Sr. Nursing Student W/ Int'l Nursing Question

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Specializes in Labor & Delivery.

Hi Everyone! :)

My name is Carrie, and I am a Sr. Nursing Student with 8 months to go to complete my BSN! I intend to become an OB nurse and eventually go on to obtain a degree in Nurse Midwifery. My dream in life is to become a midwife and open atleast one birthing center before my days on this earth are over. :chuckle After completing my studies and passing the NCLEX, I would like to relocate to Nassau, Bahamas to work.

Does anyone know how I would go about transfering/obtaining a nursing license in the Bahamas? I've been having some trouble locating information via the web on US nurses desiring to relocate to the Carribean. There is a wealth of information on international nurses desiring to work in the US but not the other way around. Hence my membership to Allnurses.com! :)

I was considering possibly becoming a travel OB nurse with an assignment in Nassau, but again it has been difficult trying to find travel nursing agencies for the carribean. Are there any travel nursing agencies that you know of that provide assignments in the carribean? If it is possible for me to become a travel OB nurse right after graduation, then this would probably be the better way for me to transition to practice in Nassau - as a US nurse on assignment initially.I've visited Nassau and realize that there are only 2 hospitals there (Doctor's Hospital and Government Hospital). After talking the idea over with my boyfriend, who lives there, I feel that the island is "ripe" for a birthing center or two. :)

Hopefully someone out there has some information that can point me in the right direction. Also, regarding the midwifery degree, would you suggest I complete that in the US or in the Bahamas?

Thanks a million for any information you can provide.

Sincerely,

-Carrie

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Welcome To Allnurses.com..........Glad that you found us.

I appreciate your goals but there are many obstacles in your way for what you want to do. Not sure if you are aware of the requirements of getting your CNM Certification............You will need at least two years of experience working in a Labor and Delivery unit before you should even consider beginning your CNM program, especially to have the experience under your belt.

Travel nursing requires experience in the area, not available to a new grad. You are there to provide staffing when the facility is short nurses, and therefore are expected to have all of the training. In the US, the basic minimum accepted for a reputable agency is one year of experience, but for the specialty areas it is more like two to five. With five being for NICU and Labor and Delivery in many facilities.

Travel contracts are available in US territories in the Caribbean, but not in other countries. Before even attempting to get a license in the Bahamas, make sure that you would be able to get a visa that would permit you to work there. That is going to be your biggest obstacle. Also check out the types of insurance that would be available to you...if any, at all.

Your best bet for CNM training is going to be the US, as it will be accepted all over. Not sure about the Advanced Practice Nurses in the Bahamas, what exactly is offered there, etc. But if decided to move back to the US later on, you may have issues with it being accepted.

Your first place to even look would be contacting the equivalent to the Board of Nursing for the Bahamas and see what they have to say.

Good luck and please keep me posted................:wink2:

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Specializes in Labor & Delivery.
Welcome To Allnurses.com..........Glad that you found us.

I appreciate your goals but there are many obstacles in your way for what you want to do. Not sure if you are aware of the requirements of getting your CNM Certification............You will need at least two years of experience working in a Labor and Delivery unit before you should even consider beginning your CNM program, especially to have the experience under your belt.

Travel nursing requires experience in the area, not available to a new grad. You are there to provide staffing when the facility is short nurses, and therefore are expected to have all of the training. In the US, the basic minimum accepted for a reputable agency is one year of experience, but for the specialty areas it is more like two to five. With five being for NICU and Labor and Delivery in many facilities.

Travel contracts are available in US territories in the Caribbean, but not in other countries. Before even attempting to get a license in the Bahamas, make sure that you would be able to get a visa that would permit you to work there. That is going to be your biggest obstacle. Also check out the types of insurance that would be available to you...if any, at all.

Your best bet for CNM training is going to be the US, as it will be accepted all over. Not sure about the Advanced Practice Nurses in the Bahamas, what exactly is offered there, etc. But if decided to move back to the US later on, you may have issues with it being accepted.

Your first place to even look would be contacting the equivalent to the Board of Nursing for the Bahamas and see what they have to say.

Good luck and please keep me posted................:wink2:

THANKS A MILLION SUZANNE!!!

Wow, you're right - OBSTACLES INDEED! I really didn't think it would be that difficult. Definitely requires me to do some replanning.

Thanks again.

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This is not uncommon. Most think that they can just move and that will be it. But there is alot more to it.:wink2:

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