Hiring and Sponsoring Registered nurse practitioners (SOC Code 2234)

Registered Nurse Practitioners, classified under SOC Code 2234, play a vital role in the healthcare sector, providing comprehensive care to individuals with various health conditions. Their responsibilities include:

• Planning Treatment: Assisting in the planning of both physical and psychological treatment protocols tailored to individual needs.
• Emergency Response: Responding swiftly to emergencies and administering medications, treatments, and surgical dressing changes in accordance with established nursing care plans.
• Clinical Tasks: Performing essential clinical tasks such as blood tests, urine sample collection, temperature checks, and pulse monitoring.
• Patient Support: Ensuring the highest levels of care by supporting service users, particularly those with limited mobility, physical, or learning difficulties, and leveraging available aids.
• Hygiene Practices: Maintaining general upkeep and hygiene practices throughout the healthcare environment.
• Staff Guidance: Guiding and supporting other staff members to uphold a high standard of care across the organization.
• Ongoing Training: Attending necessary training days and courses, both on-site and off-site, to enhance skills and knowledge as required.
• Record Keeping: Completing written daily records meticulously, in accordance with company policies and procedures.

With the increasing demand for skilled healthcare professionals in the UK, many healthcare institutions are actively seeking registered nurse practitioners from overseas. This guide aims to assist HR professionals in navigating the process of hiring and sponsoring registered nurse practitioners under the UK’s immigration framework.

What is SOC Code 3411 for Registered nurse practitioners?

SOC Code 2234 refers to registered nurse practitioners who provide advanced nursing care across various healthcare settings. Their responsibilities can include:

• Assisting in treatment planning: Collaborating with healthcare teams to develop both physical and psychological care strategies for individuals with diverse health conditions.
• Responding to emergencies: Acting quickly in crisis situations by administering medications, treatments, and managing surgical dressings in accordance with established nursing care plans.
• Performing clinical tasks: Conducting essential health assessments such as blood tests, urine samples, and checking vital signs including temperature and pulse.
• Maintaining high care standards: Ensuring optimal care for service users by providing support, particularly to those with limited mobility or physical/learning difficulties, and effectively using available aids.
• Ensuring hygiene and upkeep: Overseeing hygiene practices and the general environment to maintain a safe and clean healthcare setting.
• Guiding team members: Supporting and mentoring other staff to uphold high levels of care throughout the organization.
• Participating in training: Attending training sessions or courses as necessary to enhance skills and knowledge relevant to nursing practice.
• Documenting care: Completing written daily records as instructed, in line with company policies and procedures.

Registered nurse practitioners play a vital role in delivering comprehensive healthcare services, advocating for patient well-being, and contributing to the overall effectiveness of healthcare systems.

Eligibility to Hire Registered nurse practitioners (SOC Code 3411)

1. Job Requirements

Registered Nurse Practitioners must meet specific qualifications and experience criteria to ensure they provide high-quality care. These include:

• Education: A valid nursing degree (Bachelor of Science in Nursing or equivalent) and completion of an accredited nurse practitioner program.
• Licensure: Active state licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN) and certification as a Nurse Practitioner (NP).
• Clinical Experience: Relevant experience in healthcare settings, demonstrating proficiency in patient assessment and management.
• Technical Skills: Competence in performing clinical tasks such as blood tests, urine samples, and vital sign checks.
• Emergency Response: Ability to respond to medical emergencies and manage the administration of medications and treatments per established nursing care plans.
• Interpersonal Skills: Strong communication and interpersonal abilities to support service users, particularly those with limited mobility or specific health conditions.
• Continuing Education: Willingness to attend training days or courses, on or off-site, to maintain competency and stay updated with best practices.
• Documentation Skills: Proficiency in maintaining accurate written records in accordance with company policies and procedures.

Ensure the job description aligns with SOC Code 2234 and that the nurse practitioner’s experience and work meet the expectations for the role.

