Hey all,
I am an Italian Nurse currently working in London... I graduated from the old "Scuola Infermieri Professionali" just a couple of years before those type of programs were made redundant and the University Diploma started.
A dream of mine was to come and work in the US as a cardiac nurse (I worked in cardiology/ccu for over 10 years) but the biggest wall to climb was licensure. Yep, getting my italian school (now closed) to write a statement about my clinical/theory hours has proved to be impossible! So, sadly my biggest challenge has been... bureaucracy, not the language!
I have to admit, every single person I know from my hometown of Verona does not speak fluent English, a few word at the most! Italians are usually friendly people but if they don't understand you, it's hard to judge them!
On nursing in Italy:
1- Salary is not that good! As someone else already mentioned cost of living vs salary is rubbish! a rent in central Verona for a single bedroom flat averages 1000 euros if not more and the salary of a newly qualified nurse is take home approx 1600-1800 euros! So with 600-800 euros you have to pay: gas (heating), electricity, water, council taxes, car payments, parking, telephone, cell phone, and petrol. Oh I forgot! you gotta eat to! so... Not recommended you go to work in Italy!
2- Career: After you graduate in nursing you can now do a post graduate MSc and become a ward manager or specialised nurse, and it does not mean more money! So why the heck would you wanna do it!
3- A profession: we all know how hard it was to pass nursing school, work and study at the same time... well people (general public) still have one concept; you obey the doctor's order and that's as far as you are allowed to go! And the medical team is ensuring that is what happens! I left Italy because I was frustrated of being unable to use my knowledge and despite confronting several of the medical team decisions I was put aside! Hence why I work as a Nurse Practitioner and have completed the MSc program in the UK. I am finally independent in my decision making and I take full account for my clinical decisions!
I have to say, lifestyle in Italy is comparable to none! Reason why I have not given up my citizenship so that I will retire in Italy and live: "La dolce vita"! not to be confused with "la dolcevita" which is a turtleneck shirt!
I hope this long blubbering was helpful to someone!
I keep dreaming of the land of liberty... shame it's only a dream!
Best of luck to you all
Anton ;P
Aug 2, '11 by Tiana2881Actually that is true after being in Italy twice many people do not want to speak English despite learning it in school and will turn their back and will not even look at you if you do not speak Italian. I spent 3 days my first time In Rome alone and I never felt so alone. I wanted to cry. Northern Italy is different but still many people are proud and do not wish to even attempt to communicate with you. It's more pride than anything. But it wasn't very welcoming to a person who saved up a bunch of money to not feel welcomed at all and snubbed. Yes I agree I'm in another country but when you go to other places in Europe you can meet half way and people speak English knowing their jobs depend on people on holiday. It's unrealistic to think Americans are going to be completely fluent in Italian when on holiday. First time in Italy I didn't want to go back.