Nursing in france - help please

[Georgie13]

Hello there,

I am currently living in France and have been for the last 8 months since moving from the Uk. My French is by no means fluent but am learning slowly but surely. I have been qualified for the last 12 years with a diploma in general adult nursing which I obtained in the UK.

Prior to moving to France I had left the NHS and have been working through an agency which I still occasionally go back to do some shifts to keep my uk registration up to date.

I am trying to find out what I have to do to transfer my nursing qualifications so as I can work here in France. I know that in order to do that I must speak fluent French, which obviously as of yet I do not.

I had origonally not wanted to do this so quickly however living in the dordogne in rural France the locals have realised I am a nurse and have decided they need my skills. Our village as with most have a local pompiers (fire brigade) and ours doesn't currently have a nurse attached to it. They are very keen that we get the process started in order to join, as am I. I have explained that I am unconfident in my French speaking abilities but the chief doesn't seem to think this will be an issue. I am aware that this will all probably be a long and lengthy process so am keen to get this started straight away. As well as joining the fire brigade I would like to do other nursing here in the future as I don't want to keep travelling back and forth to the uk.

I have read another thread on here with 22 pages of info but it is all quite old and wanted to see if anybody has anything more up to date.

Would really appreciate hearing from anyone who can help.

Thanks

Georgie