Want to relocate to Europe

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Jul 23, 2005

Hi -it seems like most of these messages are about moving to the US. What about relocating to Europe? My husband and I would like to in the future. What type of licensing, certification do nurses have in somewhere like Sweden, or Spain? I wonder how the working conditions, etc, compare to the US? Does anyone know how I would go about doing this?

Never been to Europe but I do want to wish you and the rest of the family the best of luck. :)

Brotherbob, BSN, RN · Jul 23, 2005

Hi -it seems like most of these messages are about moving to the US. What about relocating to Europe? My husband and I would like to in the future. What type of licensing, certification do nurses have in somewhere like Sweden, or Spain? I wonder how the working conditions, etc, compare to the US? Does anyone know how I would go about doing this?

Your license is international, but you have to pass a few tests to be able to work in Sweden. First you have to pass a test in the swedish language, then a test of medical competence, after that I believe you have to do some kind of clinics for a few months. It would take quite a bit of time and determination to do all that, especially the language. That is why most foreign nurses go to UK.

I have visited US a few times but never worked there, I think there are not too much difference in working conditions but we make a lot less money. We are a friendly people and the country is beautiful. I would love to have more international coworkers. Feel free to ask questions.

Here is a website about the swedish health care system.

www.sweden.se/templates/cs/BasicFactsheet____6856.aspx

National Board of Health And Welfare

www.sos.se

Robert

suzanne4, RN · Jul 23, 2005

The license is not international, the training is accepted internationally. Big difference. If the license was international there would no reason to need to take any exams in other countries.

You will need to take an exam, just like the nurses from other countriies have to take for working in the US, as well as deal with immigration. Actually the dame for working in any foreign country. Adn you need to take the exam in their language. :)

Brotherbob, BSN, RN · Jul 23, 2005

The license is not international, the training is accepted internationally. Big difference. If the license was international there would no reason to need to take any exams in other countries.

Yes, you are right Suzanne, the license is not international. Sorry

For EU professionals working in another EU/EEA country it seems to be much less complicated, no exam, just sending in the paperwork and get the license. Nurses from other countries need to pass exams.

Robert

suzanne4, RN · Jul 23, 2005

:) :)

It isn't even the exams , as long as the nurse speaks that language, but the immigration paperwork that will be the most time consuming.

nutella, MSN, RN · Jul 24, 2005

Hi -it seems like most of these messages are about moving to the US. What about relocating to Europe? My husband and I would like to in the future. What type of licensing, certification do nurses have in somewhere like Sweden, or Spain? I wonder how the working conditions, etc, compare to the US? Does anyone know how I would go about doing this?

There is a shortage for nurses in Sweden and there are some agencies which try to hire nurses. You always have to learn the language. I got an offer for Norway and although everybody seems to speak English anyway , they told me that I would have to learn their mothertongue.

What Suzsanne said is right, the US license is not international. Nurses from one of the EU countries can get the paperwork done easier as we can work in whole Europe and there is only some paperwork but that is the advantage of the European Union. Of course you always have to learn the language but some are gifted and some agencies pay for that.

Scandinavia is nice, but can be hard during wintertime . A lot of people get depressed during that dark time there . You pay much more taxes etc. as in the US but you have much more social security and health ins.. That is similiar in the other EU countries.

Nursing can be very different depending on the hospital, country and field . Also living is different, it is another culture!

Perhaps you can find some kind of exchange program? That would be a great opportunity to see what nursing is like in Europe. I think that it would be very difficult to get everything done without an agency as long as you are not from the EU.

nutella