Any Irish Nurses?

suzanne4, RN · Mar 15, 2007

Right now, you will find it difficult to get a visa to work there as an RN unless you have a specialized skill that they really need. The other issue is if you have a two year degree from the US, it will not be accepted there for licensure. You need to have the same as what their nurses have there, and there are no two year programs.

Any open jobs are going to go first to citizens from there, and then to nurses from the European Union.

caliotter3 · Mar 15, 2007

Well so much for my future plans. I can understand the discrimination, but the higher education requirement is a kicker. This is an indication of what the rest of the world thinks about the US quickie answer to its need for nurses.

ayla2004, ASN, RN · Mar 15, 2007

oh define what you mean by irish descent, the Eire/republic of ireland (ROI)has changed its citsenship laws to eman you need to be the child of an irish citzen who birth was recorded as a citzen by an irish embassy.

if not you would need a visa

Not sure what the job situation is like in ROI, but yes prefence needs to go to citzens or EU nationals

Any nurse would need to meet EU program regulations for general trained nurses needing 2300 hours of theroy and 2300 hours of practice in medical/surg, learning disability, mental health, and mother baby, and children. These take 3 years normally in the EU.

suzanne4, RN · Mar 15, 2007

Well so much for my future plans. I can understand the discrimination, but the higher education requirement is a kicker. This is an indication of what the rest of the world thinks about the US quickie answer to its need for nurses.

US does not have a quickie fix. The RNs in the US originally were all trained in hospital programs and were under the Diploma programs. There were many that were two years and some were three years. The Diploma program still exists in some areas.

This level of nurse is considered the same as the BSN in terms of being a professional nurse, and they sit for the same NCLEX-RN exam.

Foreign nurses that come from other countries are required to be a first level professional nurse in their country to work in the US, that is why most have to have a BSN to be able to work in the US. And you will find that every other country has its own requirements for licensure, and normally it is that the nurse have at least the number of hours that the nurse in that country had to go thru. UK actually does a three year program, so if you went to a program that was at least that long, then you should not have a problem.

Canada, Ontario specifically, does not accept a US trained nurse with only a two year degree. Their requirement for entry level is now BSN. Without that training, they will not grant you a license there.

But the bigger issue that you have is the requirement for coming from the EU to be able to work in Europe right now. Most countries have made it much tougher for other nurses to go there to work.

And this has been discussed here many times over, you need to meet the requirements of the country where you wish to work. and even if the degree were accepted, it is immigration that usually will hold you back, they have more strict requirements for most countries. And that is at least the BSN. If you wish to move in the future, go on for the BSN. There are many programs that can be done and on-line and then you would be covered.

The choice is yours to make.

caliotter3 · Mar 15, 2007

The two year US degree programs would not exist the way they are being used if the delineated professional progression as described in published works by highly educated US nursing scholars had ever been put in place as long ago as the early 60s. It is now more than 50 years and no progress in the US. Diploma programs were supposed to be out of existence by now. To make the blanket statement that people have the choice to go on for a BSN, as if it is there for the picking, is not realistic. People have had very valid reasons for choosing 2 year programs. It is not the individual's fault that the 2 year programs have turned into a morass of waiting for spaces. It is also not the individual's fault that in the wave of enthusiasm for setting up nursing programs, educational institutions found it more desirable to set up and promote 2 year programs rather than support the professional model of BSN. The numerous repeated inquiries on this bulletin board attest to the fact that young people do not even get an exposure to their options while in high school. I am well aware that each country sets its own criteria for licensure and education. I have the same right to seek other avenues for a better life, as the influx of people from across all the waters seek when they want to come to the US. Too many times making valid comments on this bulletin board turns into opportunities to be portrayed as ignorant.

