Re: Working in Germany
Silverdragon102 sounds right. I got an e-mail back from my friend. Midwives in Germany seem to undergo a very specific, 3-year program that is comparable to a trade school program over here (though I am unsure if it would translate to a Bachelor or an Associate's). Midwife students' programs seem similar to a nursing program - theory, practical exercises, clinicals, exams, and end with a written, practical, and oral exam that will, if passed, qualify them to apply for the midwife license.
It seems that midwives in Germany do work more on their own, alone. They can deliver home births with only a doctor stopping by to confirm that patients are doing fine. If they work in hospitals, they work with doctors and nurses, though it seems that they work with the hospital staff rather than their own "nurse partner." If you want to work with midwives, you might want to consider working on the delivery floor of a hospital as a nurse, or you might want to consider getting the midwife license.
I am unsure how a U.S. RN license transfers. You could get in contact with an evaluating agency. These are agencies that translate and evaluate foreign degrees and licenses into a local equivalent. I know ECE.org is an American evaluation agency, and they might be able to help you or refer you to a German agency.
Definitely work on your German if you plan to work in a German health care setting, or consider applying on a facility on a US military post.
Good luck, I hope that helped a bit, keep us updated!
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