Doctors Without Borders Interview

SaraStrong · Aug 4, 2011

Would you all recommend getting hospital RN experience before volunteering/working overseas? I am very interested in international nursing, and I'd prefer not to wait once I am done with my program, but I will if it's for the best.

dg05, RN · Aug 4, 2011

Absolutely. Most organizations won't even look at your resume if you don't have any experience and hospital experience is pretty much where it's at. MSF won't think about hiring you unless you have two years of experience. Most other organizations are similar. 90% of what you learn about nursing is not in nursing school. I can understand your desire to go right into working overseas because I had it, too, but you will be well served by getting a solid foundation. Good luck !

dg

hanasea · Aug 26, 2011

I am getting hospital RN experience, but at closed psychiatric ward in University hospital. I have solid one year experience, and will stay one more year to get minimum standard. Will this clinical experience helpful? Should I looking for another job as ER, OR, or OB/GY nurse? I love psychiatric nursing. However, I am not sure if MSF wants psychiatric ward nurses.

As for international background, I am a Korean nurse working in a Korean hospital, and have four month stayed in US and had traveled to Japan and Hongkong. Where would you recommend getting developing country experience? I want to go Malawi, or any African country but hard to find paying job over there as psychiatric nurse. Maybe I should find another volunteering organization?

As for language, I am taking my English course. Should I take basic French course? Or I need to build up my English to be fluent?

Thank you for reading this message. Working at MSF was all my dream. Thank you.

nursology · Aug 26, 2011

dg05, thank you for the info. I'm very early in my career process - I'm a PCA currently and applying to nursing schools. In November I plan on taking a trip to Ethiopia with an organization that is setting up clinics in rural areas. I'm very excited about this. I will keep following this thread so I can learn about doing overseas work in the future.

AlexandrAnne · Feb 1, 2012

dg05, thank you for the info. I'm very early in my career process - I'm a PCA currently and applying to nursing schools. In November I plan on taking a trip to Ethiopia with an organization that is setting up clinics in rural areas. I'm very excited about this. I will keep following this thread so I can learn about doing overseas work in the future.

I know this thread is relatively old... but I was actually wondering what organization you were working with if you don't mind me asking? I am currently enrolled in LPN school and plan to get to MSF the hard way (LPN-RN Bridge, RN-BSN while working) so it will be awhile before I can apply, but in the meantime I would love to find a similar organization to work with maybe. I went to Haiti last year as a volunteer in an unrelated field, but ended up helping out at a clinic anyways. It was a wonderful experience!

I hope everyone's interview went well!

WendyEvans · Dec 23, 2014

Oh my gosh! It's my dream to work for MSF. How many years do you have to work as a nurse to be considered for MSF? My dad is a doctor and does anesthesia volunteer work for MSF. He said MSF is competitive and you have to work as a medical professional for a very long time....how long is "very long" exactly? Is speaking French a bonus? I can speak French.

cullen_green · Jan 11, 2015

hello - I changed my user name so I'm sorry if this is confusing but I am the OP for this thread. The official word is 2 years and I think they stick to that. Sounds like your dad is trying to keep you out of difficult places. :)

French is DEFINITELY a bonus ! MSF often does AMA on reddit and there is a HUGE wealth of info there.

Here is a link http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/25n4ch/we_are_doctors_without_bordersm%C3%A9decins_sans/.

I have stopped working with them for now mostly due to life circumstances but I will go back one day for sure.