their home country is likely to be different to the culture in the UK. Sometimes they might need a while to understand certain British customers and to adapt to living in the UK.
Dealing with death	Dealing with losing patients is probably the most challenging aspect of being a nurse. Of course, it is something that concerns all nurses, not only international ones. Nevertheless, there might be some religious and cultural differences regarding how people approach death in international nurses’ countries and in the UK.

What benefits do international nurses get from working for the NHS?

Some benefits that international nurses who decide to come to the UK to for the NHS can receive are:

Refunded visa costs – international nurses coming to the UK can have their visa fees refunded by the NHS. On top of that, they receive free accommodation for the first eight weeks of their stay in the UK.
Paid training – new nurses that come to work for the NHS receive paid training to receive skills needed to do their job effectively.
Refund of language courses costs – to be able to work for the NHS, international nurses have to have a good command of the English language. To prove their skills, they need to pass English language tests such as IELTS. Those who receive a job at the NHS can receive a refund of the fees they paid to take the test.
Three-year long initial contract – many international nurses want to come to the UK to settle there permanently so having a contract that gives them employment security for several years is a great option
Orientation programme – starting a job in a new country can be overwhelming but international nurses can attend orientation programmes that make it easier for them to settle in and understand the work culture in the UK
Paid holidays – new nurses get 27 paid days of leave each year. After working for 5 years that increases to 29 days. Then, after 10 years, nurses can enjoy 33 days of paid holidays.

These are just some examples but international nurses who decide to pursue nursing careers in the UK can enjoy a wide range of benefits and can be sure that they will be rewarded for their hard work.

Conclusion

The demand for nurses is and will always be very high. After all, nurses are essential to provide patients with high quality care and assistance. Sadly, the UK has been struggling with meeting the demand for qualified nurses.

Can recruiting international nurses solve the problem? The answer to this question is simple – it can.

Thanks to foreign nurses, the UK can not only fill the available vacancies but can also diversify the NHS staff and promote inclusivity. Moreover, international nurses can bring exceptional expertise and skills that will improve the functioning of healthcare facilities in the UK.

If you are a foreign citizen considering a career in nursing, get in touch today by calling +44 131 610 8868. We can answer all your questions and tell you more about how you can come to the UK to become a nurse.