Tips for taking nursing overseas

Have you been considering nursing overseas as a graduate or to do an elective? Working in another country can be rewarding and exciting and a great chance to get up close and personal with a foreign culture. Immersing yourself in another culture through nursing will build your confidence and show you things that not even seasoned travelers have seen.
The NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association presents these suggestions for anyone considering taking their nursing skills offshore.
– Register with overseas nursing agencies to make the job-hunt process simpler.
– Contact nursing agencies overseas and start the paperwork before you even leave home, so when you turn up, the process is a lot easier.
– Ask agencies for advice about visa requirements.
Nursing abroad.net says working overseas can be a very rewarding and valuable experience, offering challenges and a new outlook on health care. Many nurses find that the experience enhances their development and increases their confidence both in a personal and a professional capacity.
Opportunities for nurses to work overseas are varied, ranging from working with development organisations in remote, rural conditions, to working in developed countries in highly technical environments.
There will be many positive reasons for wanting to nurse overseas, including the challenges of working and living in another country with a different culture. Nurses from the UK who are looking to work in other developed countries may be attracted by higher salaries and a better standard of living or a warmer climate. Volunteer work also offers unique opportunities and the chance to make a real difference in the wider world by providing medical care to underprivileged communities.
It is important to understand how the health sector in a country is organised. There may be very different working practices for nurses, even in developed countries. Having a basic grasp of the language of the country will be important as it will be difficult to practice safely and completely without a good command of the host language. It will also make the work more interesting and enjoyable.
If learning languages is not your strength, do not rule out other locations where healthcare organisations may also use English as their official language. Certain hospitals in the Middle East require that English be spoken among the staff, and all documentation is completed in English.
Sources: Nursing Abroad  Overseas Nurse
Polt C. Transitions Abroad.
NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association. Read the original story here.