Swedandy

Thank you for your reply! I realize that our anesthetist education cannot be translated into a CRNA. Regarding paramedic, all ambulances in Sweden are required to have an RN on board, hence the academic paramedic courses here.I just recently found out that TX (where we'll be moving to) now seem to require that foreign educated nurses have two years work experience before taking the NCLEX so I guess I'll just skip all the free academic schooling and go for real experiece for the two years following the BSN. Thanks and hope you enjoy Taby! EDIT: Duh, maybe I should get my titles correct before I post. I now know what a paramedic does. What I meant to say regarding the course (1 year) is that it trains RNs for working in an ambulance. So an ambulance RN would have 3 years +1 year ambulance edu. Sorry. I get confused - paramedic - EMT etc.

Noone care to share their views?

While I do not hold an academic degree in computer sciences (I do hold a number of NetWare, MS and Cisco certs and systems adm is what I've been working with), I have worked in the field for some years here in Sweden. When the industry started going downhill, I found myself without a job and unable to get a new one. For this I am now only grateful, as it gave me a chance to pursue my interest in nursing and medicine. I've always been wanting to work with health care but for several reasons this has never come to be until now. I started RN school this January and so far I am loving it! I so can not believe I didn't get into this earlier! The work situation for nurses in Sweden is a mixed blessing. As it is very rewarding working with health care that is free to every citizen and there is a shortage in nurses just like everywhere else, the pay is just rediciolous and most nurses are very unhappy with management. I believe you have to have a genuine interest in nursing to be a good nurse, but that does not exclude trying to make a good living. Since my wife is a "native" Texan, we plan on moving back after I'm out of school. We both miss the heat and the humidity! :) I hope you will love nursing as much as I do and that your career works out well for you.

Hi! I'm studying to be an RN w/ BSN here in Sweden and since my wife is from Texas we're planning to move back there when I'm through. However, I'd like to take the opportunity to get some further education here before we move as it's all free. Question is - what would be of use to me once we move? The classes my university offer are (they are all one year, although all classes but the MSN require one year of work experience): MSN OR nursing ICU nursing Psych Paramedic Nurse anesthetist Although I am very interested in working in the OR, our anesthetist program cannot (AFAIK) be used to become a CRNA in the states. Also, I have no idea whether OR nurses in the States require certifications etc. Would the MSN be of any significant value working as a nurse? Basically, I'm pretty lost as to what I should do. Granted, I still have quite some time to make up my mind, but I know how time will fly and taking the big leap to move to the US require a lot of planning. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks mrigas! True, the sensible thing to do would be to stick around here in Sweden, but both me and my wife are so ready to move. :) I guess I'll be asking around in the career forum what classes would be of use in the US. Thanks again!

Hi all! I'm new to this board so bear with me if you've heard my questions a million times before. :) My name is Andy, I'm 26 and I come from Sweden. I started studying to become an RN (with BSN) January this year and I just absolutely love it! I've never worked with health care before, but it's been a dream of mine to do so for many years. My wife of four years was born and raised outside Houston but is obviously also living here in Sweden. Our goal is/was to move to Texas after I finish school here, but we just found out the other day that Texas apparently require foreign nurses to have two years of work experience prior to taking the NCLEX. Now I realize this is some two and a half years off, but it's better to plan ahead as there are so many steps to be taken before we can move. What to do? Do we simply stay here for another two years to get the work experience? Move to another state? Also, I was thinking of getting some sort of extra education after graduating as schooling is completely free here and it would be stupid not "using" that before moving. If so, what would be most useful? I am at this point (I realize this might change before I graduate!) very interested in working in the OR, but it seems there is no way our anesthesia education can be translated into a CRNA and I have no idea how it works with certification for OR nurses in the US. The classes available at my university at this time are anesthesia, OR nursing, ICU nursing, paramedic, psych and of course the MSN. Any input would be greatly appreciated! :) /Andy