German Nurses anywhere?

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Hi,

I'm a german nurse, graduated from a german nursing school and would like to get in touch with other german nurses in the US. So, if you are one or know one, post a reply.

Why on earth would anyone want to GO to Germany to work as a nurse?....German nurses, if no bound by other constraints, are LEAVING Germany.....for Switzerland, Austria, Scandinavia, GB, Australia, US, Canada.....you name it.....:specs:

Btw, any recruiter reading this is welcome to contact me....:cool: I just came back from a swing shift in PACU......

Unfortunately no one picks up on that current, and nursing schools are just opening up more classes.....turning out more students......to benefit the rest of the world.

You will be worked into the ground for low to mediocre pay. And having been trained in the US.....you will have major difficulties within this system. :cry:

But then, maybe you'd like it nevertheless.....:saint:

Mieke

PS: And as to your US nursing degree.....you may want to go into teaching in Germany.....

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Specializes in train.rot. all exc. neurology.

I don't mean to discourage you but the german economy is going down the drain, everything's expensive and there are hardly any full time jobs, especially in health care. I am still in touch w/ one of my classmates from nursing school who shortly after graduation did further education to run a home health care agency while still working as a nurse and he is currently back at a university majoring in education b/c good nurses are going home w/ 6-8€/h while they work you to death and the patient nurse ratio is outrageous! Plus living expenses including food, utilities, clothes and gas have skyrocketed, gas is currently at 1.51€/liter which would make it around 5.71€/gallon which translates to approx. $8/gal!! If you're in the city you may not need a car at all just keep in mind that public transportation runs on fuel and the ticket prices will be accordingly high.

Sorry, I got a little carried away....lol

Susanne

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Specializes in train.rot. all exc. neurology.
Hallo German nurses,

I have a german nursing licence and worked in a longterm facility for a short time before coming to the US in 1990. Obtained US licence in 1999. Presently I work in a acute care and really love it. But I am always open for new more challenging job offers.

Nursing here is more advanced than in Germany as far as task oriented skills. How is every one doing? d to know there are more german nurses here.

Forgive me if this is a stupid question but what are transcripts? All I have from my nursing school are notes and reportcards and then of course the diploma itself!?

Susanne

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Specializes in train.rot. all exc. neurology.
hi Jutta,

Im a lisence German nurse, finished my nursing education in Germany and worked as a nurse in an ICU i Koeln. Now im working as a Clinical technician CTICU at the Cleveland Clinic Founadation here in Cleveland, Ohio while waiting for my paper works to be processed.

jdagol

Hi jdagol,

how do you work as a Clinical Technician CTICU if you don't have your papers? Did you have to get a certificate or do any schooling for that?

Susanne

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Specializes in train.rot. all exc. neurology.
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.

Magdalena,

do you know why you had to do the whole education from the beginning? Why didn't they accept your german education?

Susanne

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Specializes in train.rot. all exc. neurology.
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.

Forgive me if thsi is a stupid question but what are transcripts? All I have from my nursing school are notes and reportcards and then of course the diploma itself!?

Susanne

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Forgive me if thsi is a stupid question but what are transcripts? All I have from my nursing school are notes and reportcards and then of course the diploma itself!?

Susanne

Transcripts have to be sent by your nursing school and it is a breakdown of your nurse training giving hours both theory and practical in areas you have done like Paeds, mental health, midwifery and general adult

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Do you know if there are more opportunities for Nurse Practitioners from the US looking for a job in Germany? Or another specialty degree?

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

It may be hard, we have seen a few German nurses post on how hard it has been for them to find work. Also depends on whether they will accept your NP qualification

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German Health System is NOT paying as well as US hospitals. They mostly not hiring on a full time basis either....and you don't have much influence as to when and where you work. Could I say that Nurses in Germany are being treated as professionals? Not really. Most of them have occupation related ailments by the time they are 45....you rarely see a nurse on a regular unit past the age of 55. I read a book about the workings of cults some time ago....after the 4th chapter it reminded me of "Nursing in Germany". If you are used to working with lifters/belts regularly, if you don't want to work more than 2 WE a month.....stay were you are. Ever done ten 12hr night shifts in 14 days? Try agency nursing for lower pay than that of a nurse with a standard contract.....and find out....

Now, if you go into teaching your life will be that of a "teacher".....but I have known school nurses throw the towel, because they felt guilty about providing more "canon fodder"....for the system. How would you teach clinicals to a studend who is being exploited as a cheap worker for the first 2 years out of 3.....it is the dual educational system. What if work density is so high.....that quality client care is not to be seen in the majority of institutions (one could say all, but it would only prove one example to disprove my point....therefore majortrity).

According to labor market studies the time spent in this profession after graduation is less than 5 years.....

And why are German nurses turning toward Switzerland, Austria, Scandinavia, Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, US, Canada......???

Nevertheless, I wish you good luck....someone will have to take care of my fellow countrymen, while I will be working abroad.

Take care,

Mieke

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Hello everyone,

I have a question regarding nursing credentials and programs in Germany. Please advise on my understanding:

1. a 3-year hospital-based program can lead to a Urkunde-Krankenpfleger. This is equivelant to a R.N., right?

2. a 2-year hospital-based further professional training in psychiatric nursing for registered nurses can lead to the professional title of Psychiatric Nurse. Is this equivelant to a RPN? Will there be a "Urkunde" or some other certificate awarded to the graduates of this RPN training?

Thanks,

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Specializes in intensive care, recovery, anesthetics.

Urkunde= Diploma, so yes it's the RN (good old fashioned diploma), 2 years further training used to get you a certificate, that would state your further training. I heard there are some university based courses now available, but I'm not uptodate anymore with the german system, and what you would gain doing it. I only know the german system sucks.

5cats

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