US Nurse working in Germany?

kersti · Apr 15, 2006

nutella, I don't know when you last worked in germany or tried to get a job? A lot has changed in the last few years. It definetely isn't the easy pickings that it was just 5 years ago. And as I've mentioned, the working conditions...42 hr week, no vacation or christmas money, with a paycheck at the end of the month that's not exactly glorious wouldn't exactly make me want to go through the hassle of getting my german license.

If somebody wants to undergo these obstacles anyway because of a strong desire to live in a specific country, than that's fine. It's important though, to see all sides of the issue.

nutella, MSN, RN · Apr 15, 2006

9 months ago I discussed some joboffers from Germany but turned down because I did not want to divide our family so I am a bit up to date on the job market. I worked there until 2004 and of course it is not a paradies and working there is different from the US it is not impossible to get a job!

There are still jobs where you get a good pay, you always have health insurance, unemployment insurance,you get 30 days off a year paid vacation...

Of course there are costs as well and especially big cities are expensive. I don't want to say that it is best to work there and work conditions can be quite horrible (med surg floor....) but it is not "hell" ....

kersti · Apr 16, 2006

It was not my intention to represent working in Germany as a nurse as being "hell" umh, and actually, I don't think I did. I'm sure that there are certainly other areas on earth that this description would be more fitting for. But there is a sense of resignation among nurses- and I am speaking for the Munich area since that is where I live and work. The work we do and the pay we get for it just doesn't seem to make much sense. I am seeing an increasing number of younger coworkers starting to look around for other job opportunities. I thought that this is something marcus would be interested in knowing. Even though it does seem that marcus is still in the fact-finding stage of his planning/thinking and I'm sure that he'll do lots more research before he decides either way.

MarcusKspn · Apr 17, 2006

Thanks to everyone for all the info. I don't have any concrete plans. Like I said I grew up in Germany and speak the language and have citizenship over there. I was not thinking of moving anytime soon, but just wanted to see what my options were if I were to move for some reason down the road.

ChristinaNcRN · Apr 18, 2006

Well as Kersti already has posted it is in the moment very hard to find a position as a nurses in Germany.The older you are and the more experience you have the harder it gets.... I live in Germany and I am going back to the US because I have no chance for further education or a position I would like to work at.

The salary is poor and your education would not be accepted and to work as a nurse in Germany is different to what you are used to in the US.

I am not the only one I know from several nurses my age (39) that they have problems finding a position in a hospital. I live in the Frankfurt area.

Willow98 · Feb 13, 2008

Thanks for this idea. I, too, am considering a career in Germany. My situation is a little different. I am an American, but lived in Germany as a teenager when my dad was in the military. I am going to marry one of my old friends and we are debating which country to take residence in. I currently hold an ADN; but will complete my BSN this summer. I know I have a lot more German to learn, but would still like to know what's ahead of me as far as how to work in Germany. This conversation has been helpful for the German side; but how do you go about finding jobs on the military bases with either the civil service or DODDS? Thanks for your assistance.