I am about to graduate from Nursing school here in California with my RN license and Bachelor's degree. My husband just got orders to Yokosuka, Japan. However, I have been trying to find information about getting a job at the hospital there and have had either no luck, or discouraging news . I am really anxious to get some experience under my belt as a new graduate but I'm now really worried that I will not be able to get a job when we get there. Can anyone help me? What are my chances of getting a job at the base hospital? Do they even hire civilian spouses? Any information someone can give me would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!

I will be honest..while the nurses, for the most part at Yoko were civilians.. they wer HOST NATIONALS. the SOFA stipulates that omost on base jobs are set aside for host nationals.

you can see about volunteering there. also think about offering your services as an Enlgish teacher to a local Nursing school.. and I know there is a dental college just outside the gate. your knowledge of medical terminaly and pathology will probably be a great help.

Sorry, this is our first time to go overseas... host nationals meaning Japanese civilians working on the base? Since it sound like you've been there, do you know if there were ANY civilian spouses working there?

there were.. mostly as ADMIN types..receptionists and whatnot in each of the clinics. Nurses were either Japanese citizens or Officers. I lived there from 2000-2003,looking to go back in 2010.

overall very few jobs are available to dependents on base. you can work for MWR or the Commissary or the NEX. I won't say there oare NO spouses working as Nurses, but it is very hard to get in there.