An Overview of Nursing In Netherlands

1. The Career Pathway Salary of Nurses in the Netherlands
2. Working Conditions 
3. How to Apply as a Nurse in the Netherlands
4. Nurse Licensure in the Netherlands
5. FAQs

It is no secret that there is a global shortage of skilled nurses. According to the ICN (International Council of Nurses), filling the global shortfall of these professionals will require up to 13 million nurses in the future. 

The Netherlands is a fantastic area to work as a nurse, and it is in desperate need of more nurses right now. This isn't solely due to the coronavirus; the Netherlands had a nursing shortage long before that.

Learn how to live and work as a nurse in a lovely nation like the Netherlands at 1Nurse.com. We've assembled all of the information you'll need to make your dream a reality in this beautiful country.

If you're a foreign nurse who wants to work in the Netherlands, you must have/be:

• A European nursing degree is required. If you have a non-European nursing degree, you must have it validated by the International Credential Evaluation (IDW). The validation procedure can take up to four weeks to complete.
• You must also have a strong knowledge of the English or German languages, at least at the A2 level.
• Having a valid working permit in the Netherlands or European nationality is required.

Section A: The Career Pathway

Nursing is a vast discipline in the Netherlands. There are numerous specialties available, and the working culture is distinct from that of other countries. As a result, it allows nurses to establish a career path and advance their careers. Many healthcare businesses in the Netherlands encourage their employees to enroll in nursing courses to further their education in a certain specialty or subject. In fact, because specialized courses are seen as an investment in their health care staff, several hospitals will often provide them for free.

Registered Nurse (Staff Nurse)
Nurses in the Netherlands are involved in coordinating direct patient care, directing primary care units, and occasionally serving as heads of many units, divisions, or services. Likewise, they have direct involvement in decision-making and governance frameworks to improve service quality.

Nurses With Specializations
Your job opportunities have expanded and you have the option of pursuing a specialty in the Netherlands. Specializations like dialysis nursing, theatre nursing, nurse anesthetist, and many more. However, keep in mind that once you are registered in Beroepen in de Individuele Gezondheidszorg (BIG) as a registered nurse, every five years, you must show confirmation of working as a nurse for at least 2080 hours in the previous five years. You can also enroll in a reactivation course and pass two tests.

Section B: Salary of Nurses in the Netherlands

The typical income for a registered nurse working in a Dutch hospital runs from 2600 euros to 3700 euros per month, which may be a motivator for some nurses to relocate to the Netherlands. This, however, is dependent on a variety of criteria, such as years of experience and skill.

Source: Nurse Average Salary in Netherlands 2022. (n.d.). Salary Explorer. Retrieved February 15, 2022, from http://www.salaryexplorer.com/salary-survey.php?loc=152&loctype=1&job=865&jobtype=3

According to salaryexplorer.com, the most essential criterion in deciding a wage is the amount of experience. Naturally, the more years of experience you have, the more money you will earn. 

Nurses with less than two years of experience can expect to earn around 2,130 EUR per month.

Someone with two to five years of experience may expect to earn 2,930 EUR per month, which is 38% higher than someone with less than two years of experience.

Moving forward, someone with five to 10 years of experience earns 4,170 EUR per month, which is 42 percent more than someone with two to five years of experience.

Section C: Working Conditions

Nurse-Patient Ratio: There is research published in nursingtimes.net that discussed patient and nurses ratio. In Finland, 535 registered nurses were polled, while in the Netherlands, 334 were polled. The patient-to-nurse ratio was 8.74:1 on average, with no notable differences between countries.
Source: https://www.nursingtimes.net/roles/nurse-managers/nursing-ratios-linked-to-patient-outcomes-30-12-2011/#:~:text=The%20researchers%20surveyed%20535%20registered,vary%20significantly%20between%20the%20countries

Hospital Equipment: The Netherlands is well-known for its universal and high-quality healthcare system, which is consistently ranked as one of the best in the world. With a score of 59.14, the Dutch healthcare system is ranked third in the World Index of Healthcare Innovation, only behind first-placed Switzerland (59.56) and second-placed Germany (59.28).

Working Atmosphere: If you've been considering working as a nurse in the Netherlands, now is the time. The Netherlands has an outstanding compensation structure, a 36-hour workweek, a non-hierarchical working culture, and strong professional progression prospects when compared to other countries.

