Applying as a nurse in Norway, anyone else?

katana_kb · Mar 17, 2013

Hi charamae!

I really cant say the places where you could easily find a job. But they said that places up north and eastern regions are not so strict when it comes to language requirement. But remember that smaller communities may not have that much job opportunities as compared to Oslo. We stayed before in the southern region but because there were no job offers so we moved to oslo and akershus region and here we found our job.

Yes maybe it's crowded now still there more opportunities and schools where you could study. But try places like Bodø, Stavanger, Bergen, Trondheim, Kristiansand. You could Google the different communities here in norway and check on on their website as they always put their announcements there.

Thanks!

charamae · Mar 19, 2013

Thank you Katana

My mom's friend is married to a Norweigan and they decided to help me with the accommodation in Halden. As what I've read it is near Oslo and Sweden. I heard also that SAK is upgrading their rules on foreign nurses, that we have to take extra units in nursing for us to be able to apply as RN in norway, do you have any idea on this? Is Halden a good place? I have high hopes and positive outlook on my plans and I know it will not be as easy but with hardwork and patience, I still hope for a better career in Norway.

katana_kb · Mar 19, 2013

Hei!

I haven't heard much about halden and don't know about job opportunities in this place but you can always check their website for vacancies. But as I always say that language is the key. With regards to the additional requirements needed by safh/sak before you could work as a nurse, it is true that you must take hours of practice in areas that the NAK will require you to take after you are evaluated. For example geriatric, pedia, psych and so on. Then you will need also to take the licensure examination or the nasjonalefag.

Fiona59 · Mar 20, 2013

thank you so much katana for all the infos that you presented. i studied my pros and cons in applying as a student in norway. i even contacted the school that you provided. it was really good, norway is really a beautiful place if we ever plan of applying and making a future.
but then as i studied all, i realized that it was rather an expensive option if i want to go abroad. maybe i can do that when i already have my own savings as to paying for the expenses. you will be needing $12000 usd in your bank account if you will apply. not to mention the application fee, the tuition, the ticket, accommodation wardrobe for a new environment... i can not ask again support from my parents. it is too much.. now i opt for applying in middle east and cic for canada is very much open for FSW :) you will not be needing a very large amount of money... but then i will ge back to you norway, i know you are still the best country to apply for.
thanx again katana.

Canadian nursing is a mess right now with hiring freezes in several provinces. Alberta is axing programmes in assisting IENs into practice. Local new grads are finding it very difficult to find jobs.

So, if you feel that Norway is the best country, don't waste your money and the Canadian government's time in applying.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Mar 20, 2013

cic for canada is very much open for FSW

CIC FSW has been closed since before Christmas and new list doesn't come out for a couple of months and no idea if nurses will be included and if they are they will more than likely be capped like last year and the category went in weeks opposed to months

katana_kb · Mar 21, 2013

I heard also that SAK is upgrading their rules on foreign nurses, that we have to take extra units in nursing for us to be able to apply as RN in norway, do you have any idea on this?

Hi!

I just learned today that , yes, SAK is already requiring foreign nurses from outside EU to undergo a 1yr nursing practice here in norway before they can take the nasjonalefag. I believe this new rule is applicable to all those that are taking the exams after june2013. They said that SAK made this new regulation due to growing numbers of applicants submitting falsified documents and they are now more strict.

Thanks!

acebrianverallo · Mar 21, 2013

Hi Katana!

It's me again. Would you, by any chance, have the slightest of idea if that 1 year of nursing practice being required by SAK for foreign nurses before being able to take the nasjonalefag, paid or not; or if within that particular period of time, can we also work as auxilliary nurses then take that exam? Btw, I hope you don't mind me asking, but what does that text do again, exactly? WIll that enable us to be Norway RNs? I was also just thinking that the 1-year would even be beneficial to those who have had clinical gaps or those who haven't had extensive clinical nursing practice, ONLY provided that it can still somehow be paid so that we can support that year wherein we're still gathering experience. Thank you so much in advance for answering my questions. Take care always & God Bless you. I appreciate your tips here for aspirants like myself.

steppybay · Mar 21, 2013

Hi!
I just learned today that , yes, SAK is already requiring foreign nurses from outside EU to undergo a 1yr nursing practice here in norway before they can take the nasjonalefag. I believe this new rule is applicable to all those that are taking the exams after june2013. They said that SAK made this new regulation due to growing numbers of applicants submitting falsified documents and they are now more strict.
Thanks!

Wow, now these scammers and greedy PH students and nurses have gone there too, so desperate. There's been such a problem in the USA also and with CA finding over a 100 applicants sending and using falsied documents.

It also lead to mass denials and rejections (in CA and about 12-13 other States) of recent new PH applicants and nurses who have worked and studied honestly as it exposed a flaw in the PH educational system with not having our clinical and theory section being taught together in the same semester.

andy429 · Mar 23, 2013

Hi guys can you help me? I already received my giro/invoice from safh last week. How and where can I send my payment for my invoice here in Philippines? Thanks in advance!

katana_kb · Mar 23, 2013

Hi Katana!
It's me again. Would you, by any chance, have the slightest of idea if that 1 year of nursing practice being required by SAK for foreign nurses before being able to take the nasjonalefag, paid or not; or if within that particular period of time, can we also work as auxilliary nurses then take that exam? Btw, I hope you don't mind me asking, but what does that text do again, exactly? WIll that enable us to be Norway RNs? I was also just thinking that the 1-year would even be beneficial to those who have had clinical gaps or those who haven't had extensive clinical nursing practice, ONLY provided that it can still somehow be paid so that we can support that year wherein we're still gathering experience. Thank you so much in advance for answering my questions. Take care always & God Bless you. I appreciate your tips here for aspirants like myself.

