Nurse-Missionary?

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Hi,

I'm still in college working on pre-reqs, but am thinking about going into Missionary Nursing. Do most organizations accept an ASN degree or must you have a BSN or higher? Also, do you know if I must have work experience before signing on, or can a new grad become a nurse-missionary.

I'm a Christian and have always wanted to go on missions. If any of you have, could you tell me what countries are the best (maybe safest) for this.

Also, I know as a missionary of any kind, pay is not really important, but do you get enough to survive?:uhoh3:

Thanks,

any imput is appreciated

NeDix9

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Hi... I don't know about nurse-missionaries specifically...but all the missionaries I know have to do fundraising of some sort or another to get to where they want to be. Then pledgess, etc, to support themselves while in the field.

Here's what I've herad re: the nursing component of missions. You need to get experience first, as most places want you to be able to provide care, not just be an extra pair of hands to help out while they are teaching you. If they had time to be teaching people, they would teach natives who lived there to set up clinics, etc! But since they don't have time for that, they are providing care, and you need to be competent and confident about your abilities before you can really serve them well!

Missions is one of the things that drew me to nursing...but I, too, and still doing my pre-reqs.;)

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Hi, I'm also working on my pre-reqs right now and being a missionary nursing is something that interests me too. Anyhow, it seems like some info. has already been posted under "Medical Missions Trips?" so you might want to check that out. This is what I'm planning on doing: Get a BSN, work for at least 2 yrs. while saving some money, then see if I can do some missionary nursing. I'm fluent in Spanish so I'm interested in helping Spanish-speaking countries and maybe even Brazil. I already know a little bit of portuguese and I don't think it would be too difficult to learn it since I already speak Spanish.

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Missionary Nursing and Medical Mission trips are completely two different things.

With the Missionary Nursing, you usually sign on for a two year stint; and live and work in that area.

For the Medical Mission trips, those are two weeks assignments and usually only available for those with OR, PACU, or ICU experience. They go over in teams to do surgery, usually cranio-facila/plastics for the kids with deformaties, or for open heart surgery. These ypes of clincis do nto provide routine medical care but are there for specific services only. All of the screening has already been done by local teams in the area.

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I am responding to your request. YOu may want to go on a trip for 2-3 weeks first and find out if you really like it. I have been on several 2-3 week trips and they have been wonderful, but it takes a special person to live in the conditions that you will be exposed to, and experiencing it, and living in it for a long period of time are two differnt things. I went with a group called Mercy and Truth out of Kansas city, KS. They are Christian based and do medical missiosn all over the world.

Good luck

Hi,

I'm still in college working on pre-reqs, but am thinking about going into Missionary Nursing. Do most organizations accept an ASN degree or must you have a BSN or higher? Also, do you know if I must have work experience before signing on, or can a new grad become a nurse-missionary.

I'm a Christian and have always wanted to go on missions. If any of you have, could you tell me what countries are the best (maybe safest) for this.

Also, I know as a missionary of any kind, pay is not really important, but do you get enough to survive?:uhoh3:

Thanks,

any imput is appreciated

NeDix9

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this is some really great info. i too would like to go into medical missions, because Jesus rocks!!!

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Specializes in Neurosciences/Telemetry/Med-Surg/Travel.

I'm a new nurse but me and my husband's ultimate goal is to be full time missionaries, hence, I'd like to have more experience in nursing, do travel nursing and if God calls us to be in the mission field full time, we'll be ready.

I've been on few mission trips myself for 2-4 weeks, I love going! Next year my husband and I are going together for the first time (we're newly weds) to Russia and we are excited! I've never been on a medical mission trips and I want to go on one too.

Yes, Jesus Christ rocks! Hence, the user name DONA4JC :loveya:

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I suppose that depends on who you go with. You could directly contact orphanages and clinics in Africa or other underdeveloped countries. They would be glad to have you. Do the needed research and talk to the directors directly. Find out the cost of living, health insurance etc. Then all you would have to do is raise enough support. There are many places that need any help they can get. You could start your own clinic there, or work in an established one. It is a little riskier than going with a reputable mission organization. However, if God is sending you there, than you are in His hands.

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Hey, I'm interested in missionary nursing too, but I'm only a sophmore in highschool. What should I be doing now in terms of looking for colleges, or anything I could take during highschool to help with this position? What kind of classes should I take in college to prepare? Thanks

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Hi,

I'm still in college working on pre-reqs, but am thinking about going into Missionary Nursing. Do most organizations accept an ASN degree or must you have a BSN or higher? Also, do you know if I must have work experience before signing on, or can a new grad become a nurse-missionary.

I'm a Christian and have always wanted to go on missions. If any of you have, could you tell me what countries are the best (maybe safest) for this.

Also, I know as a missionary of any kind, pay is not really important, but do you get enough to survive?:uhoh3:

Thanks,

any imput is appreciated

NeDix9

There are missionary organizations that take nursing students. You can go for 1-3 weeks. Here is one of the many:

http://lotwmissions.truepath.com/

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Specializes in med/surg, rural, ER.

For those of you looking to get your feet wet (even students or those not in nursing school yet) check out Medical Ministry International http://www.mmint.org/ This is not long term medical missions, but short term. They have many types of trips. In addition to those that were previously mentioned (need OR experience...) there are also trips that can utilize people willing to work in a clinic setting (taking BP, helping translate, help do health education) or learn to steralize equipment for the OR or even just be outside the hospital/clinic and teach the kids that swarm around about Jesus. There are lots of opportunities for you to go and help, you just need to be willing to work hard.

I was a medical missionary for 3 years in Alaska. My cousin is going to Asia for 2+ years. If you want specific information on how we did this, please PM me. For general information you can check out our two organizations: http://www.crossroadmc.org/ http://www.sim.org/

If you aren't busy November 9-11 (and can register by nov 5th) check out the Global Health Missions Conference in Louisville. The website is: https://www.medicalmissions.com/ and has links to many mission organizations.

There are many opportunities out there! I know you will find one!

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I'm not nor have I ever been a missionary. But I've met a lot of them and been a financial supporter. Obviously, experience is important. If you are in a primitive area, you're going to have to be able to function with none of the stuff we're used to using. (I would call it "Doomsday Nursing". Working with your bare hands (so to speak) and improvising like crazy as needs arise.)

But here is what most of the missionaries I talk to stress the most. It's not what you know professionally, but what are your rock-core-to-the-marrow-of-your-bones beliefs.

Our denomination has a mission in Africa where they could have LOTS of conversions and baptisms... that is until these converts are asked to contribute to the agriculture and other work necessary to feed and care for others. Seeing genuine repentence and New Birth in the local population is rare. It's a slow slog. They honestly say they are working and praying for the next generation, even if not one adult comes to belief in Christ. In addition to the frustration and spiritual opposition, one of the missionaries there got an infected leg that wouldn't heal. Another came down with malaria.

We have another mission in Haiti. Wonderful young family, working their hearts out while also raising their 5 young children in difficult circumstances. He was killed in a motor vehicle accident. That field is empty now, awaiting the next person God will send.

Where is God and what is He doing when things just fall apart?

What do you believe? While you're getting your education and experience, (which is vital) you should honestly consider your spiritual and theological preparation as well.

"Though he slay me, yet will I trust him."

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