suzanne4, RN · Mar 15, 2007

The two year US degree programs would not exist the way they are being used if the delineated professional progression as described in published works by highly educated US nursing scholars had ever been put in place as long ago as the early 60s. It is now more than 50 years and no progress in the US. Diploma programs were supposed to be out of existence by now. To make the blanket statement that people have the choice to go on for a BSN, as if it is there for the picking, is not realistic. People have had very valid reasons for choosing 2 year programs. It is not the individual's fault that the 2 year programs have turned into a morass of waiting for spaces. It is also not the individual's fault that in the wave of enthusiasm for setting up nursing programs, educational institutions found it more desirable to set up and promote 2 year programs rather than support the professional model of BSN. The numerous repeated inquiries on this bulletin board attest to the fact that young people do not even get an exposure to their options while in high school. I am well aware that each country sets its own criteria for licensure and education. I have the same right to seek other avenues for a better life, as the influx of people from across all the waters seek when they want to come to the US. Too many times making valid comments on this bulletin board turns into opportunities to be portrayed as ignorant.

I trained in one of the original diploma programs and would not exchange that training for anything.

And do not take what I posted the wrong way. If you are nurse that trained in most countries, it requires a BSN for immigration purposes to be able to work in another country, even if the licensing bureau there grants a license to you. Immigration is a separate entity in all countries from licensure.

And with the need to do all of the pre-requisites for the two year program, which now makes it at least a three year program, the four year program is not a bad idea for many. And with the two year degree, the ADN or even diploma, most employers will contribute to the tuition to go on to further your education. And there are programs that can be done on-line, or that require only one day per week in class. Where there is a will, there is a way.

I have lived and worked overseas, and did not work as an RN in that country as I could not pass their language exam or pass a test in their language to work as an RN there. There are always many other options that are available to you, using the skills that you have learned. And you may find that better for you in another country, then the RN role there.

Work conditions are not usually the same in other countries. That is why so many wish to work in the US.

ayla2004, ASN, RN · Mar 15, 2007

UK actually does a three year program, so if you went to a program that was at least that long, then you should not have a problem.
But the bigger issue that you have is the requirement for coming from the EU to be able to work in Europe right now. Most countries have made it much tougher for other nurses to go there to work.
.

The OP was asking not about the UK but about the Republic of Ireland/Eire.

Nurses in the ROI are from 4 years ago only, trianed in 4 year univeristy based programs obtaing aRGN bsn on completion.

one full year of this is spend as a salaried member of staff (i think u would use the term intern)

those with a General nursing training from within the EU work to a EU law thats means there theory practice hours are the same and cover the same

material.

http://www.nursingboard.ie/

suzanne4, RN · Mar 15, 2007

My only point that I was trying to get across that if the nurse in question has only a two year degree from the US, it is not acceptable for the EU in any country. You must meet at least the minimal requirements for that particular country. And if they were not from a EU country, they need to meet the requirements that a nurse from outside of their needs to meet. Right now, the shortest time is the three year program in the UK.

With the BSN, that degree is acceptable in every country of the world for work as an RN; provided that the country permits a foreign RN to work there. And even if some countries have two year degrees, the immigration requirements for any country as a nurse are usually four year degrees or equivalent.

The requirements even in Canada vary with province.

ayla2004, ASN, RN · Mar 15, 2007

its a case of when in Rome do as the Romans.

My point was to point out that If the OP was talking about the ROI she would need to met their requirments. You refereed to the UK and not the ROI, two differnt countries, and though triang is very similar there are differences, maybe even in the currenty nurse jobs market.#

suzanne4, RN · Mar 16, 2007

You need to meet the requirements for any country, and she had mentioned the UK in her posting in terms of salary. More in the US are familiar with the requirements of the UK. But even if the license can be issued for that country, then there are immigration issues and they are requiring the BSN, or its equivalent for the EU currently. And the job markets are the same for both countries, jobs go first to those from the country, and next to those that are from EU countries. The only way as an American is if you have skills that they really need at this time.

kcalohagirl · Mar 16, 2007

I've got the BSN, so that wouldn't be an issue. May be starting on an MSN with a focus on Clinical Education soon as well. Am definitely more interested in the ROI as opposed to the UK.

Thank you all for your input. You've definitely given me something to think about!