The Mobility of Nurses Across Europe
There are a lot of career choices, which you can make in your life, and some of them are good, while others are simply popular. One of the best and most popular things, which people decide to become, is a nurse. The demand for such professionals is more than high, and the salaries are beyond satisfactory. However, some countries do not know how to satisfy their employees and this is why they seek for a way out. With the doors open more than ever, it is important to discuss the mobility of nurses across the EU.
As a whole, in Western and Northern Europe, the nursing situation is pretty stable. People receive satisfactory salaries, and they are not forced to overwork themselves in most occasions. The amount of people who leave their country in search for new opportunities is relatively low, and with good reason. However, when you shift your focus towards the Eastern parts of Europe, things tend to look a little differently. There is severe discontent in the work force there, with strikes constantly arising along the way, and highly trained professionals looking for new venues to master. The main stop in their tracks is the language, but there are a lot of resourceful cadres, who end up in the right place in the right time.
In terms of education, it is altogether different in all parts of the world, not just separate countries within the EU. The typical time for education is 2 years, with 4 years for the really specialized nurses. In some countries however, medical schools demand a full 4 year bachelor’s program with a 2 year specialization afterwards. The bad news about that is that when you decide to become an expat, the additional education you have received is not accounted for.
Considering these facts, it must be said that the most popular location at the moment by far, is England. There is a number of factors contributing to that, the main being the fact that a lot of the regulations, which were imposed on nurses before have fallen, and there is a new inflow of professionals looking for jobs on the island. Just a couple of years ago, you had to have at least 450 hours of work done in your own country, and pass special exams when you move to England, to prove your value. Now, with only a diploma together with you, even though experience is still a strong plus, a lot of foreigners have managed to nest into the system. There is a very strong contingency of nurses from Romania and Bulgaria, who managed to find stable working positions in England after the regulations for work from these 2 countries were lifted. Still, it cannot be said that the most popular destination is the best one. The unemployment rates are still pretty steep and the pay, albeit generous compared to other countries, does not serve well to cover the high expenses of the country.
This is why other popular destinations are Germany and the Netherlands, where the admission rules are a bit harsher, but still manageable. With stable income and a considerably lower unemployment rate, and very little bureaucracy to run through, nurses from all over the EU, including even England, have made their way to the inner parts of the old continent. The conditions for work naturally vary from state to state, and from establishment to establishment. Even if the government offers great opportunities for nurses, some hospitals and clinics will still be better than others. This is because of a better base for working, or lack thereof, better benefit packages and much more.
As a whole, it must be said that nursing mobility within the EU is a stable factor, which is continuing to evolve, and it is up to you to find the right venue for your needs. If you are a member of the Union, you will not find it hard to migrate. The only problem in front of you is the language barrier, which can be taken down with the right amount of patience, and a lot of will to carry on and lead a better life.
