Buitenslands gediplomeerden
The Nurse Practitioner in the Netherlands
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The Certified Nurse Specialist: The Nurse Practitioner in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands a ‘certified nurse specialist’ is a nurse practitioner who is registered in the official Dutch registry for nurse specialists, after completing a two-year dual Master's Program, the Master Advanced Nursing Practice (MANP). Only after registration, one is legally allowed to use the title ‘(certified) nurse specialist’. The registry is operated by the Registration Commission for Nurse Specialists.
More information about how the nurse specialist is established in the Dutch legal system, how nurse specialists safeguard the quality of their own profession, and how the profession is categorized into different specialisms, can be found here.
Difference between the ‘nurse specialist’ and the ‘specialized nurse’
A nurse specialist is not the same as a specialized nurse. A specialized nurse is a nurse, with a basic registration in the ‘BIG-register’ (the official Dutch registry for nurses), who has one or more areas of expertise, such as ‘intensive care’, ‘oncology’ or ‘geriatric care’. The registry for nurse specialists is not intended for these specialized nurses. The registry for nurse specialists is only intended for those who have completed the MANP-program (or an equivalent abroad). More information about the different areas of expertise of specialized nurses can be found at www.venvn.nl* and through kwaliteitsregister.venvn.nl* (*please note: both websites are in Dutch).
If you have received your diploma abroad and want to know (for a future employer) with which Dutch level your foreign diploma is comparable, then you can apply for a ‘credential evaluation’ through the Information Centre for Credential Evaluation (IcDW). For additional information, please contact them. The Nuffic-website offers additional information.
Registration as a certified nurse specialist based on a foreign diploma
The procedure for registration as a nurse specialist is dependent on the country where you have completed your education as a nurse specialist and on whether you are already registered in the ‘BIG-register’ or not.
If you are trained as a nurse specialist in one of the countries of the European Union (EU), Switzerland, Iceland, Norway or Liechtenstein, there are two routes for registration, dependent on your registration as a nurse in the Netherlands:
- Combined procedure (registration as a nurse and as a nurse specialist in-one) at the BIG-register
In order to be registered as a nurse specialist, it is necessary to first obtain official registration as a nurse. You can apply for registration as a nurse (first) and as a nurse specialist (second) in a combined procedure through the website of the BIG register. - Single procedure (direct registration as a nurse specialist) at the Registry for Nurse Specialists
If you are already BIG-registered in the Netherlands as a nurse, because you have obtained your nursing-degree in the Netherlands for example, then you can directly apply for registration as a nurse specialist through the Registration Commission for Nurse Specialists. Please contact Mr. A.J. Uitewaal, registry-advisor, by e-mail through registers@venvn.nl or by phone through number 003130 291 90 38.
If you are trained as a nurse specialist in another country (i.e. not the EU, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway or Liechtenstein), there are three steps you need to take in order to register as nurse specialist:
- Obtain a BIG-registration as a nurse
You need a BIG-registration as a nurse before you can proceed to the next step. You can arrange this through the BIG-register. Please note: you cannot take the combined procedure (nurse + nurse specialist registration in one procedure) as described above; that is reserved for those with a nurse specialist diploma from the countries listed. - Obtain the Dutch MANP-degree
With a valid BIG-registration, it is possible to enroll for the Master Advanced Nursing Practice (MANP) at one of the ten recognized educational institutes. The MANP-coordinator of the institute of your choice can assess the extent to which, on the basis of your previous studies abroad, you can obtain exemptions from the program. Please contact one of the MANP-coordinators for more information about the assessment, possible exemptions, and your enrollment. - Register as a nurse specialist on the basis of your Dutch MANP-diploma
Upon completion of the Dutch MANP-degree, the educational institute will provide you with the necessary documents with which you can directly register as a nurse specialist. You can do this by sending a message to registers@venvn.nl. In your e-mail you request to be registered as a nurse specialist. You add a digital copy of your Dutch MANP-diploma as an attachment. The diploma needs to be signed by both you and the examination committee of the educational institute. On the diploma (or the official document accompanying the diploma) the MANP-specialism needs to be mentioned. Before your request can be processed, you need to pay the current rate for registration. You will receive an invoice from the registry. After payment, your request will be assessed.
Eligibility for registration
If, after reading the information displayed above, you are still unsure whether you are eligible for registration as a certified nurse specialist, you can contact the Registration Commission for Nurse Specialists for more information. By e-mail through registers@venvn.nl or by telephone with Mr. A.J. Uitewaal, registry-advisor, through number 003130 291 90 38.
Verpleegkundig specialist in Nederland
In Nederland is een verpleegkundig specialist een verpleegkundige die na afronding van een tweejarige duale (erkende) masteropleiding (de Master Advanced Nursing Practice) is geregistreerd in het verpleegkundig specialistenregister. De verpleegkundig specialist heeft een wettelijk beschermde titel.
Verschil verpleegkundig specialist en gespecialiseerd verpleegkundige
Een verpleegkundig specialist is niet hetzelfde als een gespecialiseerd verpleegkundige. Een gespecialiseerd verpleegkundige is een verpleegkundige (BIG-geregistreerd) met één of meer expertisegebieden, zoals intensive care, oncologie, geriatrie of ambulancezorg. Registratie in het specialistenregister is dan ook niet bedoeld voor gespecialiseerd verpleegkundigen. Meer informatie over de verschillende expertisegebieden van verpleegkundigen kun je vinden op www.venvn.nl en op kwaliteitsregister.venvn.nl.
Wil je je diploma’s laten erkennen voor de toekomstige werkgever, neem dan contact op met de Nuffic.
Indien je twijfelt of je in aanmerking komt voor registratie als verpleegkundig specialist, neem dan eerst contact op met de Registratiecommissie Specialismen Verpleegkunde via e-mail of telefonisch met dhr. A.J. Uitewaal, adviseur registers, T. (030) 291 90 38.
Registratie na opleiding in het buitenland
De procedure tot registratie als verpleegkundig specialist is afhankelijk van het land waar je je opleiding tot verpleegkundig specialist hebt gevolgd.
Ben je opgeleid in één van de landen van de EU, in Zwitserland, IJsland, Noorwegen of Liechtenstein, dan kun je via het BIG-register een aanvraag indienen voor een registratie als verpleegkundig specialist. Je moet je buitenlands diploma namelijk omzetten in een BIG-registratie, want je moet ook beschikken over een BIG-registratie als verpleegkundige. Beschik je al over een BIG-registratie, bijvoorbeeld doordat je de opleiding tot verpleegkundige in Nederland hebt gevolgd, dan kun je een aanvraag rechtstreeks indienen bij de RSV. Neem hiervoor contact op met dhr. A.J. Uitewaal, adviseur registers, registers@venvn.nl of telefonisch (030) 2919038. Meer informatie over registratie na opleiding in het buitenland lees je in de beleidsregel en in het document Registratie na opleiding in het buitenland - processchema.
Ben je opgeleid in een ander land, dan kun je je uitsluitend laten registreren als verpleegkundig specialist nadat je de opleiding tot verpleegkundig specialist in Nederland -eventueel via een verkort traject- met goed gevolg hebt afgerond. Om de opleiding te kunnen volgen, moet je beschikken over een BIG-registratie als verpleegkundige. Voor meer informatie kun je contact opnemen met één van de hoofdopleiders van de erkende opleidingsinstellingen. De hoofdopleider zal beoordelen in hoeverre je, op grond van je gevolgde opleiding, vrijstellingen kunt krijgen van de Nederlandse opleiding tot verpleegkundig specialist.