German Nurses anywhere?

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anissa

23 Posts

Specializes in Cardiac ICU, Med/Surg, Ob/Gyn Onc.

I have a German license and have worked in Germany as a nurse. I also have a US RN license and work in CCU.

Sascha,

As long as you have a greencard you should have no problem finding a job (especially with the nursing shortage in US) , I would check with the California Nursing Board what you need to do to get US licence and yes they will need you transcripts from Germany. In my case I had to do the whole nursing education from the beginning. It was worth it after all.

Good luck with your licence.

Sascha,

if you just passed your NCLEX here-you should get the licence soon.

Silverdragon102, BSN

1 Article; 39,477 Posts

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Sascha,

As long as you have a greencard you should have no problem finding a job (especially with the nursing shortage in US) , I would check with the California Nursing Board what you need to do to get US licence and yes they will need you transcripts from Germany. In my case I had to do the whole nursing education from the beginning. It was worth it after all.

Good luck with your licence.

I get the impression from what they wrote that they are looking for petition so do not have a GC and may be looking at a H1b

Mieke

21 Posts

Hello,

here is another German nurse. As I am going to get married to my boyfriend of many years, a Canadian citizen who resides in Vancouver,BC, I will be facing the same issues. Trying to explain that the Diploma is according to a federal German law regulating the education and scope of nursing practice also THE license. Another matter is the translation of all the transcripts.....because according to that German federal law we, that is all German trained nurses, have the equivalent education, which doesn't differ much from subject to subject. So basically there would even be no need for everyone to get their papers translated....:bugeyes:

Another practice to contact the present employer for employment verification is not really that safe for the individual trying to leave for a different country....no one wishes to alienate the people one works for.:no:

In Germany we all get a work certificate (Arbeitszeugnis) or and interim one ( Zwischenzeugnis - when we don't wish to admitt that we are looking around). Now a translation of that should suffice, as it lists dates and time of employment, duties performed, etc. How did everyone deal with that?:confused:

Now if there is any German nurse, presently working in B.C. reading this, that went through this process, I'd be so glad to hear from her. Right now it just seems very confusing and complicated process. But if I want to stay in the profession I love, there won't be a way around this. Of course I am also interested in learning about the differences between working as a nurse in B.C. and Germany.:D

Wishing all of you a happy Easter season,:lol2:

Mieke

suzanne4, RN

26,410 Posts

The training in Germany is not a full four years in most cases and that is what is needed for the H1-B here. The nurse in question that is asking came here on a tourist visa, not with a green card. There are no visas available at this time to adjust to, since we are under the retrogression. And one does not get a license isused in CA without having a SSN#, they only get a letter that they have passed the exam. Nothing more than that.

The other issue is that almost every facility in the Bay Area is unionized and they do not permit any temporary work visas like the H1-B. And in addition to the nurse having to hold the equivalent of the BSN, the job must also require the BSN as entry level for it to be able to even be considered for the H1-B in other parts of the country.

Treaty visas such as the TN Visa for Canadians and those from Mexico, as well as the E-3 visa for those from Australia are accepted. But the H1-B is not.

Remember that licensure and immigration are two different things in the US, and CA also does not issue a license without the SSN#, so here they are somewhat intertwined more than others.

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The issue is that there are no visas available at this time, plus the open window to even submit for the H1-B is next week, so impossible to get all of the needed documentation to even have a chance at one. And it is by lottery system and the visa does not even start until next October, 2008 for those that are lucky enough to get one. So being here with the tourist visa now, there is no way to legally remain in the US.

Lana312

4 Posts

Specializes in neonatics,children,vascular surgery,ER.

hi i'm also from germany, i'm still in nursing school over here and will be graduation in 2 years as a pedeatrics nurse. I also wanna go backto the states, i've lived for about 2 years in Ct and NY and as i know i have to get my CT RN licence and have to pass the NCLEX and have to go through a visa screen. I' d love to move back to ct and work there or also ny or ri. love the area! And i miss my friends there a lot. so i can't wait until I graduate and hope everything works out for me. it there are any other german nurses here please keep in touch any informations are helpful! :)

Silverdragon102, BSN

1 Article; 39,477 Posts

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
hi i'm also from germany, i'm still in nursing school over here and will be graduation in 2 years as a pedeatrics nurse. I also wanna go backto the states, i've lived for about 2 years in Ct and NY and as i know i have to get my CT RN licence and have to pass the NCLEX and have to go through a visa screen. I' d love to move back to ct and work there or also ny or ri. love the area! And i miss my friends there a lot. so i can't wait until I graduate and hope everything works out for me. it there are any other german nurses here please keep in touch any informations are helpful! :)

Welcome

What you have to make sure is your training covers all areas as the USA is generalist in their training. If you are short of hours you will not get permission to sit NCLEX. Also things may have changed a bit in 2 years but may be affected by retrogression if that is still ongoing. Best thing to do is keep track on what is happening regarding visas

Mieke

21 Posts

Hi Lana,

you will not like to hear this, but if you are indeed in a program for Kinderkrankenschwester (Peds Nurse)....you WILL NOT be allowed to sit for the NCLEX exam.....if this is your goal/desire....switch to a school for Gesundheits-/und Krankenpfleger(in) ASAP....and you will need to pass the TOEFL with rather high percentage.....go get the language program from Rosetta Stone to become fluent in English. The hard part will be to switch schools without telling them why......because in Germany you can take care of adults with a diploma in peds nursing (just not the other way around).

Good luck,

Mieke

Lana312

4 Posts

Specializes in neonatics,children,vascular surgery,ER.

Thanks Mieke for your reply, but i know that girl who is already a kinderkrankenschwester and just passed the NCLEX in Frankfurt, did the Toefl test as well, she hasn't had english since 7years..the last time in school and she passed everything pretty well. She also got accepted at one hospital in california, well not the place where i wanna be but i've heard before i should switch schools, but since there is a new exam in germany, especially rheinland pfalz where i go to school, i'll have enough hours in regular nursing as in peds.

I'd say i'm fluent in my english, already took a toefl test cause i went to college in the states and lived there , i know ct,ri and ny require a language test so i'll have to do it again. I only know little things about working in the states just talked to a few hospitals in my area around ct and ny, and know that german Kinderkrankenschwester, it's just so difficult to get hold of the state boards and so far i'll have 2 more years to go until i finish.. unfortunately, cause i can't wait to get outta here, and as i said my nursing school isn't only for ped nurses, we do both it's only gonna be the final exam which is different to the regular nurses exam, it'll be about all children and peds.

Where do you live in the states? Do you have any other tips for me?

luv2ride

4 Posts

Hello everyone! I am a nursing student in Florida & getting ready to graduate in May '09. I was born and raised in Germany and speak the language fluently. Does anyone know how the American RN degree holds up in Germany and what one would have to do in order to get a job there. Thanks in advance.:nurse:

Silverdragon102, BSN

1 Article; 39,477 Posts

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Hello everyone! I am a nursing student in Florida & getting ready to graduate in May '09. I was born and raised in Germany and speak the language fluently. Does anyone know how the American RN degree holds up in Germany and what one would have to do in order to get a job there. Thanks in advance.:nurse:

Think there was a few threads saying how hard it was getting jobs for nurses already in Germany, if you have a German passport then you shouldn't need a work permit but will have to go through their nursing body. Not sure how long your training is but for the EU generally looking at just over 3 years training

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