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Mieke

Mieke

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  1. Mieke

    German Nurses anywhere?

    Mieke replied to Jutta's topic in World

    Hi, here the steps.... CGFNS for you CES..... then the TOEFL (the result needs reporting to CGFNS and State Board of Nursing). Then get you nursing school to supply transcripts (which need to be generated according to the Krankenpflegeausbildungsgesetzt: Fach/Std. je Fach, etc.). Then translation by court approved translator of Diploma and final report (Urkunde und Abschlusszeugnis). Then letter from your "Landesamt für Gesundheit und Soziales" in German. Get a Vorabkopie so you can get the official translation done (get 2 original copies of ea. translation you have done). Then send them the official translation and THEY have to send it to CGFNS. Basically you will get the originals/or Beglaubigte Kopien translated and get those to your Krankenpflegeschule/Landesämter/etc. It is you job to get translations done at your cost. AND the documentation will ALWAYS be send directly to CGFNS/or the State Board of Nursing. They have to send ALL originals (Stundentafeln Theorie und Praxis, beglaubigte Kopien of Urkunde und Zeugnis) with translations to CGFNS. That means you want to be on VERY good terms with the secretary of your Krankenpflegeschule. Then the State Board were you wish to work as a nurse will let you know if, for their state you need the CGFNS test. IF not, you will register and receive the Authority to Test for the NCLEX. There are other threads on this site on how to prepare for the NCLEX. Just be advised.... KNOW the English language very WELL and start to prepare right away (google Kaplan and Saunders NCLEX-RN). The lastest I heard of that the NCLEX can now be taken in Frankfurt. And it is definitely offered in London (check Pearsonvue). AND it helps to contact potential employers beforehand. You will need a sponsor for the Visa. Hope this helps. Gruß, Mieke
  2. Mieke

    German Nurses anywhere?

    Mieke replied to Jutta's topic in World

    Well, you are right the 3-year diploma being the equivalent of the US RN. As far as I know the exact content of certifications to any type of specialty nursing ("Fachkrankenpfleger/in) is not regulated by law, but depends on where you obtain it. Are you a US trained RN? Why on earth would you be interested to work in Germany? :confused:German nurses will go anywhere else, if they are not bound by constraints such as family, funds, or language. Job satisfaction is low. Work density is VERY high (that is maybe you like being the only nurse with 20-35 patients on a night shift; and LTC/SNF you may be the ONLY RN for sometimes 80-120 patients.....). I stopped paying attention to the misery, but a newspaper article in the late '90s stated that many nurses will leave the profession 3-5 yrs after nursing school, to pursue other careers. I AM so happy to be sitting in Las Vegas with my RN license granted in July. Got my BLS and ACLS and now in the application process/interviewing. And if you like to work in Germany, concentrate on ICU/CCU nursing. Work as an agency nurse (granted pay will be lower than regular position), with a critical care certification YOU will have the freedom to determine when, where and how much you work. Once you have worked 11-12 full days in a row, and/or 5 WE one after another; shifts lasting 13 hrs you will get the drift. Of course there are all kinds of laws and regs protecting workers/nurses, but the reality looks different. And there are also laws stipulating that patient care has priority..... Not much of what you were asking, but my two cents worth:twocents:. And dying of curiosity what you are up to...... Take care, Mieke
  3. Mieke

    RN input need for project

    Mieke replied to HikingNinja's topic in Nevada

    Well, it appears you and your staff have been dealing with this over some time. If each of the "seasoned" staff made a small list of tasks that were not covered by the NV scope of practice for each of their respective ranks(RN, LVN, CNA), but encountered previously, you could get a unit/facility handout for the newbies. Being one myself (not in practice, but regarding scope/policies/procedures), I would opt to be more careful in my independent decision making and collaborate/ask. That handout could maybe be structured by most common diagnosis in your unit. Another source would be unit preceptors or clinical educators of the facility that may have encountered similar problems. And everyone was the new kid on the block once...... so thinking back.... may spring up a few ideas as well.... Hope this may lead to further leads:) Mieke
  4. Mieke

    German nurse new to Las Vegas

    Mieke replied to Mieke's topic in Nevada

    Thank you so much Dee,:) Thought about it briefly, but didn't dare doing. As the saying goes.... when in Rome do as the Romans do..... Btw, I have an interview next Tue. Do people really wear suits for interviews when it is a 100 deg+ outside? Someone said dressed casual would be ok. Dressed casual= slacks+blouse? Thanks again, Mieke
  5. Mieke

    German nurse new to Las Vegas

    Mieke posted a topic in Nevada

    Hello, it has been a LONG time since I posted and introduced myself. That was still back in Berlin, Germany. But age and family haven't changed So I scored 115/120 on the TOEFL language test, :)did get the CGFNS squared away, passed NCLEX the first time around and got my BLS and ACLS. So now everyone is telling me that I need professional references. :uhoh3:Well, with 5 years of experience, I have letters of reference from former employers, but coworkers? Not that they wouldn't be willing, but they feel that their English skills aren't sufficient to communicate in this matter, plus there is the 9hr time difference.... and they are working in a rotating 3-shift system. I did work as a Unit Secretary and Monitor Tech in the US in the late '80 and early '90 and have letters of reference for those as well. I wish I could somehow get past those electronic application systems for someone to look at me and my references. Not only for the sake of employment, but even further advice is greatly appreciated. :twocents:Maybe there is the opportunity to volunteer on a unit..... I miss my work. I would be so grateful for any suggestions. Thanks for any input, Mieke
  6. Mieke

    German Nurses anywhere?

    Mieke replied to Jutta's topic in World

    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
  7. Mieke

    German Nurses anywhere?

