The Eduployment Programme
Certified Nurses
If you are an EEA-resident and already have your nursing degree, this programme is meant for you.
Feel free to contact us if you have any questions after reading this page.
Step 1: Introduction
As a nurse, you know it’s essential to understand what the client says and needs. That’s why, when working in the Netherlands, it’s crucial for you to know the Dutch language. Mastering a new language can be difficult. Therefore we’ll explore this together in a free beginners course and introductory period in the Netherlands.
First you learn the 2200 most important words (verb conjugations) for expressing yourself in Dutch. You’ll experience what it’s like to learn a new language together with your colleagues during an intensive course. We pay for the teacher, the classroom and any support. You only pay for the study app on your phone or tablet.
Once you passed the beginners course, we want you to come to the Netherlands for 4-5 months. The goal is to become acquainted with the nursing home you work, colleagues and residents. You’ll work together with your future co-workers and perform ADL-care (Activities of Daily Living). This work won’t be for nothing. After taking off the rent for your accommodation in the Netherlands you’ll keep approximately € 3,000 net at the end of the introductory period. Besides, you’ll have time left to explore The Netherlands, because you won’t work for more than 5 days in a row (36-40 hours a week).
Your experience during this introduction period will help you to figure out if continuing the application process would be the right decision. By signing the commitment to work at the Dutch nursing home you’ll proceed to the next step of the Eduployment programme.
Step 2: Advanced Level Dutch (B1)
In order for you to gain more confidence in performing your work, gain respect from your patients and to avoid misunderstandings (which can have serious impact in healthcare) you are going to master the Dutch language on a high level. Due to the level of responsibility required in the nursing profession, it is necessary to understand the client without any confusion. You are obliged according to the Dutch authorities to pass the state examination NT2 / programme 1 (= equal to B1) in order to apply for the BIG-registration. Without BIG-registration you cannot work as a nurse. We help you in obtaining this registration that is necessary for you.
B1 level is the ability to express yourself in a limited way in familiar situations and to deal in a general way with non-routine information (universal Dutch). B1 is a minimal requirement in order to be able to professionally carry out your profession as a nurse, but we understand that you want more. You want to communicate well with the care recipient and family but you may be thinking about the future too. We want you to feel confident enough with the language to be able to specialize further and to be accepted as a manager. Eduployment encourages self-improvement and ambition. The follow-up language programme is designed to build on your knowledge of Dutch while also teaching you more healthcare-related language. During your Eduployment B1++ course you study both intensively and exclusively towards the state examination.
During this period it’s possible to apply for an EU grant, which we can help you with. Depending on the conditions at the time of the application, the grant is approximately € 2.000,-, to be paid to the language school. However if the grant is unexpectedly less or no longer available, the amount to be paid to the language school will also be less or even zero. In such a case Eduployment will pay the difference. That’s how we do it at Eduployment.
Step 3: Your Career in the Netherlands Begins
When you finish the language school you should be able to pass the state examination with ease. The state examination is scheduled every 6 weeks. We will sign you up as soon as possible. After six weeks you will receive the results. When you have passed the exam, you will be able to apply for the BIG-registration. Eduployment will support you in registering with the Dutch professional register which will enable you to work as a nurse.
Meanwhile we will help you to register at your place of residence. During this period of approximately 3 months you can work at the nursing home like you did during your introduction. However, your salary is again more and in addition to the care work you also do more activities that fit your status as a graduated nurse.
When you are registrated, the nursing home will give you the time and space needed to get used to working in the Netherlands. You don’t have to bear all the responsibilities of a nurse right away. During the first year, you will be accompanied by experienced colleagues, growing in your role as a nurse step by step. After you have achieved the learning goals, you are ready for the full responsibility of a nurse.
Working Towards Full Responsibility
The ultimate goal of the Eduployment programme is to make you operate as a full responsible nurse in Dutch healthcare. As a full responsible nurse you know exactly what your clients and colleagues expect from you and you also know what to expect from them. You are a member of the team and ready to take on the full responsibility asked of the nursing profession.
Our nurses care for people, mainly the elderly, within an institution and at people’s homes. They are also involved in taking care for those who are returning to the nurse for convalescent care. In some cases, in addition to nursing, people also need care and guidance in the final phase of their lives.
As a nurse, you will advise and train caregivers. You are often called upon for specific nursing procedures that the caregiver is unable to perform, for example administering a drip. You recognize illnesses and changes in the state of patient health and take necessary action.
You also offer team support in the physical care of patients, for example by brushing teeth or washing them. You will have an important social role, trying to establish trust with clients and providing intensive guidance to elderly people with psychological, psychogeriatric or social problems.
Another important social function is maintaining contact with the caregivers – relatives / family members who care for the elderly. You do your work according to care plans, nursing diagnoses, and you compile reports.
You also regularly consult with colleagues, team leaders and other professionals such as caregivers, physiotherapists, psychologists, social workers and (nursing home) doctors.
To accomplish all of the above our nurses have the following qualities:
- Professional knowledge
- Flexibility
- Collegiality
- Emphatic abilities
- Independency
- A proactive attitude
- Self-reflection
- Dutch language skills (B1++)
Your Contract
You are hired and employed directly by a Dutch nursing home. There will be no temporary employment agency that takes profits from you.
With a direct contract you have the guarantee that you fall under the Dutch collective employment agreement for Nursing, Care Centers and Home Care, also known as CAO-VVT. The collective employment agreement covers everyone who is working in nursing, care homes or in home care, and directly employed by the care center.
The Dutch nursing homes where we work with, treat their people thoughtfully. They value the balance between work, further training and private life. The basis for maintaining that balance is financial security. That is why they give you a contract based on fulltime, which means 36 hours a week with a maximum of 5 consecutive working days, after which you will get at least 2 days off. Each year of experience is rewarded with an extra periodical, as the table below shows.
When you finish the Eduployment programme and your ambition is to switch to a position in the hospital, psychiatry or first line care, Eduployment can also help you. There are multiple options for personal growth.
Extras:
- Payment for at least 36 hours of work per week, if
more, extra payment; - When working nights, on Sundays, public holidays and/or overtime you will receive an additional payment.
- Paid annual holidays: approx. 7 weeks (33 business days), including compensation Dutch public holidays;
- An annual holiday allowance paid out in May of 8% of
the gross monthly salary and overtime received in the
past 12 months; - An annual payment paid out in December of 7,4% of the gross monthly salary received in the past 12 months;
- Participation in the Dutch national retirement fund,
and employers’ contribution into the pension fund
for people in health care (supplementary benefit in
addition to the national retirement fund); - Reimbursement of all statutory compulsory training
and refresher courses.
Payment irregular hours up to € 6.500,- gross a year extra on top of the basic salary:
- Additional salary when working at night, Sundays and public holidays. For working hours in the evening and in the weekend, you get paid extra above the basic salary. Evening hours during the week 22% (from 20:00 – 22:00pm) and 44% (from 22:00 – 07:00am).
- Hours on Saturday 38% (from 06:00 – 08:00 am and from 12:00 – 22:00pm) and 49% (from 22:00 – 06:00am). Sunday hours 60% extra.
Full-time salary (36 hours per week)
Time in role | Salary scale | Reference number | Gross per month* | Net (in-hand) a year* |
1st year | FWG 40 / 0 | 12 | € 2.061,- | € 21.720,- |
2nd year | FWG 40 / 1 | 14 | € 2.201,- | € 22.572,- |
3rd year | FWG 40 / 2 | 16 | € 2.338,- | € 23.544,- |
4th year | FWG 40 / 3 | 17 | € 2.397,- | € 24.504,- |
5th year | FWG 40 / 4 | 18 | € 2.468,- | € 24.936,- |
* May be supplemented with additional duties indicated in nursing salaries. Payment overtime and irregular hours up to € 6.500 gross a year on top of the basic salary.
Development possibilities:
There are always multiple options for personal growth, for example:
- Internal possibilities in the nursing home:
- Specialist in geriatric nursing
- Management roles
- External possibilities:
- Nurse in a general hospital
- Nurse in a psychiatric hospital
- Triage nurse with a general practitioner or doctor’s post