Nursing in France

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Is there anyone who can fill me in on RN jobs in France. I prefer the city hospiitals, I work in ICU currently. I have many years exp in Med Surg also. Would like to hear from someone. If you know about pay scale and such include that also. Thanks, bambi007;)

My wife started as an LPN in 1996 and became an RN (associate's degree) in 2001 in the States. She's been working full-time currently as a cardiac nurse. She is eligible to obtain a French passport (through our marriage) and our kids already have dual-citizenship. Is there any chance that her degree and experience will be recognized for her to work in France? Does anyone know what her next steps should be? Thank you.

Specializes in Cardiac, Progressive Care.

It will be very difficult, nearly impossible. I recommend reviewing past discussions on this subject in this forum. There have been many.

akdennis58,

My impression was that it was more difficult if the person didn't have a French passport. My wife would be a French citizen at that point. Thanks.

Specializes in Cardiac, Progressive Care.

From what I have read and heard from others, it has more to do with training than citizenship. Others have said that little credit is given for training outside of France, so if your training is from the UK or north america, you will need to take some training in France before being permitted to practice there. Again, this is other people have said, not my personal experience.

Specializes in Oncology, ID, Hepatology, Occy Health.
, so if your training is from the UK or north america, you will need to take some training in France before being permitted to practice there.

Not so if you trained in the UK or other EU country - provided you speak fluent French. If you trained in a non-EU country then some kind of re-training is often required.

I agree with akdennis' advice to review this thread thoroughly. Much if not all of the info you require has already been posted, and as has been said elsewhere, the DDASS and the DRASS in the area you intend to live should be your first ports of call.

Specializes in Cardiac, Progressive Care.

Thanks for the correction, David.

Specializes in Cardiac surgery, ICU.

Hello everybody,

It's been a while since I was on this site and I see some more posts were added. I thought I'd answer kelly001's and other non EU nurses' question again.

Guys and gals, it is impossible for a nurse trained outside EU to work or get an equivalence of the nursing diploma in France. I do speak from experience. I've posted several posts on this subject already. I'm from Canada, but it does not matter where you are from...Canada, US, Brazil, Australia etc. All nurses trained outside EU (including French citizens) have to do more nursing training in France. It means you have to go back to school. To be admitted you have to pass entrance exam that consists of 3 parts: written, oral and practical. The exam is competition based because there is a quota for foreign nurses (2% of school intake to be exact). If you succeed, you'll be admitted to school and then the committee will decide whether to place you in the 1st, 2nd or 3 year of school. I know it because I did it. You must speak French definitely better than just a beginner level.

There are several exceptions where non EU educated nurses can obtain an authorization to nurse in France.

# 1 For nurses with Quebec diplomas there might be the light at the end of the tunnel. Once everything is in place they will be able to work in France based on a recently signed agreement.

# 2 For non EU nurses who obtained their French citizenship by marriage etc. and whose diplomas are recognized by one of the EU countries. The permit to practice in another EU country is a part of your application file, so you must obtain it. I do have a permit to work in the UK and can also answer questions re how to obtain it. I hope my explanation was clear. I know it is disappointing for some, but this is how it is. I'll be happy to answer more questions if you have any.

Best regards,

canuck

Hello!

I have been reading this thread since last year and it's really full of helpful infos about the topic. Im a Philippine RN and planning to move to France to be with my French partner and from what I've read, it's not gonna be an easy journey. Somehow I already have a plan how to go about it: Take up French language courses then take up the Nursing course there and find a nursing job. I am fully aware it is not as easy as typing it but I'll pursue it anyway. And so I have some questions that I hope actual practicing non-EU nurses in France can answer:

1. Is there a lot of nursing job opening at the moment and the following years?

2. Do you enjoy working in France than where you were from?

3. Is the nursing course 100% in French?

4. Can nurses have specialization or career advancement such becoming a nurse practicioner or anesthetist like they do in the US?

Thanks so much! Ciao

Hi everyone,

I am also a French citizen with an American RN license. I live in NYC, and I just wanted to reach out to the other French nurses in the city :) Feel free to email me, I miss speaking French :)

hi everyone..im just new here in this site and i find it very helpful to read your comments. i just wanna ask if it possible or is their any chances for me to work in france as a nurse considering that my husband is french and ill be migrating there next year.I am a Filipina with Ph Nursing License and married to a french national.currently i am studying french and planned to study more in france next year. what do i need to have or to do in able for me to work as a nurse in france?

thank you!

Specializes in Oncology, ID, Hepatology, Occy Health.

Hi Eresh,

If you've got the patience to traipse through this entire thread you'll find that all the information you need is actually already there. As previously stated your first task is to get your French to fluency and your first port of call is the DDASS in the département you want to live and work in.

Bonne chance!

Hi Eresh

Yes, DavidFR is correct - there is a lot of info in the thread - it just takes some time to read it! It looks like your main issue would be fluency in French, which is essential.

Best of luck!

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