How do I become an RN in France?

World General World

Published

I've just been admitted into the ADN program at my school and I'm excited. Most of my life I have wanted to live in France (Nice to be specific). I know that I would need to speak fluent french, but what exactly would I need to do to be able to work as an RN. I have heard its better to go to the UK and work as a nurse because once you have worked in Europe you can nurse anywhere else in Europe. Any information is a huge help and is greatly appreciated.

By the way, if I know I want to eventually become a citizen of France is it worth getting a BSN?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

moved to our international nursing forum.

experiencing nursing in france - nursezone

so what does it take to be a french nurse? according to danielle cosquer, cadre infirmer, an employee of l'hộpital avicenne, nursing in france is very similar to the united states but with some notable differences. french nursing school consists of 10 months of didactic training, which prepares the students to be nursing assistants. the students must then work for three years in a hospital environment and take an entrance test. nursing coursework through a university or institute combined with clinicals for two years is then required. if all classes and standardized tests are passed, students get certified as a nurse, similar to our bsn.

french nurses do not have state licensure and no continuing education hours required by the state. education for nursing certification is free and after students are certified they may work at any hospital, public or private, in any area of france and in other countries in europe. if promotion within the hospital system is desired, the nurse must work for a year or two to gain experience and enroll in additional training for specialty nurse. a specialty nurse may then advance in training to a nurse manager, or a high level nurse manager. the high level nurse manager position is similar to our director of nursing position

http://www.anfiide.com/

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

There is a huge thread discussing France and working and many post issues if trained outside the EU. If I remember rightly there are many nationals including Canadians having problems and not being able to work in France

I can't see how working many years in the UK means you can work elsewhere in Europe as only being a citizen in a country of the EU makes it easier to move around the EU. I believe for the EU a BSN is required as all countries in the EU have an agreed criteria enabling people from within the EU to move and work. I do know currently the UK will not accept ADN so imagine France will be similar

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER,Flight Nurse,ICU,PACU,OR,Remote Site.
I can't see how working many years in the UK means you can work elsewhere in Europe as only being a citizen in a country of the EU makes it easier to move around the EU.

That's because once your degree is recognized in 1 Eu country and have worked at your degree's qualification level, you can work elsewhere in the EU: the degree will be recognized as valid in any other EU country.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Advanced Practice, surgery.

If your plan is to with in the UK first that may well be your first struggle. unless you work in a shortage profession then it will be difficult for you to get a work visa, jobs are scarce and the NHS is struggling

If France is your goal then aim to meet the requirements of working in France, otherwise you'll battle to meet immigration requirements for one country, then have to repeat the process when you decide to move on

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What? That is NOT how a person becomes a nurse in France AT ALL! Who wrote this post? The program there is very standardized. Even the older program did not occur as this post states.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
moved to our international nursing forum.

experiencing nursing in france - nursezone

What?!?!?!?

That is NOT how nursing school and certification occurs in France and it was never like that.

Ten months of training is to become a CNA.

Nursing school in France covers the same coursework as in BSN in the US (I know, I've spoken to professors in US and also asked to be a guest student to see how different it might be in clinical). The only differences:

Rather than spend much time learning nursing care in labs with dummies there is more clinical hours (2100 hours to be exact). There are roughly equal number of hours spent in lectures. It is a full time study (not a few hours here and there) for the entire period.

Undergrads do original research, a step like in the MSN although I have not seen the MSN research. Qualitative, quantitative original research combined with document research to produce a "thesis" of sorts on an individually chosen subject. There is an advisor. A written portion that then has to be argued to a jury.

The drop out plus fail rate is between 1/3 and 1/2 1st year versus last.

I am shocked to read this. Perhaps a language problem caused the blogger to generate a confusing description?

Also, promotion within hospital can be done without specialization (1-2 years additional coursework) however that is rare for the higher posts. To become an operating room nurse or an anesthetist nurse, like in the US additional schooling is required.

Additional degree is also required for pediatric specialty. They used to have addition for psychiatric however much has long been deleted.

One can become specialized in wound care/ emergency/ cardiac/ pain/ etc through a short schooling, so it is more formal than the AACN certifications in the US.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
What? That is NOT how a person becomes a nurse in France AT ALL! Who wrote this post? The program there is very standardized. Even the older program did not occur as this post states.

Just want to say this thread is over 6 years old. We know things do change

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment