A Comprehensive Guide on How to Become a Foreign Nurse in Norway

Despite the high class of living and expensive costs in the country, they provide several benefits for nurses, which may convince you to work in the country. In Norway, you may choose to work in hospitals, elderly care homes, schools, mental healthcare institutions and many more. There is indeed a wide-range of nursing careers that you could choose from. Aside from those, there is no doubt that Norway is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and there are also many exciting activities that you could do during your free time if you choose to work there. Lastly, the increased shortage of nurses could give you higher chances of acquiring a nursing career in the country. Truly, it is an incredible place to work in.

About the Country

Norway is one out of the three Scandinavian countries. Its population is approximately 5.39 million people. Based on the United Nations Human Development Report, Norway was consecutively ranked as “the best country to live in”. Rankings are made based on the educational levels, income, life expectancy, human rights and cultural freedom of a country. Aside from those, Norway also received a high rating for its material wealth, literacy rate, and educational levels. In fact, the country has one of the best welfare systems in the world, constantly ensuring that unemployed individuals, or individuals who cannot work are given assistance in order for them to live well. Furthermore, Norway is also known for having one of the lowest crime rates in the world. 

Norway is also known as the Land of the Midnight Sun, due to its location in which it lies beyond the Arctic Circle. As a result, the sun neither sets nor rises for a few months in a year. 

The country is famous for its majestic lakes, and magical skies. The country is also home to frozen pizza fans, and Tesla drivers. In Norway, you could also see the famous Northern Lights, go whale watching, and go hiking in the Lyngenfjord region. You could also try out exotic nature-based activities in the Svalbard Islands, where you could go ice caving, go dog sledging and even ride a snowmobile safari. Truly, it is a dream destination to work in. 

Filipinos in Norway

In 2017, there were 1,808 healthcare professionals, who obtained their education in the Philippines, working in Norway. Among these, 946 of them were nurses, implying that there are not many Filipino nurses in the country. Despite this, you may be comforted by the Filipino Nurses Association in the Nordic Region (FiNAN), which aims to allow Filipino nurses in the country to be able to speak up, in regards with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Code of Ethical Recruitment of Health Personnel. They aim to empower and enhance the Filipino nurses’ global image as a source of nursing manpower and care in the Nordic countries.

Type of Nurses

There are many different types of nurses in Norway, with the three most common types being Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN), Registered Nurses (RN), and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN). 

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN)

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) provide patient care under the supervision of  RNs. They are responsible for providing aid in patient testing, writing medical records, and assisting patients with their daily routines, which include eating and dressing.

Registered Nurses (RN)

Registered Nurses (RN) often work in hospitals, clinics or health care centers. Some of their responsibilities include supervising other medical personnel, such as LPNs, and collaborating with doctors to provide the most efficient care to their patients. They are also responsible for following through on patient treatment, and monitoring them. 

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN)

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN), or Advanced Practice Nurses (APN), are nurses that acquired a master’s degree. They provide health evaluations, diagnoses, treatments and other medical procedures in various healthcare environments. Their responsibilities are comparable to those of registered nurses, however, APRNs have more specific training and expertise. For instance, an APRN may develop patient care plans whereas the RN is responsible for implementing them. In addition, APRNs are also in charge of supervising the RNs, as well as the other medical and nursing personnel.

Salary

According to salaryexplorer.com, nurses in Norway earn an average yearly salary of 459,000 NOK (₱2,663,021.04). The salary varies based on the qualifications and skills, and amount of experience that a nurse has. An entry-level nurse earns an average salary of 211,000 NOK (₱1,224,177.43) yearly, while a senior-level nurse earns an average salary of 729,000 NOK (₱4,229,504) per year. In fact, a nurse two to five years earns approximately 34 percent more as compared to a nurse with less than two years of experience. Furthermore, a nurse with five to ten years of experience earns about 48 percent more as compared to a nurse with only two to five years of experience, while a nurse with ten to 15 years of experience earns around 22 percent more compared to one with only five to ten years of experience. 
Aside from those factors, in Norway, a nurse’s salary is also affected by the educational level that you have acquired, wherein having a master’s degree will allow you to earn an average salary of 537,000 NOK (₱3,115,560.56), which is 93 percent higher than the salary of a nurse with only a bachelor’s degree (278,000 NOK or ₱1,612,897.27).

Demand for Nurses

 Due to the shortage of healthcare professionals in Norway, foreign applicants may apply to work in the country, provided that your education meets the standards of the country. The increasing population, and aging population have placed extra pressure on the healthcare system of the country, resulting in a demand for more qualified healthcare professionals. In fact, according to Statistics Norway, the country will need around 95,000 to 135,000 additional healthcare professionals in the next 20 years.

Hospitals

There are not many hospitals in the country, because of its relatively small population size. The public hospitals are monitored by the Ministry of Health and Care Services and managed by the four Regional Health Authorities (RHA), which are the center, north, south, east, and west. The hospital system in the country is very diverse, as it ranges from local regional health clinics to huge specialty hospitals. Their hospitals are primarily divided under the four RHAs, with a total budget of more than 75 billion NOK. 

