Saudi Arabia???? Anybody know?

weetziebat · Jul 15, 2004

Just to put in my two cents worth - as I don't imagine you are thinking about going to Saudi Arabia at this time. I worked in Riyadh for seven years and absolutely loved every second of it. Was treated with friendship and respect, the patients were great, met people from all over the world and made terrific friends, lived in a lovely private apartment on a beautiful compound, had swimming pools and exercise rooms right on the compound, the working conditions couldn't have been nicer (worked 44 hours a week, but much less stressful than nursing here and my foreign coworkers were a much more positive bunch than those I work with here also , shopped till I dropped - lots of gold :rotfl: , had the opportunity to travel all over the world, made excellent money - salary was tax free up to $70,000. U.S.D. with no taxes due on return home, received a free round trip ticket home yearly, the only bills I paid were long distance telephone and food, and, after spending all the money I wanted I still returned home with enough to put a lovely down payment on a house, buy all furniture and new car with cash, take a few months off and put $25,000. in savings. Who could ask for more?

On the negative side, the poor mail service drove me crazy. It was difficult to buy books I wanted due to censorship (National Geographic magazine came with at least half the pages either torn out or blacked out and cost something like $8.), and found it tough to shop because of all the stores closing four times a day for prayer. My shopping was done between 10 a.m. to noon, and then from ~4 to 6p.m. and ~8 TO 10 P.M. - which doesn't sound bad but was annoying when you have to take taxis home because there is no where to go between shopping times. Its not like you can just stop at a coffee shop or go to a movie. When I went our we covered our clothes with a light silk cloak (abaya) and carried headscarves in case the religious police told us to cover our hair.

And as far as driving goes, believe me when I say you would NOT want to drive with those crazy drivers. Making left hand turns from the right lane, paying no attention to lanes etc. Although it is getting a lot better now, and in time I think women will be allowed to drive there.

I can wholeheartedly say that the time I spent living in Saudi Arabia was some of the best years of my life, and still have American friends working there who refuse to leave, despite the current problems.

Oh yeah, I also got 12 weeks vacation a year. Took a trip every two to three months so it was like working between travels :)

HisHands, ASN, RN · Jul 19, 2004

Saudi Arabia?! Are you kidding?!

I had no idea that they even sent travel nurses over there. Isn't it scary? :imbar

The assignments sound pretty long... I take it they aren't 13 weeks.

I'm finding myself suddenly intrigued. :rolleyes:

~Brightest Blessings~

HisHands

morgan30 · Aug 12, 2004

Hi, if anyone has any information I would appreciate some. A lot of the job descriptions want a couple of years experience. Will it be difficult to get a job right out of school?

Trauma Columnist · Aug 12, 2004

If all you want is money - you might try the interior of Alaska - no place to spend your money there either. Good luck and keep your heads down!

weetziebat · Aug 12, 2004

morgan, as far as i know (last time i was there was in 2002), the hospitals use western recruiters unless you are already there and get a job locally, and they insisted on at least 2 years recent experience in acute care, and at least 2 years experience in a specialty, if thats what you are looking for.

from what i understand from people there now, the kingdom is suffering from a nursing shortage (of western nurses) because the situation there now is frightening many folks into going home. so there is a possibility that they may have loosened their restrictions on new graduates.also when i was there they were not hiring really young nurses. think they prefer not tempting their young men with western women. there was a british nurse there who was 25, but that was unusual - at that time anyway (1991-1998).

you can find more information on working in saudi arabia at: www.sainternational.us or, one recruiter i know of is helen zeigler. believe she is in canada, but also recruits from the u.s.

if there is any other info you'd like, i'll be glad to tell you what i can.

tutulu · Aug 19, 2004

THERE is not really much i can say. or that anybody can tell you. when coming to the u.s for example, what i was told and saw on T.V is far different from the reality. there are lots of examples. All i will say is that the middle east is different from the u>s and if you are ready to experience something different and also not have an ignorant mind. There's no place you'll not enjoy

1701valerie · Apr 19, 2005

can you give me an idea of salary in saudi? i am very interested in going over and giving it a try. i need the money to pay off my school loans and save some extra for obtaining my masters. where are the majority of other medical personnel from?

morgan, as far as i know (last time i was there was in 2002), the hospitals use western recruiters unless you are already there and get a job locally, and they insisted on at least 2 years recent experience in acute care, and at least 2 years experience in a specialty, if thats what you are looking for.
from what i understand from people there now, the kingdom is suffering from a nursing shortage (of western nurses) because the situation there now is frightening many folks into going home. so there is a possibility that they may have loosened their restrictions on new graduates.also when i was there they were not hiring really young nurses. think they prefer not tempting their young men with western women. there was a british nurse there who was 25, but that was unusual - at that time anyway (1991-1998).
you can find more information on working in saudi arabia at: www.sainternational.us or, one recruiter i know of is helen zeigler. believe she is in canada, but also recruits from the u.s.
if there is any other info you'd like, i'll be glad to tell you what i can.

sunnyjohn · Apr 19, 2005

This sounds like a very interesting opportunity.

Does anyone know how long the commitment is. 1 year? 6 months?

Ashera, LPN · Apr 21, 2005

I'm an experienced LVN - single, unencumbered that has thought a long time about overseas nursing - and at this time - the thought of the adventure, the money and being able to help in a really messed up world situation is very inviting. Before I start the process of finding out more - any advice or info or agencies any of ya'll know about and even IF they accept LVN's - would be appreciated!

lalaxton · Apr 22, 2005

The shortest commitment I have seen to go to Saudi is 1 year. Helen Ziegler still recruits for Saudi so look up her website. I work with a few docs who spent several years there. They loved it! (of course they are male and did not have to deal with covering up etc) but said some of the same positive things posted here such as making great friends, and life being pretty good inside the compound. However, they have all said they would not go over right now even though they are Canadian and not American given the situation.

Mi_naire · Oct 27, 2005

Hello, I was wondering if anybody has recently been to Saudi? How are the condition, did you feel safe? Thanks Minaire

renerian, BSN, RN · Nov 23, 2005

I wonder whatever happened to Zoe? I know she traveled there before.

renerian