Completing a nursing degree and travelling

Hi,
I have just completed a nursing degree, but I have always dreamed of going to Australia travelling, and obviously waited because of my degree.
Once I get my pin, is it okay for me to take a break? I am unsure on how long I will be away, but is it true that I will be registered with Nursing and Midwifery Council up to 3 years before I start my nursing career?

Don't judge please career is very important to me but I am craving a break, and seeing my family and friends. I would hate to feel like I'm restricted or have a short time limit as I have put hard work into completing the course

Thanks!

Hi,
I have just completed a nursing degree, but I have always dreamed of going to Australia travelling, and obviously waited because of my degree.
Once I get my pin, is it okay for me to take a break? I am unsure on how long I will be away, but is it true that I will be registered with Nursing and Midwifery Council up to 3 years before I start my nursing career?

Don't judge please career is very important to me but I am craving a break, and seeing my family and friends. I would hate to feel like I'm restricted or have a short time limit as I have put hard work into completing the course

Thanks!

Registered nurse here.

Great to know that you're planning on doing some travelling! Of course it's OK to take a break after qualifying.

Just to add to what Tracey's said...

You've nearly (but not quite) got it with registration and revalidation. NMC registration looks like this:
- you have to pay £120 per year, every year, to stay on the register.
For example, if you register for the first time today (2nd November 2023), you're registered until 30th November 2024.
You then have to pay your next £120 before 30th November 2024, or set up direct debit, to be registered until 20th November 2025.
- for revalidation: over the course of 3 years, you have to do 450 hours clinical practice (or 12 weeks' work at 37.5 hours... over the course of 3 years), 35 hours of CPD of which 20 must be face-to-face learning, do 5 reflections and get 5 pieces of practice related feedback. This is probably where you've got 3 years from.

Info on registering with the NMC here https://www.nmc.org.uk/registration/joining-the-register/register-nurse-midwife/trained-in-the-uk/
Info on revalidation here https://www.nmc.org.uk/revalidation/requirements/
As for time out of practice... the limit is 5 years out of practice before you need to do a return to practice programme. Info here https://www.nmc.org.uk/registration/returning-to-the-register/returning-to-practice/

Registered nurse here.

Great to know that you're planning on doing some travelling! Of course it's OK to take a break after qualifying.

Just to add to what Tracey's said...

You've nearly (but not quite) got it with registration and revalidation. NMC registration looks like this:
- you have to pay £120 per year, every year, to stay on the register.
For example, if you register for the first time today (2nd November 2023), you're registered until 30th November 2024.
You then have to pay your next £120 before 30th November 2024, or set up direct debit, to be registered until 20th November 2025.
- for revalidation: over the course of 3 years, you have to do 450 hours clinical practice (or 12 weeks' work at 37.5 hours... over the course of 3 years), 35 hours of CPD of which 20 must be face-to-face learning, do 5 reflections and get 5 pieces of practice related feedback. This is probably where you've got 3 years from.

Info on registering with the NMC here https://www.nmc.org.uk/registration/joining-the-register/register-nurse-midwife/trained-in-the-uk/
Info on revalidation here https://www.nmc.org.uk/revalidation/requirements/
As for time out of practice... the limit is 5 years out of practice before you need to do a return to practice programme. Info here https://www.nmc.org.uk/registration/returning-to-the-register/returning-to-practice/

Thank you so much for all this information I appreciate your time writing this!

So let’s say if i have already received a pin, but didn’t end up getting a job and went travelling - will I have to renew it after a year? Will that be possible since I never end up in practise and will I still stay on the register for 3/5 years?

Just want to make sure I get this right hope you don’t mind!
❤️

Hi,
I have just completed a nursing degree, but I have always dreamed of going to Australia travelling, and obviously waited because of my degree.
Once I get my pin, is it okay for me to take a break? I am unsure on how long I will be away, but is it true that I will be registered with Nursing and Midwifery Council up to 3 years before I start my nursing career?

Don't judge please career is very important to me but I am craving a break, and seeing my family and friends. I would hate to feel like I'm restricted or have a short time limit as I have put hard work into completing the course

Thanks!

If you want to stay on the NMC register, you have to pay your fees yearly and revalidate every 3 years - there is no leeway in this. You can't - and won't - stay on the register if you don't pay your fees and revalidate.
If you had a break in practice (to go travelling etc), this would mean re-registering... and I don't know how this works. I'd recommend getting in touch with the NMC.
Have you thought about looking at registering as a nurse in Australia as a British trained nurse?