Hi!

Here is the link from SAK regarding the new rule for foreign nurses and note that our country is specifically mentioned there.

Endring i praksis for sykepleiere utdannet utenfor EU/EÃ˜S â€" sak.no

I really don't know what will happen once you are taking the 1yr practice. But i believe and i hope that those who will take the practice will be paid but I would say that it would only be limited to those who are currently working and are planning to take the nursing practice and exam.But do not qoute me on this because I am not really sure. You might be asking how could I say that. It is because here in norway, when you take an opplæring or a practice, one must be approved first by the NAV before they could take the practice. Then the NAV will be the one to pay that person who will take the practice. Then why would NAV support them and why are they supporting (maybe) those who have jobs at present? Well, NAV is the one making sure that everyone especially those who are working (and those who are supported by the govt) that they are financially stable and gets the right incentives. Here in norway, when a person stopped working because of illness, pregnancy, accidents, or company bankruptcy or any other cause that resulted him/her to stop, it is NAV who supports him/her financially and makes sure that he/she gets the average salary that he normally gets. And during those periods that he is in between jobs, NAV is the one that arranges or looks for other work where that person could work. So basically, the financial support that they get is based on what they were normally getting.

Before, jobseekers and students also get support from NAV when they go to a training or practice at hospitals or nursing homes but everything has changed. They only do that now to those mentioned previously. That is the reason why I have said that statement.

I believe you could not work apart from the training that you are having because this is already considered as your work. But again, this is not yet verified.

Btw, I talked to my friend who is on the waiting list for the nasjonale *** and he said that he received a letter from SAK informing him that the evaluation that he previously acquired from them is no longer valid because the evaluation will now be coming from the school/university where he will take the review and the exam. The school/university will also be the one to tell you where you need to take your practice or training.

I may also say that this is not possible to those who are holding student visas.Why? Because a one-year visa is too short for one to be able to complete the prerequisites to nasjonalefag.You will need to go to school, secure a place for the language examination, and most especially you need to pass the prøve3(not sure if schools/universities that will evaluate your nursing credentials will require you to pass also the Bergens test before you could take the practice/training, review and nasjonalefag). And you will also have to wait for the evaluation of your credentials from the school/university and secure a place in the school/university for your review(nasjonalefag) and to where you are going take the 1yr practice. So, I might say about atleast 1yr stay here is not enough. It is safer to say that those who already have their working visas are most likely the ones who could accomplish these.

Yes, it might be an advantage to those who dont have enough nursing experience but it is also UNFAIR to those who came here first, now working and waiting for their place in the schools and suddenly being told that they are no longer qualified due to the changes in rules.

Dont be troubled about becoming a nurse here in norway yet because this will come once you have established yourself. First thing that you need to do is pass the language exam, find a job and convert your student visa into a working visa. Then everything else will follow.

Hope this helps. Ill get you updated.

katana_kb · Mar 23, 2013

Wow, now these scammers and greedy PH students and nurses have gone there too, so desperate. There's been such a problem in the USA also and with CA finding over a 100 applicants sending and using falsied documents.
It also lead to mass denials and rejections (in CA and about 12-13 other States) of recent new PH applicants and nurses who have worked and studied honestly as it exposed a flaw in the PH educational system with not having our clinical and theory section being taught together in the same semester.

Yes you are right. Illegal recruiters, cheaters, and abusers have diverted their focus here already. Imagine, during the late 80s upto late 90s/early2000s, nurses from the Philippines are not required to take the Nursing examination and could work immediately as a nurse here. Then few years later after finding out that not everyone is a licensed nurse, then that was the time that they required those who are coming to take the exam before they could become as nurses. Before, you dont need to be a licensed nurse to be certified as a health care personnel. But that changed 2-3 years ago when SAFH found out that documents and diplomas were falsified just to get a certification. And now, this new rule that holds the aspiring Filipino nurses back to become a registered nurse here in norway. I may also mention that language education was free a couple of years back even for Filipinos(jobseekers,students,workers). But now you have to pay your tuition because those who had the chance to get a free education chose not to go to. And lastly, a philippine driver's license before could be automatically be changed to a norwegian/intl driver's license after a few driving session. But due to rampant usage of falsified license coming from asia, the road and transportation authority demanded all foreign citizens except from eu and other selected countries are required to take the driving lesson just like what the beginners are taking.

So, every now and then policies, rules and regulations change because of these cheaters and abusive people.

Well, we can not do anything but to follor these new rules and policies.

andy429 · Mar 23, 2013

Hi katana!

can you help me? I already received my giro/invoice from safh last week. How and where can I send my payment for my invoice here in Philippines? Thanks in advance!