I was wondering if any one had any knowledge of American nurses working in Mexico, even for short stints (like volunteer work). I know Mexico has some employment laws about foreigners doing their jobs and such, and I wonder what their staffing is. I've never even seen agencies placing nurses in Mexico, although I see ads for other places out of the country.

Just asking if anybody has any knowledge of whether or not they ever use American nurses, and what may be involved.

Yes check out Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos, an orphanage in Mexico (http://www.nph.org) and Haiti. Back in the 80's my aunt volunteered there as a nurse and minus the flight... meals, lodging and spanish classes (I'm not sure if that is still the case) were included for her, but it is a WONDERFUL organization and my aunt has been sponsoring a boy since she was there, although now he is grown and in college in Mexico City. It's something I've kind of always wanted to do, but with student loans and being newly married it is kind of tough. I think they want a 6 month commitment minimum due to consistency and getting attached to the kids. If you are truly interested, I can ask my aunt if you could email her, saying she is a people person is an understatement and she would LOVE tell you anything you would want to know about going there.

Working and getting paid is going to be tuff. You need an FM2 permit. I have one but I got it thru political channels. Volunteering much more simple. The Red Cross is the most advanced Public Health Hosptial in Mexico, it is nothing like the Red Cross Here. The Red Cross Hospital in Tijuana is on PAR with a Level II trauma center, staffed by doctors who went to UCLA, UCSD. Several of the ER Doc's work in San Deigo ER"S as well as in Tijuana's ER.

So.........Volunteering in a Red Cross Hospital would not be problem. Spanish is a must, everyone speaks english but they wont speak it in MX. It's not Patriotic, they will tell you..... speak spanish. Nursing is different in MX. Private Hospital's are for people who can pay up front, working in such a hospital would be possible if you have a speciality, like plastic surgery.

There are General Hospitals...............not a good place to be, unless you like working in the trenches.

Allot of PTs are under medicated, people and kids in pain are the norm. You wont find a morphine drip. If you like trauma, working with the Red Cross will be the way to go.

Then there is ISSSTECALI which is for government employees, police, fire ( como yo) public works, etc, etc. They are clinics and hosptials, some of them intergrated into public hopitals. Working in ISSSTECALI is not possible, the wages are low anyway. Most government jobs are top heavy in pay. For example police start out at about 75.00 dollars a week. A Captian with 20 years of service could make 800.00 a week which is plenty in mexico.

If you have investors and have connections you could open a hospital and do what ever you wanted for the most part. Viva Mexico lol.

Allot of the Rx meds we have here in he US are not available outside the hospital in MX, like Vicodin, Oxycodone etc etc. So...........nursing school is 2 years in MX but the pt care is nothing like it is in the US.

All the pampering does not exist, it is down and dirty pt care.