Nursing in the UK and abroad
In this section you can find the latest information on how to become a nurse, nursing careers, and the legal requirements on coming into the UK to work in nursing or moving to another country to continue your nursing career.
Latest news: Read the RCN news story - RCN offers support to Haiti.
Coming to work in the UK
This section looks at a range of information on working in the UK. Here you can find information for registered nurses and midwives trained in the European Union and economic area seeking employment or further education in the UK. You can also find information on employment placements, including the Overseas Nursing Programme/Supervised practice/adaptation programmes for overseas trained nurses.
Immigration Advice Service
Key to the advice we offer on coming to the UK to work is that given by the RCN's Immigration advisers. Our advisers are authorised by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) to provide immigration advice and services. This unique service is free and confidential.
Nursing abroad
Our members can also access a range of online guides about working abroad. For advice on working and volunteering overseas, and information on coming to work in the UK from abroad, please contact: international.office@rcn.org.uk
Visit the RCN International Humanitarian Community.
Consultation responses from the RCN International Department
The RCN submits responses to consultations on international issues generated by either the European Commission or UK government departments.
Members recently helped shape the RCN's response to a consultation issued by the European Commission on its' key priorities for future global health (PDF 73.6KB) [See how to access PDF files]. Collectively, the European Union and its' member countries are the largest donor of development aid and we are reaching a critical juncture in achieving the eight UN's Millennium Development Goals that include health and wider social targets, such as gender equality.
In the RCN's response, we emphasised the importance for the EU and member states to meet their commitments to aid, to support the draft World Health Organization's code on the ethical recruitment of health workers, and continuing the drive for improved access to services, particularly for women and children. We stressed that an EU strategy needs to take a broad approach to health as a human right, a global public good and a key dimension in human security and development.
RCN members' manifesto and European elections campaign
With up to 50,000 members in a single constituency and nearly 400,000 members, the RCN is a significant voting force. Prior to the European elections in June 2009, the RCN published a manifesto calling on all UK candidate Members of the European Parliament to support five priorities in Europe. Visit the RCN's European elections campaign section for more information and details of the manifesto.