I'm not in the US anymore!!!!!

This is my first post from Scotland! Wow. You all are probably wondering why this is in there. Well for me it's a lesson and comparison on how Scottish nursing students are handled compared to us fine American citizens. I'm not going to go into much detail on what nursing students in the US go through, because that would be mundane and kind of pointless, since every state operates differently. But I've learned so much about Scottish healthcare after only 3 classes, and it's making my head spin.

For starters, it only takes 3 years for a Scottish nursing student to complete what I will be completing in 5 years. Grr!!!!! Not that I mind doing all the hard work, but 3 YEARS?! Come ON, United States. Oh no, it gets way better. Prepare to be extremely jealous. Nursing students here do not have to pay anything to go to nursing school. NOTHING. Not even room and freaking board!!! And....nursing students even get a stipend for every year of 6,578 pounds (almost 12,000 US dollars!) It is divided equally amongst the twelve months of a calendar year. Now what that stipend is used for beats the heck out of me. But if there are parents or single parents, they get an additional almost $4000 in aid. Geesh. And to be a nurse in Scotland, you can start working at age 17. Pretty wicked, huh?

But now this is when it gets interesting, because now I completely understand why it takes only 3 years to complete the program. There are 3 semesters per year, with each semester lasting 15 weeks. If my math is correct, that's 45 weeks of theory, class work and clinicals, and only 7 weeks for a holiday (school break. Sorry for the random UK jargon). Now tell me, how tough would that be? And I'm complaining about all I have to do...but good grief at least I get a pretty decent break. Now the division of course work is very different as well; for the first about 8 weeks or so is strictly theory. The first clinical experience lasts 5 weeks, and if the placement is far away then the Scottish parliament pays for necessary accommodation. I know, right? I was like, GET OUT OF HERE. The second clinical lasts 6 weeks, and the third lasts 11. But, like I said, if the clinical placement requires a lot of traveling, then accommodation is paid for. So the schedule goes one week of theory, then one week of clinical placement. Makes sense for traveling and paid accommodation, I suppose.

Like in the states, we have to be registered by a state board. When I graduate, I will have to take the NCLEX and register with the Kentucky Board of Nursing. Well here in Scotland they have to register and be licensed by the NMC, or Nursing and Midwifery Council. Once the license is given then nurses can start practicing  There are also different divisions of nursing; Sick Children, Adult, Mental Health and Learning Disability. Not as many to choose from compared to what's in the states, but the additional LD would be really cool in my opinion to explore. So yeah, I know. Information Overload, but I think it is very useful information. To be honest I am a bit jealous. I would love to get paid every month and only take 3 years in what is going to take me 5 in the states. Mom, can I move to Scotland????