Shifting: Based on statistics, 5% of nurses in the Netherlands and other European countries reported working 12-hour shifts. The majority of day shifts in all of these countries were 8 hours. 12-hour shifts were also uncommon.

Patient Safety: The Dutch hospital industry has been working hard in recent years to improve patient care. Providers of care must ensure their patients' safety. In addition to legislation and regulation, accreditation, and other activities, All Dutch hospitals agreed to implement quality-driven purchasing and several local initiatives. 'Prevent harm, work safely' is the national patient safety program.

Source: https://www.nivel.nl/sites/default/files/bestanden/Samenvatting-engels-implementatie-VMS.pdf

Section D: How to Apply as a Nurse in the Netherlands

If you have the necessary skills and certifications, working as a nurse in another country can be a lucrative and life-changing experience. The Netherlands, for example, has its own set of rules that all candidates must complete in order to work there.

Basic Requirements
You must satisfy the following prerequisites before you can begin working as a nurse in the Netherlands:

• A European nursing degree is required. If you have a nursing degree from a country other than Europe, you must get it validated by the International Credential Evaluation Service (IDW). The validation procedure can take up to four weeks to complete.
• You must also have a strong knowledge of the English or German languages, at least at the A2 level.
• You are required to have a valid working permit in the Netherlands
• Under the Individual Healthcare Act, certain healthcare professions have a protected title. Nurses, doctors, midwives are examples of professions included in the Individual Healthcare Act You must register in the BIG register if yours has a protected title. Patients are protected by the BIG registry from professional misconduct and medical errors.

The BIG registration spells forth exactly what a healthcare practitioner is allowed to perform and what they are not allowed to do. For example, whether a healthcare worker is permitted to administer particular injections or execute specific procedures. Likewise, you need to satisfy the following requirements:

• You hold a professional credential from a reputable organization
• You don't have work limitations
• The registry is a central, official database of healthcare practitioners maintained by the Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport (VWS).

BIG Registration Number
You can search up your BIG number online at Mijn-BIG-register (https://mijn.bigregister.nl/) if you don't know it (in Dutch). You can also use this page to look up and edit your personal information, as well as reregister. If you live abroad, you will need DigiD (https://mijn.bigregister.nl/big-login/inloggen) or your BIG log-in data to access this registration.

Section E: The Netherlands Immigration For Nurses

You must apply for a Netherlands work visa if you intend to work in the Netherlands for more than 90 days. A work visa for the Netherlands is a residence permit granted to foreign nationals who wish to work in the country. In many situations, you must also get a work permit in addition to your Dutch residency visa.

Temporarily Work In Netherlands

Do you hold an EU diploma or certificate and want to work as a healthcare professional in the Netherlands on a temporary basis? If your profession has a protected title, you must apply for authorization to provide services on a temporary and occasional basis. You have the option of registering in the BIG, but it is not essential.

The European Professional Card is open to pharmacists, physiotherapists, and nurses (EPC). This authorization is only good for a year. Once you have an authorization, you can begin working. Professional liability insurance is also required.

Re-registration

Every five years, you must re-register in the BIG register to show you still meet the standards for your profession. To do so, you must have the necessary work experience or education. Each profession has its own set of standards (in Dutch). You will be deregistered and unable to practice your profession if you do not re-register or if you re-register too late.

Section F: Nurse Licensure in the Netherlands

Once you've completed your BIG registration, you are now a licensed nurse in the Netherlands.

Your job choices are widened, and you have the option of pursuing a specialty in this beautiful country. However, after you’ve registered as a nurse in the BIG, you must prove that you have worked as a nurse for at least 2080 hours in the previous five years every five years. You can also enroll in a reactivation course and pass two tests.

Section G: FAQs

Are nurses in high demand in this country?

The Netherlands is a wonderful place to work as a nurse, and it is in desperate need of more nurses right now. This isn't solely due to the coronavirus; the Netherlands had a nursing shortage long before that.

In the Netherlands, how much do nurses make?

The typical income for a registered nurse working in a Dutch hospital runs from 2600 euros to 3700 euros per month, which may be a motivator for some nurses to relocate to the Netherlands. This, however, is dependent on a variety of criteria, such as years of experience and skill.

How much does it cost to live in the Netherlands?

Without rent, a family of four would spend $3,477 ($3,072€) each month. Without rent, a single person's projected monthly costs are 975$ (861€). The cost of living in the Netherlands is 6.62 percent more on average than in the United States. The average rent in the Netherlands is 15.23 percent lower than in the United States.