Hallo From Greece

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jan 6, 2008

Hi, I am new to youw company. I am from Greece. I stay in Pireaus near the port. This site is a very nice try for nursing. We haven`t sth like that in Greece. Could sb help me and explain me some things?
1. You have different categories of Nursing such as RN, LP etc. What does that initials mean? You have a lot of symbols.
2. I have studied to university (4 years for the degree) and also I have a master degree on intensive and critical care nursing (2 years). In which category I belong to? At the end of the month I will start PHD.
3. I would like to go to USA for more studies and work. I want to take the experience. How difficult is to study and work as a nurse together? In Greece I can combine them.
4. What and how have I to do for having a permission for working as a nurse and having a fellowship?
I am sorry for all that questions, but I would be very happy if someone of you could inform me.
Thank you very much and I would be very glad if I can help you to sth.
Don`t forget to inform me if someone come to Greece. just send me a message.

Hello and welcome to the site

RN=Registered Nurse

LPN=Licensed Practical Nurse (sometimes also known as Licensed vocational nurse LVN)

Studying in the US as an International student will be expensive and there are limits on working especially in the first year (plus not always a guarantee that you can work and only limited to campus the first year and 20 hours) To apply for licensure as RN in the US you need to apply to a Board of Nursing (BON) and if your training is OK they will give you permission to sit NCLEX. You need to pass to be recognised as US RN. Each BON has their own requirements and would suggest a good read of the sticky called Primer to working in the US.

Would also point out best way is probably get a job in the US and then look to study but currently there is a retrogression in progress and looking at over 5 years to get to the US as a RN

Hope this helps and sure some more opinions will be forth coming

suzanne4, RN · Jan 6, 2008

Have been to your part of the world numerous times, last time a few years ago. Beautiful area and love the islands.

You are in a little different category since you already hold the equivalent of the MSN here in the US. You may be able to get sponsored by a university to teach and attend school for your PhD at the same time. This puts you under a completely different classification for immigration purposes.

But you will need to pass the NCLEX-RN exam for licensure as well as pass the language requirement and that means taking either the TOEFL-iBT or the IELTS series to be able to get specifically sponsored at this time.

There are also fellowship visas available called the J-1, and that is as an exchange visa, and usually requires that you return to your home country for two years, but can sometimes be waived for you.

Would suggest that you work on getting a license first in the US, and that means applying for licensure to a state BON.

Please read the Primer at the top of this forum for specific information.