Working as a nurse in any capacity is fulfilling, but when you work abroad as a nurse you can help people while experiencing new cultures. If you have always dreamed of having an international career, you should familiarize yourself with the wide array of opportunities that exist to work abroad in the field of nursing. From developing nations to very developed regions around the globe, there is a growing need for trained and skilled nurses to provide a quality level of care to patients. Statistics released by the World Health Organization show that more than 50% of healthcare workers in every nation are nurses.
With supply dropping as demand rises, there is a growing shortage of nurses overseas, and with higher demand comes higher salaries. If you would like to participate in helping countries overseas with nursing shortages, here is your guide to learn what type of licensing or formal education is required.
Educational Requirements to Become a Nurse Overseas
Nursing Councils all across the globe regulate the nursing practice and the training and licensing requirements in order to protect public safety. The very first step to work as an overseas nurse is to complete the formal training that would normally be required to work domestically. In most cases, to become a licensed nurse that is experienced enough to find an opportunity abroad, you will need to possess a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. If you have experience as a Registered Nurse and you want to pursue a specialty, you will need to attend a graduate program to earn your specialization before you pursue this type of position overseas. Typically, the type of job you can land overseas will be based on your past career history in the field.
Proving Proof of Licensure to Register with International Councils
All international councils will require you to prove that you are currently licensed in order to verify that you are competent and fit to practice in their nation. After you have earned your license in the United States, you can start to research registration requirements in the country where you are interested in practicing. While most nursing councils do require nursing professionals to register within the nation, this is not a global requirement.
You should check to see if the country you are interested in working in has a licensing body that registers nurses. If so, contact this authority to learn about the requirements. Because licensing boards can take several weeks or months to approve a registration, it is very important to start the application process early. In most cases, an international licensing board will require you to provide proof of licensure and the certificate of registration that you are issued will be valid for a year. You should not have to worry about obtaining a visa if you are hired by an organization because the organization will handle this for you.
Working abroad as a nurse could be the perfect opportunity for you if you have always wanted to travel the globe. If you possess your degree and have already taken your national licensing exam, the next step is gaining on-the-job experience to prove that you are an asset. Start to get a basic knowledge of the language of the land you would like to practice in and prepare for a career overseas.
