One of my goals was to investigate what it takes to work as a nurse internationally. Which for us already living in the United States, means somewhere outside the US. I started my quest like any good seeker and typed www.google.com and searched for "International Travel Nursing". The first site that comes up is called Travel Nursing Central. It draws attention to the fact that perhaps I had been a little ethonocentric... It says most international travel nursing occurs from nurses in other countries wanting employment in the United States. It hadn't exactly occurred to me that I was the opposite of a large trend.
But the site also draws the connection that American nurses often want to nurse abroad for excitement and adventure- even though it usually comes with less pay. And, that is where I feel I have to agree. I am not interested in nursing abroad to make fortunes- rather just to be able to get by and have an adventure. Which is all easy to say, because I will always be welcomed back to the United States as nurse, so there is really quite little risk for me.
The website I started on is http://www.travelnursingcentral.com/members_only/international.htm
It is a surprising wealth of information! And I think sets realistic expectations.
It calls out a few things quickly...
1. Expect about 8 months for getting paperwork in order, this is not a quick dash out of the county.
2. Have all your ducks in a row: Passport, proof of licensure (RN), and visa to another country.
3. Travel nursing to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates is very doable. While not the top of my travel nursing destinations to be honest- I actually maybe shouldn't be so quick to overlook them?
The site also, lists many English speaking countries and their associated nursing boards. To be honest my two dream places to nurse internationally would be France and New Zealand. Sounds great, to me! I think the key to making this goal feasible is to be open minded. See where I realistically can work abroad and then go visit other places on vacation:)
You are so adventurous! This sounds so exciting! It would be fascinating to see health care through different countries and cultures. I can’t even imagine what a well rounded healer you would be. Mind-opening experiences.
ReplyDeleteYou may have already thought about this, but one time I went to a Saudi Arabia site and they said that they could not grant visas for partners/spouses. I’m not sure what your fiancé does— so curious what you guys are planning to do as a couple?
Oooooh...sounds like fun, especially the thought New Zealand and France. I think we talked about visiting the hobbit town from lord of the rings. It's on my bucket list since I'm a pretty big lord of the rings/hobbit fan. What about the UK~!? Maybe too English for you? I think it would be a nice place to visit. Heard the food there isn't all that great, which is my typical reason for going anywhere because I'm a foodie type of person.
ReplyDeleteThe UAE...hmmm. That would be very interesting. I think that place would make me feel very out of place. Chinese guy in an arab country, speaking English mostly. They probably would look at me very weird, and I wouldn't blame them.
Where ever you decide, I'm sure you'll make the best of the it. You know what they say, YOLO. So, you might as well pull the trigger, wait the 8 months and go on an adventure. After all, money will come later on, and then it will go, then it will come back again. Might as well enjoy life to the max is my motto :)
It had never occurred to me that nurses were traveling to work in the U.S. I guess I always imagined it was American nurses flooding into foreign countries. I have an extremely limited knowledge of the Middle East as a whole, so it surprises me to learn that places in the Middle East are even options for American travel nurses. I have so many questions about that, but most of them will quickly reveal my ignorance of Middle Eastern culture….like do nurses in Saudi Arabia have to wear headscarves? The whole thing sounds quite exciting, and I have to stop myself from Google-ing the heck out of it right now (since I should be focusing on homework). I look forward to hearing more about your plans.
ReplyDelete