Some of the hospitals in the country are Southern Hospitals HF, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Diakonhjemmet Sykehus AS, Volvat Medisinske Senter, Drammen Private Sykehus, Oslo Universitetssykehus, Haukeland University Hospital, St. Olav’s University Hospital, and Diakonhjemmet Hospital.

Educational Requirement

In order to be qualified to work as a nurse in Norway, you must first acquire a degree in nursing that meets the country’s standards, as well as a valid license issued by an institution that is recognized by the country. If you obtained your education from non-EU/EEA countries, you will be asked to submit additional documents.

Language Requirement

The two official languages of Norway are Norwegian and Sami, with a majority of the people speaking in the Norwegian language. Due to this, it is expected that you know how to speak the language in order for you to be able to communicate efficiently with your co-workers, and patients and their families. Despite the ability of most Norwegians to speak the English language, only a few individuals would choose to speak English when speaking about medical issues. 

With this, if you obtained your education outside of the EU/EEA countries, you will be required to submit a proof of language proficiency in the Norwegian language, wherein a minimum of B2 level in the language is required. 

The Directorate for Health and Social Affairs suggests that applicants begin their training in the language prior to applying for authorization to work in the country, as three years may be a short period of time to acquire the required level of competence.

Application

As mentioned, if you obtained your education outside of EU/EEA countries, you will be asked to submit additional documents. Prior to being able to submit these documents, you must first submit your proof of Norwegian language proficiency. Afterwards, you must submit 

The submission of additional documents must be provided within a period of three years after the education was deemed equal, or the person has demonstrated the relevant abilities. If you were not able to complete all the requirements within the three year period, you will have to re-apply for an authorization.

Examinations

In order to prove your competency in the language, you must successfully complete a Norwegian language test, either the Norskprøve, or the Bergenstesten. 

Norskprøve

In order to prove your competency in the language, you must successfully complete the Norskprøve, which is a Norwegian language test. The minimum level you can acquire to work as a nurse in the country is the B2 level of the Norwegian language, which is the highest level. It is the same level that high school students in the country attain to be eligible for tertiary education. To take the exam, you may have to pay a fee of 2,200 NOK; the amount may vary. In this exam, there is no pass or fail; instead, the exam will determine your level of Norwegian. For instance, if you register for the A2/B1 exam, and you obtain a low score, you will receive a certificate indicating that your Norwegian language level is A2, while if you get a high score, you will acquire a level of B1. 

The exam is divided into four sections: written exam (skriveprøve), reading exam (leseprøve), listening exam (lytteproøve), and the oral exam (muntligprøve). The reading and the listening sections are computer-based, wherein if you do well, the computer will offer you with more complex challenges in order to precisely estimate your level. For the oral exam, you may have to take the exam with another applicant in order to properly examine your ability in answering the questions of the other applicant. Despite this, you will receive individual grades based on your own performance. 

Bergenstesten

Bergenstesten is an advanced test to assess your proficiency in the Norwegian language. The written exam is intended for foreign applicants seeking admission to a Norwegian university or college, as well ​​as Norwegian residents who have graduated from secondary schools abroad and job seekers in Norway, such as medical practitioners, native language teachers, and those who are required to document their Norwegian language skills. The oral test, on the other hand, was created primarily for healthcare workers and other foreigners who need to demonstrate advanced Norwegian speaking abilities while applying for studies or a job in Norway. 

In order to pass the exam, you must obtain a grade of C in both the oral and written sections of the examination in level 3 in Norwegian. 

Nasjonale fag for sykepleiere

Majority of the nurses from non-Nordic countries are required to complete the course, “Nasjonale fag for sykepleiere” in order to acquire their authorization to work as a nurse in the country. It is an intensive course with a duration of four weeks, which will help you learn more about the health system, social security and social rights, cultural understanding, and national focus areas of the country. It is offered twice a year at the Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences (HiOA). It is essential to keep in mind that there is only a limited amount of slots available for the course, therefore it is recommended that you sign up at least six months prior to the start date. After attending the course, you will have to pass two examinations. One of which is the “Test i medikamentregning”, which will assess your math skills in relation to the dosage of medications. The other exam is a  four-hour exam on national subjects.

The Proficiency Test (General Nurse)

As a foreign nurse, you must also successfully complete the proficiency test specifically for general nurses. It is a practical and oral exam, which aims to examine your theoretical knowledge and practical skills, assessing whether you are fit to work in the country’s healthcare system. This exam is administered by the Universitetet i Sør-Øst Norge (usn.no), and it can only be taken during spring and autumn semesters. 

Study in advance for the said examinations to secure high scores. Make sure to also prepare the necessary documents to avoid any delays in the application process. Once you have successfully submitted the requirements, and have been deemed eligible to work in the country, you may now work as a nurse in Norway!

References

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