RN-BSN recognised by the EU?

[fatdavies]

Hi,

I'm currently on track to enter an associate RN program this coming fall. After I complete this I plan to do the BSN while I work. I plan to eventually move to the EU(Europen Union), as it's where my GF is from, so I have a question regarding nursing there. I understand that it is mandatory in EU to have 3 minimum years of nursing school in order to be granted the ability to work. Will the BSN and the RN together meet the EU's standard for 3 years of nursing school or does it need to be completed in unison such as one BSN program? If anyone has any experience with this, I would greatly appreciate the info!

Thank you all for your help!

[SpidersWeb, BSN]

Hi fatdavies,

The EU has rules and regulations but there are some country-specific details you'll need to consider. The EU is definitely not a monolithic entity, so for the purposes of this discussion it'd be beneficial to know which country you're planning to relocate to.

In general I can tell you that the scope of practice of BSN-RNs differs from country to country, the credential evaluation will depend on the country and its authorities and without the NCLEX or it's equivalent, you will just be registered as an RN once your BSN is approved.

To get into further detail, the scope of practice in Germany and Finland, for example, differs significantly. As far as I've understood, German RNs need extra education on top of their BSN to be able to work in the capacity of their American colleagues whereas in Finland RNs have a wider scope than American RNs.

The EU recognizes BSN degrees only, and the credential evaluation will depend on the specific country you want to immigrate to. I've understood at least some Americans fall short on the amount of clinical hours because the EU requirement is 75 ECTS or about 2025 hours. For example, I had several 5 week internships and one 10-week internship towards the end of my degree.

Once a student completes his/her degree, he/she will send an application to the appropriate authority and they will grant registration within 2 weeks, so I'd focus on the compatibility of your degree, the credential evaluation.

Also, in most European countries and in most RN positions you'll need to be able to speak the official language fluently. Especially in the Nordic countries even older people speak English quite well but in the rest of the continental Europe you will face difficulties due to language barriers.

I hope my answer doesn't discourage you. I think it's possible to make the transition but you'll need to make research and have patience. I'd be happy to help you with any further questions.