Nurses Leaving UK for U.S.

Dangling larger salaries, huge bonuses, and better living standards, American recruiters are achieving success in luring National Health Service (NHS) nurses to leave Britain and relocate to work in the United States. According to the Royal College of Nursing Annual Report, more than 2,000 nurses, a record number, left Britain for the U.S. last year.

In 2002-03, more than 2,200 verification checks on UK-based nurses were requested by American employers, up from just over 1,000 the previous year. [ ... ]

The Nursing Times said that American companies were increasing their presence at job fairs in the UK and putting enticing adverts in the professional press. Some recruiters have offered guaranteed jobs to registered nurses who want to move to the States with their families.

Packages offer salaries of up to �39,000 [$60+K] a year, two months' rent-free accommodation, air fares, visas for all the family, educational opportunities, a green card working visa and the possibility of citizenship.

A real life example of the law of supply and demand which leaves the NHS holding the bedpan.