Any information is helpful!

roser13, ASN, RN · Dec 30, 2010

"I didn't think that my language would be enough to go thru school again."

Welcome to the U.S.!

It occurs to me that if your command of English is not adequate for school, it would not be adequate to work as a nurse, either.

I do believe that if you hope to work as a nurse in the U.S., you will need to graduate from an accredited nursing school. That is a basic requirement to take the NCLEX licensing exam.

I'm not sure if this makes a difference or not, but did you obtain your nursing license in Germany? It's hard to tell from your post whether you just graduated from nursing school, or whether you went on to obtain your license.

At any rate, as you are already aware, the profession of nursing will have different educational requirements from country to country. You may be able to test out of some of your basic courses (take a test and prove your knowledge without having to repeat the class) but you will no doubt be required to graduate from an American course of study in order to practice as a nurse. Your best bet will be to contact a local community college or university that offers a nursing program and have a discussion with them as to how to start your re-education as a nursing student.

ocean waves · Dec 30, 2010

Hello. Some of the nurses from other countries whom I have known expressed concerns similar to yours about the different requirements for registered nurses in the USA. It is my understanding that the professionals in each country develop their own standards for safe nursing practice. You asked "should I try to take the nursing state board", and my suggestion is that you call the state board of nursing office where you are currently located and kindly ask for advice. If you are required to earn more nursing courses, I agree with the writer who said that you may be able to "test out" of some of the classes. Best wishes!

Silverdragon102, BSN · Dec 30, 2010

Moved to the International forum

Starter would be have you actually applied to the state to be a registered nurse? If you have did you have to get CES done with CGFNS. CES is a breakdown of your transcripts and check your training matches the US training.

If you feel your English isn't enough to go to school, how do you think you will manage working

netglow, ASN, RN · Dec 30, 2010

Just need to add, that many hospital systems hire foreign nursing staff over US nurses for the majority of their nursing requirements. Excellent grasp of the English language is not a priority. Many facilities will also allow those nurses to give report and speak to one another in their native language on the job during patient care. So, OP it just depends on the hospital system, quality of operations, and what country they have direct import shipping set up with. In my area, the contracts are with the Phillipines.

The silly part of this for you OP, is that you are already here and your background is German, and you weren't requistioned, so you don't have a "shipping label" with the correct information on it. So you have to slug it out with the rest of the nurses and try to get a job the old fashioned way (the right way, IMO).

Here is a tip. Many home health agencies would love to have someone who can handle their patients who do not speak English. You should try this area. I have friends who are US citizens who came here originally from Europe the old fashioned way. They are multi-lingual, can understand and speak many European based languages and have found jobs in homehealth. To brush up on your English, check out your local community colleges, often you will find that these classes are free. Good luck to you.

NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN · Dec 30, 2010

There are others out there currently working as nurses whose English is sub-par. You definately want to take some college level English courses because it's going to be your butt on the line if your English is inadequate. Some people are required to take English exams before they will be allowed to become licensed in some states. But even then their English is still horrible but they managed to pass the exams, but again it's their butts on the line.

Agreed with the above posts contact the state board of nursing for help. Be prepared that you may have to go through this each time you move from state to state as you're considered a foreign graduate of nursing and each state has their own requirements.

It's true that nursing is different here in the US. Each state has their set of rules and regulations for nurses. In CA we have ratios which is about 5:1 depending on the unit. But those numbers are based on primary care nursing which means: NO CNA'S, OR LVN'S. Some hospitals are geared towards primary care and don't employ any ancillary staff so you're it, and that means that you will do everything. Also some states don't have ratios and you're stuck with a lot of patients to care for. They may have ancillary staff like CNA'S and LVN'S but you're responsible for them too. What they can do, you can do too. So advise is not to rely on them as it's your butt on the line. If you don't want that responsibility then being a RN isn't for you. If you love the patient care, the heavy responsibility, and of course the money then being a RN is for you.

