New nurse moving to Thailand

amarilla, RN · Jul 23, 2010

I'm sorry I don't have any good information for you, but I just wanted to chime in to say congratulations on the job and the move!! That's so exciting to be moving somewhere new and have all sorts of new opportunities! :yelclap::yelclap:

I can think back some years to job opportunities I was offered that required some upheaval and offered some hazy (but enticing!) details; I am sorry to this day for not trying one on for size.

Best of luck!

Southern

MsBruiser · Jul 23, 2010

I have a BSN and (very) recently passed NCLEX. I will be moving to Chiang Mai, Thailand in less than a month. I'm teaching english for sure so I already have a 1 year work visa, but now that I have my RN, I was wondering if anyone knows what kind of positions are available. I don't have any experience to speak of, and I don't know the language (yet!). I guess I'm just wondering if my license will work in Thailand, and if so, what is nursing like in Thailand? Any thoughts, insight or suggestions are welcome! Thanks!

Chiang mai is my favorite city in Thailand. Awesome place. Lots of wealthy Westerners live there. You may find something off the books. Employment in local medical facilities though? Impossible. Need to speak Thai and be licensed in Thailand.

Lacie, BSN, RN · Jul 23, 2010

Check for any American based medical facilities. Whats nice is your current license works anywhere in this situation also as long as US military based. Many do hire non-military personell particularly if you are a dependant :)

Editorial Team / Admin · Jul 23, 2010

I suggest posting your inquiry in the International area (Region tab above, and click International from the drop-down menu). :)

Good luck!

jjjoy, LPN · Jul 24, 2010

I'm guessing your visa limits you to working very specific jobs, such as teaching English.

Even then, as a new grad without any real experience, you wouldn't have much to offer as a nurse as well as the liability of not speaking the local language. So opportunities to practice nursing will likely be very limited. I don't know what the likelihood is of your getting involved in any kind of charity work in underserved areas. Much of such work involves a lot of teaching and without being able to speak the local language, you'd be very limited. However, I'm sure you want to keep a finger in nursing if you can.

Being new to the country and not speaking the language, I'd suggest checking out the resources for the English-speaking expat crowd. There may be an American school or a community center where you could get involved in health promotion activities such as nutrition workshops, blood pressure screenings, etc directed towards other foreigners like yourself. If there's a local nursing school or hospital, there might be some nursing students or nurses interested in English language tutoring.

Do be prepared that when you get back to the US, that while your experience abroad will reflect well upon you many ways, it can also work against you. Managers may doubt your dedication to nursing because you 'took a break' after school. Unless the economy changes big time in the next year, don't expect it to be easy to land a job as an 'old new grad', even fresh new grads are having a hard time landing that first job these days.

Be aware that new grads straight out of school have an incredibly steep learning curve as an RN; how much more difficult it can be if it's been a year since graduation. A refresher course might be helpful when you get back, especially if you're applying for hospital positions and haven't ever set foot in a hospital as an actual RN before.

It sounds like you've got things all lined up to go teach English in Thailand so have a blast!

yokara · Jul 24, 2010

Thank you for your replies! Every little bit helps!

yokara · Jul 24, 2010

jjjoy: Thank you for your thoughtful response. I was already thinking along the lines you suggested (probably not going to be an effective nurse with no experience, especially in a place I've never been- but there are always volunteer positions to keep me at least somewhat familiar with all that goes with being a nurse!)

I already face the issue of "commitment to the profession" as I graduated over two years ago and just now took the licensing exam. I'm trying to stay positive- if its been two years and I remember enough to pass NCLEX with 75 questions, I must have done something right... right?

Its already been a long road, here's hoping I can handle one more year!

Thanks again, everyone, for your replies!

netglow, ASN, RN · Jul 24, 2010

OP, I think we have a member who was recently studying there. Try to private message "Zenman" he might have some good info for you (if I remember correctly).

MInurse.st · Jul 24, 2010

How exciting!

I spent a semester abroad in Thailand 3 years ago. It was an amazing experience, and I would give anything to go back. If I were not going back to school for nursing, I would seriously consider moving there. We took intensive Thai classes (4-5 hours a day to start), so I learned the language well enough to get around on my own. Being able to read and write is a bit more difficult, as the alphabet is completely different - but not impossible, of course.

I would look into some sort of health related volunteering that involves a university or college students, as all college students I encountered also spoke English (as well as many people who live in the city). This was my experience in Khon Kaen, a few hours south of Chang Mai.

If you want any more info. on my experience in Thailand I would be more than happy to share. Good luck!!!

MInurse.st · Jul 24, 2010

Kind of funny story I forgot to mention.. I was staying with a family in rural NE Thailand. Another student and were sleeping on the floor of the living room with a mosquito net, when all of a sudden felt something bite my finger! It soon become some of the worst pain I've ever experienced in my life (ie. I'd take impacted wisdom tooth extraction again any day over this). It was pitch black, so I had no idea what it was.. but it was obviously near me somewhere! I shook awake my friend, and we got up to turn on the light and found a huge centipede on our bedding. All I could think about was how I just heard that these things were poisonous..

Long story short, I ended up going to this small indoor/outdoor (not sure how else to explain this establishment) hospital outside of this rural village. The nurse who looked at my hand and gave me some pills (to this day I'm not quite sure what they were, as my Thai was not that good, and my translator had some issues with translating medical terminology -- they were some sort of Ibuprofen or Tylenol) was honestly dressed like a "naughty nurse," like she bought her uniform from a Halloween costume shop online. Cap, skirt, and all. :eek: I was pretty sure that I wasn't going to make it, but I survived (not without weeks of a swollen, painful hand though!).

moonlight_tiny · Aug 5, 2010

Hi,

There is a slim chance to work in Thailand as a nurse if you cannot speak Thai.

I will ask the Thai nurses for you.

Chiang Mai is a beautiful province. People are so friendly. The cost of living is much cheaper than Bangkok.

I guess, you are going to be missionary. I've learned American-English from missionary.

I'm so excited for you.