Re: US Nurses Wishing to Work Overseas Originally Posted by love4nursing I am a nursing student and will be graduating May 2007 with BS degree in nursing. Last year I studied abroad in Madrid, Spain for six months and finished my other major, Spanish. I would like to move back to Madrid for a few years to work after graduation. I understand that there really isn't a shortage of nurses in Spain, that you must pass a language test and nursing exam in Spanish to legally work in Spain, and that acquiring a work permit/residency card can be a challenge in itself. I am also aware of the fact that American nurses can work on the US bases located in Seville and Rota, Spain, but I really have a strong desire to go back to Madrid. Does anyone know if it is possible to work as a nurse in an English speaking clinic of some sort? Or can anyone give me advice or suggestions for how I can go about working over there if that is at all possible?! Any help is greatly appreciated!! Thanks
Even working in an English speaking clinic, will stil have the same requirements for licensure. The biggest issue that you will face it trying to get immigration papers that will permit you to work there. Inless there is a shortage, it usually is not going to happen, the employer would need to prove that they cannot find someone with those skills already in Spain. And nurses from the UK could also fill that need, and being a citizen of the EU, they do not need all of the immigration hassles to face.
Best bet would be the US military, it may be your only option. The only other thought, would be for an American company based there, but then you would also need several years of experience for that.
Nursing News