German nurses in the US

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I'm looking for nurses from Germany who are working as nurses in the US. I would love to hear from someone who successfully went through the long, oh so long process.

Thanks in advance!

simkale

47 Posts

Hi there am not German but l can tell you about the process. The steps are constant for whatever part of the world you come from. The hurdles and hoops are the same. l would concentrate on doing the steps of course it is very reassuring to see some one from your country making it to the US. Here is something to make you feel better...nurses from the third world eg Kenya,Nigeria go through the hoops on a daily basis and make it to the US. If nurses from the third world can make it what excuse do you have if you are from the first world. You have to be determined because it is two steps forward then one backwards. That is what makes it worthwhile in the end it is not easy that is why Trump wants to build a great big wall because it is really the land of opportunity :) so buckle down go get your piece of the American pie its yours you just have to claim it ! Good luck!

schwester23

9 Posts

Thanks for your answer. It's not about reassurance though. I know many nurses from many countries do it successfully all the time. It's more about little details in the process. Since our nursing education is so different from the one here in the states and communication would be easier regarding all the german technical terms. And yes, I am determined, no worries;) or else I would have given up months ago. But I went back to Germany and got all my papers etc etc

I live in the states for almost 10 years now and have a Green Card, so that's taken care of too.

Thanks again for taking the time to write!

simkale

47 Posts

Yours is Easy then...you already in the Kitchen( US). Soon or later you will get your chance to eat. Get your papers to CGFNS to get them evaluated. I do not think you even needed to go to Germany to get your papers. l have done most of this process online and over the phone never went to my Uni, Professional body or BON. Organised for NCLEX online l only had to go to pearson to do the test. I now have my full US RN license. You have a green card which is half the battle so keep going!

schwester23

9 Posts

hi simkale,

that's true, you can do it online or via mail, however it sure did speed up the process to show up in person. However, one of the hurdles is that my original transcripts are lost. They were damaged in a flooding where my former nursing school archived all papers. Now I asked for a list of all the hours that were required by law back when I went to nursing school. But that paper is obviously not an original document. Unfortunately no translation service works with anything else than original documents..! No translation = no evaluation...

SpidersWeb, BSN

151 Posts

Specializes in Acute and Critical Care.
But that paper is obviously not an original document. Unfortunately no translation service works with anything else than original documents..! No translation = no evaluation...

I thought any document that is created, signed and stamped by your nursing school is an original document. It just sounds absurd for them to deny a translation based on that argument.

SpidersWeb, BSN

151 Posts

Specializes in Acute and Critical Care.

Is there anything I can help you with as a European RN?

I'll ask my German colleague later if she's willing to go over these things with you.

simkale

47 Posts

Well that is going to be a challenge but it is still possible to get through with hard work. You may need to contact your preferred BON or several off them and let them know your situation. Its quite unique and may be the BONs will have encountered similar cases of applicants who had (original documents destroyed or Universities where they trained no longer exist )and will guide you accordingly regarding what you need to provide to gain authority to test. Having your post on here will also get the attention of nurses that have heard similar cases who can help advise.

schwester23

9 Posts

The latest update is now, that it would be okay if it's not an original document, BUT I need the course by course transcripts and I do not have them and can't get them. I can only go with general papers that are stating the requirements for nursing students "back then" by law. So no individual papers that are stating my actual hours and grades in each subject. Not good at all!

If your German colleague has a similar story and still succeeded, yes please, let me know. But if she had all her required papers, then she probably can't help me with my case.

Thank you though!!

schwester23

9 Posts

thank you, yes, I'm already in touch with the BON!

SpidersWeb, BSN

151 Posts

Specializes in Acute and Critical Care.
The latest update is now, that it would be okay if it's not an original document, BUT I need the course by course transcripts and I do not have them and can't get them. I can only go with general papers that are stating the requirements for nursing students "back then" by law. So no individual papers that are stating my actual hours and grades in each subject. Not good at all!

If your German colleague has a similar story and still succeeded, yes please, let me know. But if she had all her required papers, then she probably can't help me with my case.

Thank you though!!

I actually didn't have a very detailed transcript but that was fine. My degree included integrated courses and the transcript lists them this way instead of "Biology 101", for example. The point where I can relate to your case is the fact that I basically had to figure out the hours myself (for the table on the CGFNS form). It was simple enough to count the clinical hours in each nursing area but trying to categorize these integrated courses wasn't as easy. I did my best with syllabi and schedules that I still had, and eventually I just had my school approve the estimation as official.

I'm sure they still want to see the transcript but I wonder if it would be ok to gather course by course information without the grades - if those are lost forever. Do you have a personal copy of your school documents from the time of graduation? Is there a classmate that has their transcript? You said you're in contact with a BON, have they replied to you?

Val1987

5 Posts

I'm going through the same nightmare in Italy. I have a BSN and Master's Degree, and both universities would not sign the estimate from CGFNS, so for yours to have signed your form is a huge step in my eyes. I'm almost certain that I will be the first Italian Educated Nurse working in America. I've actually thought of changing evaluation services, but for now I'm simply hoping the universities send my degree and estimates. Padova, for example, can't even figure when or who by, the university was accredited. Consider yourself lucky. And any advice would be appreciated.

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