    Mieke replied to Jutta's topic in World

    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..... Btw, any recruiter reading this is welcome to contact me.... 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. But then, maybe you'd like it nevertheless..... Mieke PS: And as to your US nursing degree.....you may want to go into teaching in Germany.....
  8. Mieke

    German Nurses anywhere?

    Mieke replied to Jutta's topic in World

    Hi Lana, you will not like to hear this, but if you are indeed in a program for Kinderkrankenschwester (Peds Nurse)....you WILL NOT be allowed to sit for the NCLEX exam.....if this is your goal/desire....switch to a school for Gesundheits-/und Krankenpfleger(in) ASAP....and you will need to pass the TOEFL with rather high percentage.....go get the language program from Rosetta Stone to become fluent in English. The hard part will be to switch schools without telling them why......because in Germany you can take care of adults with a diploma in peds nursing (just not the other way around). Good luck, Mieke
  9. Mieke
    Hi Fellow Nurses, I am 45, have two boys (6+9), and German trained general diploma nurse. Now all these years after the German exam, I was stuck basically on the same unit for the most part, but the last 6 months where I started doing agency work in order to have the chance to work in other areas (and using that to hit the books...). The NCLEX will be on the menue after meeting the preliminaries of the chosen State Board of Nursing, (yes my nursing school is VERY familiar with my name, as we don't do transcripts here and don't register ). And when the testing date is known, I plan to sign up with Suzanne's Plan as well. Now I do have the Saunders and Kaplan books and CD. Here the qestion......how high did you score on those practice tests before passing the NCLEX? Will be so grateful for any reply on this. But due to time difference.....gotta go and sack out some more.....night shift on PACU..... Tank you all, Mieke
  10. Mieke

    German Nurses anywhere?

    Mieke replied to Jutta's topic in World

    Hello, here is another German nurse. As I am going to get married to my boyfriend of many years, a Canadian citizen who resides in Vancouver,BC, I will be facing the same issues. Trying to explain that the Diploma is according to a federal German law regulating the education and scope of nursing practice also THE license. Another matter is the translation of all the transcripts.....because according to that German federal law we, that is all German trained nurses, have the equivalent education, which doesn't differ much from subject to subject. So basically there would even be no need for everyone to get their papers translated.... Another practice to contact the present employer for employment verification is not really that safe for the individual trying to leave for a different country....no one wishes to alienate the people one works for. In Germany we all get a work certificate (Arbeitszeugnis) or and interim one ( Zwischenzeugnis - when we don't wish to admitt that we are looking around). Now a translation of that should suffice, as it lists dates and time of employment, duties performed, etc. How did everyone deal with that? Now if there is any German nurse, presently working in B.C. reading this, that went through this process, I'd be so glad to hear from her. Right now it just seems very confusing and complicated process. But if I want to stay in the profession I love, there won't be a way around this. Of course I am also interested in learning about the differences between working as a nurse in B.C. and Germany. Wishing all of you a happy Easter season, Mieke
  11. Mieke
    Yup you are right there. Something to be considered very carefully:D
  12. Mieke
    Thank you Fiona and Rgn1 for responding. Was going to respond sooner, but my ISP was not up to it. Germany being more efficient..... it may appear as if we are, or there is an interest in keeping up this appearance. As with everyone depending on a job for sustenance many nurses don't dare speak up. Just a story that made it around the whole clinic (1000+ beds) A young male nurse spoke with the Prof. after rounds and mentioned that what we were doing was dangerous patient care... the response was that he was free to go on unemployment..... So what does that tell me?.....I get all qualification to come to work in Canada:wink2:
  13. Mieke
    As I haven't posted on the forum for some time, here a short recap, I am 45, two kids (5 & 8).:nuke: Until recently I have worked on a 20-bed medical unit with mostly gastroenterological patients (Diab I+II, div. tumors, hep B+C, liver transplants, pancreatitis....), but for the lack of beds on appropriate units also cardiac patients pre- and post PTCA/stenting with or without previous MI. The average patient age by 78. During night shifts it was expected to manage 20 of the above patients by oneself. It was not unusual to have at least 2 patients with (alzheimer's) dementia. As of April 1st, I will go on 30 hrs/week for a denominational home health service. If you do work or have worked with a registered nurse who was trained in Germany, I am really curious how difficult or not it was for that individual to meet the demands made of Canadian nurses today. Thank you for your input in this. Mieke
  14. Mieke

    NCLEX Number of Questions and Clarification

    Mieke replied to cjmmsn98's topic in NCLEX

    Thanks for the hint. I like Saunders best from all books as well. I will get a later edition myself. The Kaplan test prep book doesn't look bad either. I found a page on amazon that allows to scan through it. But it deals mostly with strategy. Will just keep studying and take it. Period. Hope you will pass as well.
  15. Mieke
    Thank you soooo much. This really sheds some light on all of this. Will arrange for English test appointment next week and have original documents translated. And no....I won't practice for the English test :) Thanks again, Mieke :)
  16. Mieke
    Thanks for letting me know. That the cert. evaluation and NCLEX and VisaScreen are the basics for finding work. Those I handle via CGFNS and the state board of nursing. Some say I would need the BCLS or even the ACLS??? Then I have to find an employer/sponsor. Right? They have to file with DOL and then the immigration form with UCIS. Please correct me any point along the way. Within that time I will live and reside in Germany? What employer is going to hire s.o. who will be available for work maybe months later when the visas are approved??? Or do some go to the US to interview, file for a change of status and wait approval of the permanent visa there?? The liscensing is clear now, but how to proceed from there....will the employer also be the sponsor to the children's visas or will they get a different category visas? Hope I get some light shed on this....flying back and forth on a monthly basis is going to be rather costly :) Eva
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