us recognition of foreign (europe) nursing degree

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

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Hello,

I'm new to this forum but I really hope you all can help me.

I am a US citizen, with a bachelor degree in languages, now residing in Italy and attending the local nursing school.

My question is, I hope, fairly straightforward: will my degree, or any European nursing degree, be recognized in the US? will I be able to practice my profession in the US? will I have to take any additional examinations? do you know who I should talk to about this?

any help greatly appreciated.

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You will need to pass the US NCLEX examination to get a RN license in the US.

In order to qualify to sit for the NCLEX, you will need to have your degree evaluated by the Council for Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS). So after you complete your degree in Italy, you will need to start the review process with CGFNS. After you have the report to CGFNS, then you contact the Board of Nursing of the state where you intend to practice, and start the process to register to take the NCLEX examination.

The international students in my graduate program report that it can take 12-24 months for the CGFNS / BON / NCLEX process.

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Hi, I have a question for you fabioruff. What nursing school are you attending in Italy? I am also from the U.S. and have a bachelors degree in psychology and am trying to find a nursing school in Italy to attend. Any help on where you found information is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

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Hi There,

I'm a Romanian graduated nurse. I finished scoala post liceala sanitara (sanitary post secondary school 3 years) and I would like to ask if anyone know what is the equivalent degree in the states is Associates or Bachelor degree.

Thank you

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Hi i need help... I'm going to be graduating in may of 2017, I want to get my bsn in Europe, but I am not sure of any bsn programs in Europe. Also, I live in Chicago so what is the best option for me; going to community college and transferring to 4 year university either in Chicago or Europe, or should I go straight to Europe and I would eventually love to come back to the US and work, debt free.. does anyone have the answer to this??

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I'll start first by at least narrowing it down to a country. Then just googling from there.

-good luck :)

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Hi i need help... I'm going to be graduating in may of 2017, I want to get my bsn in Europe, but I am not sure of any bsn programs in Europe. Also, I live in Chicago so what is the best option for me; going to community college and transferring to 4 year university either in Chicago or Europe, or should I go straight to Europe and I would eventually love to come back to the US and work, debt free.. does anyone have the answer to this??

^^^^^

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Your best bet is always to study nursing in the country in which you intend to practice nursing. Not only do the degrees from other countries not automatically translate into acceptable US credentials (and vice versa), but different countries use entirely different models of nursing education and practice. Internationally educated graduates do really poorly on the NCLEX compared to US graduates, since they are educated in a different model.

Also, nursing credentials are all about your education. If you study abroad, even as a US citizen, you will be a foreign graduate for your entire career. Not only will you have additional requirements, paperwork, and hoops to jump through for initial licensure, you will have to go through additional hassle any time you want to get licensed in another US state for the rest of your career. Nothing you do later will change that.

I can certainly understand wanting to travel and study abroad. But, please, for your own sake, study something that doesn't involve professional licensure and, if you want to be a nurse, go to nursing school in the US.

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Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.
Hi i need help... I'm going to be graduating in may of 2017, I want to get my bsn in Europe, but I am not sure of any bsn programs in Europe. Also, I live in Chicago so what is the best option for me; going to community college and transferring to 4 year university either in Chicago or Europe, or should I go straight to Europe and I would eventually love to come back to the US and work, debt free.. does anyone have the answer to this??

Why do you want to get your BSN in Europe? Unless you plan on moving to a European country and working there this degree will likely be useless upon returning to the U.S. Furthermore most countries will not allow you to sit for a nursing unless a permanent resident or citizen of that country. There are limited seats for nursing students in other countries just as there are in the U.S. no school is going to allow you to take one of those spots unless you are going to be legally allowed to work in that country as a nurse following graduation.

I am guessing you see European universities as cheaper given your comment about coming back debt free. Do your research very closely, most are low cost to citizens or permanent legal residents, i.e. those whose taxes support the subsidized low-cost education. Studying as a foreign student is incredibly expensive if you pay full-rate, which you would have to do as a non-resident.

If you want to work in the U.S. get a U.S. nursing degree. If you want to work in Europe, start finding out what it would take to do that - and realize you may spend years navigating the immigration requirements before being allowed to start school.

If you want to go to Europe to study abroad - I highly encourage it, just not for your nursing coursework. Plan on going during your pre-req time and make sure those credits will transfer back, or look into language and cultural immersion programs that run during summer term.

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