Anyone from Germany do further education in the US?

Just wanted to ask if anyone had gone to a nursing school in Germany and wanted to transfer their hours to a college in the us? I have held an active RN license in the us for 13 years and would like to go back to school for bsn... Not sure how and where to start. Answers are greatly appreciated!

Edited Jul 30, 2014 by Dariar77

HI Dariar77,

I went to Nursing school in Germany. I graduated 2003. I just finished the difficult process of becoming an RN here in the States. Went with CGFNS and just passed NCLEX last week :) Are you German?

Congratulations on passing your exam! No, I am not German, just went to nursing school there prior to coming to the US. So when you did your cgfns, did they tell you what degree you got here? I'm guessing it's an equivalent to an associates degree? I am having difficulty getting accepted into a uni/college for my bsn. It is a long and painful process. Hopefully will not have to start all over again... Good luck to you and thanks for your reply!

Hi, i was told Diploma! After the hospital based nursing school in Germany, CGFNS and then passing the NCLEX I have earned a nursing diploma. If i understand correct you worked here in the States and now you want to get your bsn? Why is it so difficult? Did you do CGFNS too?

Yes, I have been practicing as an RN in the US for the past 13 years. Now almost all hospitals are requiring nurses to have their bsn. I did not do cgfns, all my papers from school were sent directly to the nursing board and they did all the necessary evaluations. Do you know of anyone who successfully transferred credits to a college or university here?

I mean "hours" as there are no college credits at a nursing school in germany

Ok...no i don't know anyone...sorry!

Do you want to get your bsn because you want to change jobs? What are the options for us Diploma Nurses?jobwise i mean or what ate the restrictions? Like where can i not work? Would be great if you could give me some tips since thst will be the first time for me working in the US! What is a good place to start as a new international nurse?

All I've had these years were hospital jobs. But now more and more hospitals are asking for a bsn degree. That's why I would like to get it. If you are planning to work in the US as an RN until you retire if advise you to go after your bsn. I am trying to find out if u have to start from scratch... It is very difficult to get transcripts from overseas and honestly I don't even know if my school still has any papers since it's been so long. I graduated in 1998.

Yes, looking for a job here in the us right now.

Hopefully since i did the whole CGFNS and they have all my papers and transcripts and everything from germany, it will help if i should decide to go for bsn. May i ask why you decided to go to a german nursing school?

Did you send your papers to cgfns or your school? I lived in Duisburg for almost 7 years and went to school there. Then we moved to the US.... Good luck with your job search. When you interview most hospitals will ask you if you are willing to pursue bsn and have to sign an agreement upon hire.

I send some papers in and some papers had to be send in directly from my school and from other place in germany where i got my diploma from. Thanks,hopefully i will find a job soon :)

I am sure you will. I started in med-surg/telemetry. So if I were you I'd try that first... May I ask what your transcript looks like?