Jul 01, 2008 05:34 AM - well, i can say that I agree of what is being written about Saudi Arabian people & their culture... as a nurse for 6 years I have experienced & observed, that not all arabs are the same...some well educated Saudi's are more open minded & they treated medical professionals in a nice manner,but frankly speaking most of them are very difficult to deal with...(language barriers, cultures & religions),most often they feel that they're more knowledgeable than the doctor nor the nurse, they do'nt have patience to wait for their turn...before I work there, some of my friends would say that Saudi's had a backward mentality, & I didn't believe until I worked there.... And that's true it's very hard for us to live there, if we don't have freedom of expressions esp. we have to attend mass in secret...whereas in some other countries
they can build their mosques as many as they want...Hoping one day they'll come up for a realization

Jul 01, 2008 10:20 AM - Your comments offer a reality check for those who are contemplating taking an assignment in this exotic place.

Jul 03, 2008 02:48 PM -

Originally Posted by hafsa44

I think the article was a little bit over the top. I am Muslim, born in America a African-American and a Nurse and yes I've been Muslim all my life. I will tell you first hand that this is not Islam this is more culture. I know personally people who have been across seas and they incorporate their culture inside the religion of Islam. I think that as human beings we need to first learn what is truth and what is not before we label a religion based on just a few ignorant people. There is 1.6 billion muslims in this world and we are not all bad. This article only describe the negative and it is not that far from being bias. I take great offense to the article because he associated islam with people's ignorance and their cultural practices. I try to treat people regardless of what religion they are with great respect this is what true islam teaches to respect your neighbor even if they are different from you. We need to stick to what is important that is providing care not judging people's religions.

The article was the expressed experiences and opinions of one individual and she is entitled to it. I never got the impressin that Mulims were "bad" from her writings. My doctor is Muslim,an long-time friend and prior room-mate was from Iraq, my girlfriend is married to a Muslim -BUT! - these are Muslims in the USA and not Muslims in Saudi. I have 5 friends/aquaintances who have been in Saudi Arabia to work and all 5 corroborate this writer's experience. Don't let your own identification as a Muslim in America get in the way of invalidating her experiences there. The Muslim world in the US is very different from those in the Middle East.

Jul 03, 2008 03:18 PM - Well said. Thanks.

Jul 03, 2008 03:46 PM -

Originally Posted by traumahawk99

personally, i don't see that the money is all that great in saudi arabia.

safety would have to be a concern, unless you never left the compound or were escorted everywhere you went. for what it pays (50k tax free)... i already earn well in excess of that here after taxes.

not worth it to me.

I agree, I think the money isn't that great. In the late 1970's friends of mine went to Saudi Arabia and got more than $30,000 in nursing with ARAMCO - a huge salary back then because it was accorded "hardship Pay" since it was acknowledged that a lot was given up to work there. My friends could not leave the compound with out a proper male escort. There was a lot they could NOT do - shop, entertainment, meals out with friends,travel (except outside of the Arab countries during their vacations) - in the native culture. All "fun" had to be created within the compound.
True, there were no taxes they had a home to maintain in the US that they could return to. They did save a lot but I think the pay should far exceed what an expienced nurse gets in the US hospitals for it IS a hardship in many ways. After all, everyone I personally know who has gone there to work has gone only for the money and the vacations to travel in Europe - not because they wanted to live in Saudi Arabia

Jul 04, 2008 04:33 PM - I wonder how a male nurse working in saudi arabia would be treated?

Jul 06, 2008 02:37 PM - iTS goin 2 be my first comment hopefully noT the last one ... well well ..whatever u said about the hospitals in saudi arabia and dealing with the royal family things are true ...except whatever u said about islam ,,,iam jordanian * middle east* and iam muslim ...saudis are way to strict when it comes to religion ,in which they are not following it well ,,,they do follow their traditions actually ,,,but racists ?!! are they ?!! ive worked with foriegn nurses ,,,,friendly ppl ...some wren't u know im arabian and a muslim ,,,,but we're humans after all ...there are good ppl and bad ppl everywhere ,,, and working in saudiarabia .....lots of money ,,,but ZERO EXPERIENCE ......... so you wouldnt enjoy it i guess,,imean money is important ,,,but caring for patients ,,,looking after them is more important ,,, =)

Jul 06, 2008 06:34 PM - You people are killing me on how critical you are of someone who wrote what she thinks!! We live in America and she has the right to say what she wants to say, yea, even if you disagree with it!!!

Jul 08, 2008 03:56 PM - I think this is great work, however I have a questions.

From my viewpoint it seems this article is directed toward female nurses.
Are males permitted to work for the royal family? Do male nurses have to wear a burka? And can males accept jewels?

Sounds like a challenging assignment.

Aug 03, 2008 02:45 PM - I would just like to say that everyone is an individual and we all have different expectations. Personally I am in the process of applying to work in Saudi Arabia and although the money is doubled what I get in the UK I am going for the experience of working in a multicultural country and the travelling. I read about patients in Saudi being problematic with regards to their treatment and times but it is the same wherever you go. In the UK the patient has the right to refuse, the right to go private, there are so many rights for patients that I cant see the difference between the UK USA Phillipines or Saudi Arabia. Yes they have rules what country doesnt? At the end of the day is what you make it if you go to another country with your eyes wide open, try not to judge, adhere to their culture and beliefs you can get on with anyone anywhere. Our hospital is full of nurses from all over the world, their cultures and beliefs are respected and we only expect the same from them. Life is what you make it, I trained to make a difference to my patients but I also respect their wishes.