For those looking for adventure and career experience, nursing abroad is a perfect fit. Nurses are in high demand across the globe, so why not seek out new opportunities abroad? Traveling and working in other countries will add to your resume, but will also allow you to experience the world, and in so doing, help others.
American nurses will be more likely to restrict their job search to English speaking areas. Knowledge of the language of a country will obviously be beneficial to your administration of care, but even a basic understanding of a language will enable you to venture into non-English areas. Don’t be afraid to enter a country because of language barriers! Nurses can work with organizations that are English speaking within foreign countries.
Working in a foreign country gives nurses much needed experience, while filling a desire for travel. Nursing abroad certainly adds some weight to a resume, but it also allows trained professionals to help communities that are in dire need of medical assistance from knowledgeable nurses. If you want to jump into a career that gives you a wealth of experience and new opportunities, then nursing abroad is for you!
Finding a Placement
Using agencies will be the easiest and most hassle-free way of finding a job and accommodation. Healthcare recruiters are experienced individuals who can take care of all the details, assist you with paperwork, and generally keep your mind at ease. Of course, answering advertisements on your own is a fine idea too. Many recruiters are based in the larger metropolitan cities, so if you’re searching for something in a smaller healthcare setting, looking for ads may be your best bet.
What you Need to Know About Working Abroad
Nursing abroad will pose a number of challenges, not the least of which include understanding the culture of another country, the language, and most importantly, healthcare practices. Nurses may be required to perform different tasks depending on their geographical context. Before entering into any agreements with an agency or a hospital, be sure you know exactly what is expected of you and what roles and responsibilities will be expected of you. Nurses in other countries may be given responsibilities that nurses in the United States have no training for, and tasks normally undertaken by nurses in the U.S. may be performed by doctors instead. Having a firm knowledge of your role as a nurse in a different setting is key to ensuring a quality experience abroad.
Knowing your intentions and your needs in a placement abroad will help you and an agency understand what is the best fit. Living arrangements can vary from all the comforts of home, to living in regions with no running water. If you want to have a pleasant experience nursing abroad, understand your limits! Have a time frame in mind. If you want only a few weeks abroad, a few years, or a permanent position, knowing where you can go, where you will live, and what conditions you will be working in are all very important factors in choosing your placement site. Plans can change, and you may find once you set foot in another country it is not the right fit for you. Be prepared to change your mind, and know that it is all about your comfort level!
Getting Paid
Nursing abroad is not usually associated with a large pay check. Nurses in North America tend to be the highest paid. Nurses in the United Kingdom are generally less well paid, although they are granted a number of bonuses, perks, and paid holidays. For the most part, those who chose to work overseas do so for the adventure and the experience. As an added bonus, the pay is often tax-free as long as you have tax-free status in your home country. Even though you will not make the same salary as in North America, this opportunity will give you a "leg up" over others competing for the same position.
Money always complicates matters, and earning a living abroad is no exception. Things can get complicated when it comes to earning a living abroad while maintaining your American citizenship. If the country you are working in does not collect income tax (such as in Saudi Arabia), then your earnings will be tax free. This is not the case in every country you stay in. You will not be required to pay tax in the United States if you have been out of the country for 330 days of the year, and if your earnings are below $80,000. If this is a short-term arrangement abroad, be prepared to submit all your information for tax purposes. These rules can change often, so be sure to check out the IRS website for additional information on tax returns and consequences of working abroad.
Registering as a Nurse Abroad
Registering as a nurse in a foreign country can take time and considerable patience. Acquiring a visa is one of the first steps, and this can take days, weeks, or even months, depending on the country you are entering. You also need to investigate the country’s policy on licensing: what documents need to be filled, whether nurse qualifications need to be sent, and if you need to apply to a nursing council before you are licensed to work as a nurse (such as in the U.K). Working through an agency will help you tremendously with these steps, and they will be well-versed in a nation’s requirements for nurses from foreign countries.
Helpful tools and sites
Starting out on an exciting career abroad is a sure way to experience the world, help others, and grow your future career opportunities! The web is filled with sites that will help you on your way to nursing abroad. Here are just a few:
www.nursesfromabroad.com
www.nursingabroad.net
www.nurse.careers.abroad.com
www.plexusrecruitment.com
Article © MyNursingUniforms.com / Young Lion Incorporated - Image Courtesy of Steffe
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