Forgot to mention that it takes months to obtain your license as a foreign graduate. Some people have waited as long as six months just to be able to sit for the NCLEX. Keep in mind that jobs for RNs are scarce, and don't be surprised if you don't find a job right away after you obtain your license. Even local graduates are having a hard time finding jobs. Good Luck

Mona77 · Dec 30, 2010

Hi,

I am a nurse currently working in Germany, going through application process for BC, Canada!

Only you can decide if nursing is your passion and the occupation you can imagine to work in for the next 20, 30 years or more.

If you are not sure about your language skills, why not do Toefl or Ielts? They will assess your English skills.

And when seriously considering an American licensure, you will be expected to provide proof of your English skills as well.

Do you started nursing education in Germany after completing Realschule or after Abitur?

The main problem I see is in your nursing education, because you were trained mainly in Pediatrics - Germany is one of the few countries offering a generel education as well as a specialized - think of Care of the Elderly and as mentioned Pediatrics.

Most likely you will not have enough hours theoretically and practically in other parts of nursing.

But as mentioned before, only a check on your transcripts can provide the desired answers.

First be sure which way to go on on your career path!

Mona77

Silverdragon102, BSN · Dec 30, 2010

Just need to add, that many hospital systems hire foreign nursing staff over US nurses for the majority of their nursing requirements. Excellent grasp of the English language is not a priority. Many facilities will also allow those nurses to give report and speak to one another in their native language on the job during patient care. So, OP it just depends on the hospital system, quality of operations, and what country they have direct import shipping set up with. In my area, the contracts are with the Phillipines.
The silly part of this for you OP, is that you are already here and your background is German, and you weren't requistioned, so you don't have a "shipping label" with the correct information on it. So you have to slug it out with the rest of the nurses and try to get a job the old fashioned way (the right way, IMO).
Here is a tip. Many home health agencies would love to have someone who can handle their patients who do not speak English. You should try this area. I have friends who are US citizens who came here originally from Europe the old fashioned way. They are multi-lingual, can understand and speak many European based languages and have found jobs in homehealth. To brush up on your English, check out your local community colleges, often you will find that these classes are free. Good luck to you.

If this is the case can you explain how many nurses are currently in the retrogression queue and not many have used or meet requirements for H1b?

roser13, ASN, RN · Dec 30, 2010

Just need to add, that many hospital systems hire foreign nursing staff over US nurses for the majority of their nursing requirements. Excellent grasp of the English language is not a priority. Many facilities will also allow those nurses to give report and speak to one another in their native language on the job during patient care. So, OP it just depends on the hospital system, quality of operations, and what country they have direct import shipping set up with. In my area, the contracts are with the Phillipines.
The silly part of this for you OP, is that you are already here and your background is German, and you weren't requistioned, so you don't have a "shipping label" with the correct information on it. So you have to slug it out with the rest of the nurses and try to get a job the old fashioned way (the right way, IMO).
Here is a tip. Many home health agencies would love to have someone who can handle their patients who do not speak English. You should try this area. I have friends who are US citizens who came here originally from Europe the old fashioned way. They are multi-lingual, can understand and speak many European based languages and have found jobs in homehealth. To brush up on your English, check out your local community colleges, often you will find that these classes are free. Good luck to you.

It will do no good for OP to contact any type of employer until she has obtained a nursing license.

Trauma Columnist · Dec 30, 2010

And jobs are tight in the US at the moment. However if you have military spouse preference you might have a better chance.

NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN · Dec 30, 2010

And jobs are tight in the US at the moment. However if you have military spouse preference you might have a better chance.

That's if applying in the military & veterans hospitals but you must hold US citizenship to work there. So she may not have that option.

netglow, ASN, RN · Dec 30, 2010

I think the OP understands she needs a license. She just is feeling screwed like anybody would when confronted with a possible do over, after just finishing.

I guess if your area doesn't work in this way (majority of my post) this might seem very off. But, it is how things work where I live now for about 7 years. No it's not right, but it's the norm. I like to look at things exactly how they are. It does no good to do otherwise. The importing might have slowed somewhat, but we are saturated for years to come. Many waiting to bring brothers and sisters in through the same pipeline, all are following the path of entry to the same hospital networks. It's so ingrained that it's segregated, here, there is no rise for these people into nursing management, it is stunning to see it really.