Careers

International nurses

Our bespoke international nurse recruitment programme is tailored to meet your educational and developmental needs.

As an acute Trust, our programme provides international nurses with a structured and supportive learning environment where you can develop your nursing career in a diverse range of Care Groups. We will support you to become a well-rounded nurse, with many opportunities for career progression and for maximising your clinical skillset with us.

How to apply

Applicants for our international nurse recruitment programme must complete the following steps in order to start the application process with East Kent Hospitals:

  1. Apply to the UK Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Find out more on the NMC website

  2. Complete the Test of Competence known as the CBT. Find out more on the NMC website

  3. Nurses that have completed their nurse training in a country where English is not their first language must complete an English language test (International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Occupational English Test (OET). Find out more about English language requirements on the NMC website

  4. Once you have completed the above steps, you can apply for our International Nurse role via our latest vacancies page. We advertise roles regularly so keep checking for new vacancies.

Our recruitment programme

We have a clear plan to support you from when you arrive in the UK to working in our hospitals. The programme has distinct time frames and will provide you with the opportunity to learn and pass the OSCE, as well as be ready to work clinically.

OSCE

Our OSCE training programme is a 10-day intensive study programme designed to prepare you for the OSCE. The training programme is delivered by our dedicated OSCE training team, who are experienced nurses from a multicultural background. An essential part of your training is to complete online e-learning and to complete self-directed learning to support our training programme. Our goal is for you to pass the OSCE exams first time and for our Trust to have a 100% pass rate.

Once you have passed the OSCE, you will then receive you NMC pin, which allows you to practice as a Band 5 registered nurse in the UK.

You can find out more information about the UK Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and joining the register on the NMC website.

Transition training

The Transition programme will be delivered the week after your sit you OSCE exam, but before you start working in a clinical setting.

The programme helps you to achieve our Trust aims by including:

  • Recording observations using Vital Pac

  • Blood glucose recording

  • Patient risk assessments

  • Falls management

  • Tissue viability

  • Manual Handling

  • Resuscitation

  • Communication - handovers

  • Escalating concerns, SBAR, outreach teams

  • Nutrition.

Our benefits package

We offer the following package to our international nurse recruits who need to undertake the OSCE training programme:

  • A 10 day OSCE training programme

  • OSCE exam costs

  • Flight tickets to the UK (terms and conditions apply)

  • Employer visa costs

  • 3 months free accommodation.

Contact us

Our dedicated International Recruitment team are on hand to answer any queries you have during your recruitment process with us.

If you have any questions about the programme or our current vacancies, please email ekhuft.resourcing@nhs.net.

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