1. Salary Thresholds
2. Use the Minimum Salary Calculator to ensure your salary offer meets immigration requirements.

Sponsoring Registered nurse practitioners: A Step-by-Step Guide for HR Professionals

Once you’ve confirmed that the role and candidate meet the eligibility requirements, follow this step-by-step guide to sponsoring Registered nurse practitioners under SOC Code 2234.

Step 1: Obtain a Sponsor Licence

Before hiring non-UK Registered nurse practitioners, your company or institution must obtain a sponsor licence. This licence enables you to legally sponsor overseas Registered nurse practitioners under the Skilled Worker Visa program.

• Sponsor Licence Application: Submit documentation proving that your business is legitimate and has a genuine vacancy. Visit the sponsor licence application guide for more information. 
• Sponsor Licence Fees: Small businesses typically pay £574, while larger institutions pay £1,579. For more information, visit the sponsor licence fees guide. 
• Processing Time: Applications typically take up to 8 weeks, but using the Sponsor Licence Priority Service can reduce the processing time to 10 working days.

Once your sponsor licence is approved, you will receive a sponsor licence number, which allows you to assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS).

Step 2: Assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

Once you have your sponsor licence, the next step is to assign a CoS to the Registered nurse practitioners. This document provides key details about the job and the individual being sponsored.

• Defined vs Undefined CoS: Use a Defined CoS for Registered nurse practitioners applying from outside the UK, and an Undefined CoS for those already in the UK. Learn more in the Defined & Undefined Certificates of Sponsorship guide. 
• Required Documents: Provide details such as the Registered nurse practitioners’s portfolio, passport and job offer. Refer to Documents Required for Certificate of Sponsorship for a full list of necessary documents.

Step 3: Apply for the Skilled Worker Visa

Once the CoS is issued, the Registered nurse practitioners can apply for the Skilled Worker Visa.

• Visa Fees: Fees vary depending on the role and visa length—use the visa fees calculator to estimate the costs. 
• Immigration Skills Charge: Employers are required to pay this charge as part of sponsoring non-UK workers. This is separate from visa fees.

Conducting a Right to Work Check for Registered nurse practitioners

Before the Registered nurse practitioners begins working, you must conduct a right to work check to ensure they are legally allowed to work in the UK.

• Manual Right to Work Check: Verify original documents such as the Registered nurse practitioners’s passport and visa. 
• Online Right to Work Check: If the Registered nurse practitioners holds an eVisa, you can use the UK government’s online system to verify their right-to-work status.

For more details on how to perform these checks, see the right to work check guide.

Post-Hiring Responsibilities and Compliance

1. Record-Keeping and Reporting  
2. • Record-Keeping: Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of the Registered nurse practitioners’s employment details, salary and contact information. 
   • Reporting Changes: Report any significant changes to the Registered nurse practitioners’s role—such as promotions or salary increases—via the Sponsor Management System (SMS).
3. Sponsor Licence Duties and Compliance
4. Failure to comply with your sponsor licence duties can result in penalties or sponsor licence revocation, impacting your ability to sponsor future Registered nurse practitionerss.

How Borderless Can Help with Sponsoring Registered nurse practitioners

Sponsoring Registered nurse practitioners under SOC Code 2234 can be a complex process, but Borderless can simplify it for you. We offer comprehensive support to help you manage the entire sponsorship process.

End-to-End Sponsorship Support

At Borderless, we assist with:

• Sponsor Licence Application: Guiding you through the application process and ensuring all required documents are submitted correctly. 
• Certificate of Sponsorship Assignment: Streamlining the CoS process to make hiring easier. 
• Compliance Management: Helping you stay compliant with immigration laws to avoid penalties.

If you need assistance with hiring or sponsoring Registered nurse practitioners, get in touch for personalised support.

Conclusion

Hiring and sponsoring Registered nurse practitioners under SOC Code 2234 can be a rewarding way to enrich the cultural landscape of your organisation. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can successfully navigate the sponsorship process while ensuring compliance with UK immigration laws.

For further guidance, Borderless is ready to assist you with all your sponsorship needs. Contact us for expert advice.