Friday, May 23, 2008

Speechless

I spoke to one of the assessment officers today from the Irish Nursing Board and he explained to me the problems they are having with my credentials to register me to work in Ireland.

As I understand it, the EU and Ireland specifically do not have an exam like the US's Nursing Boards which, upon passing you are licensed to work and recognized as "meeting the minimum standard to provide safe care". Here, you pass your school classes, you are a nurse. So, my registering with their country is completely based on my education.

And apparently, not even so much on how well I did in school, but how well my school did me. When they asked the almightly MDCC how many hours of theoretical study I received in nursing the reply was 368 and hours of clinical practice is 736. Hell.. that sounds fantastic, right?

An Bord Altranais (Irish Nursing Board), as apparently dictated by somewhere within the EU, requires minimums of 1533 and 2300 in theory and clinical practice.

So barring some miracle of number crunching as I work to gather my continuing education credits, talking to Baptist about documenting my hours as a preceptee and MAC training courses, I'm not going to be a nurse in Ireland.

HOW FUCKING CRAZY IS THAT?

I mean, ask anyone in the nursing education system of the US and they will tell you that nursing school is just to lay the foundation for your learning and just to give you enough knowledge so you don't KILL someone on your first day of work.

I have an unblemished work record of 5 years. I haven't even killed one person! That should count for something.

To hear this man today speak, and I must say he was very nice and said he was doing what he could, but it seems as though cases will not be taken into consideration individually, either you have the numbers or not.

ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?

I guess I'm not exactly speechless on the subject. Just most thoughts I have on it are filled with profanity.

So, thats it in a nutshell. I am currently taking suggestions for alternate careers. Which, in this country (oh, you've done it now - don't get me started on the work situation here...) is going to be extremely limited as you take a series of tests at the end of 'high school' which determines what you will study in university which determines what you will do for the rest of your life. There is no such thing as changing your mind. I couldn't even go and apply to nursing school here.

So, think of all the best minimum wage jobs you've had in your life and recommend one for me. - No, don't say secretary or "administrative assistant" (though I've already been a few of those) because they require formal education too which is not available to me.

6 comments:

Debbie said...

WHAT?!?! Well, I think you said it best, lol.

Georgie said...

Mierda! What are we gonna do? How about a CNA? You know how to wipe ass and you have great bedside manners! There must be something you are qualified to do in a hospital other than nursing? How about at a day care? (Do they have daycares over there?) You sound like a Cuban saying "when I was in America I was a Nurse... In my country..." Good luck! Keep us all posted.

Unknown said...

What a load of B******s.

Mike Sandridge said...

Hi Mierda. As a fellow transplant here in Ireland I can defiantly feel your pain on this one. I'm a certified elementary school teacher, and for the past two years I have been busting my "arse" trying to get a teaching position. You'd think a male primary school teacher with tons of experience might at the vary least get a call back for a interview. But, as you are now seeing, there must be something about americans, because job wise, Ireland doesn't want anything to do with us.
Terrible isn't it. My family are moving back to the states at the end of July for this very reason. I made one phone call to a school system in America, had two interviews the next week, and was offered a third grade job the following monday. It took two weeks and one day to get what I have been trying 2 and a half years to do over here.
Anyway, hope you have better luck than I did. I guess all I can say is keep trying and maybe something will work out.

Jared said...

That is a really awful story. I'm very sorry that it has to be that way.

So, has the arm-twisting began for a return to the States yet?

In the meantime, do they have Borders or Barnes and Noble over there? If I had to get a job quickly to make some cash, I would probably apply at a bookstore.

Keep the posts coming.

Malinda said...

Do you see that 'mike sandridge' called me "Mierda"... What did I ever do to him?!! That's so funny. I guess he say Georgie's post and thought that was my name..