Moranguinho

Hi everybody! I'll be probably moving to Seattle this June due to my husband's relocation. I've been taking care of all my papers but I'm wondering how difficult is to get a job as RN in Seattle... I'm a Brazilian Nurse with 5 years of experience in Medical-Surgical Nursing and had my Masters in Healthcare Management in Ireland. My Masters took 2 yeas to be completed (will finish this June) and during these 2 years, I fully dedicated myself to the course (I mean, I didn't work during these 2 years, only studied). Do you think it would be a problem to get a job? Is there any advantage in terms of salary if you hold a Master's degree? Thanks a lot.

I agree with you VanRN. Thank god I'm not the only one. I was starting to feel like an E.T.:chuckle

I completely disagree with you. I think there's no problem in working at a place like this. If you already treat well your patients, if they pay a decent salary, if they provide us good conditions... Why not? This would be a challenge. I've worked at public hospital in my country and for thousand times fluffed my patient's pillows to make them feel comfortable. I had no problem on doing that because I personally think that I have to do whatever is possible and acceptable to make my patients feel better, no matter if it's to hear their stories, talk about the weather or news, help them with the bed mechanisms. I'm a nurse and like it or not, sometimes we have to deal with much more than nursing procedures. And also very awful patients (even when you work at a place that definitely does not look like a hotel). Let's think as if we were patients: wouldn't we like to be in a place like this? Good food (according to our nutritional needs), colorful ambient, people with big smiles around us, doctors hearing our complaints... Sounds good, doesn't it? Just my opinion...

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A 78 years old lovely gentleman. He stayed at our unit for almost 3 months before he died of cancer. His daughter came to our unit bringing me a thank you card signed by all his relatives 1 week after his death. I couldn't hold my tears.

I work at a public hospital in Brazil. Generally my unit empties out. But the incredible is: some families leave their patients in the hospital up to the end of the holiday so they can happyly enjoy it by themselves, with no complicated relative to take care of. After the holiday, they come to our unit and ask for their discharge. Umbelievable!

The worst case I've ever seen was a boy around 6 years old. His mom fried his hands in a frying pan. The injury was bad, but worse than that was hearing him saying: "Mom, mom, I promise I'll not leave my toys out of the basket again. I promise. Please, take me home, mom." She was jailed after that.

hi all! this thread is really amazing and has been helping me a lot to update and "fix" my resume. it wasn't good (and interesting) at all... by the way, i'm also a foreign educated nurse and everybody has been posting that we should send a cover letter/ references. how do i do if all my previous bosses only speak portuguese? should i write it when i send my documents or it wouldn't be recommended? i would appreciate if someone could help me with these questions... thanks and have a great saturday!:balloons:

hi all! this thread is really amazing and has been helping me a lot to update and "fix" my resume. it wasn't good (and interesting) at all... by the way, i'm also a foreign educated nurse and everybody has been posting that we should send a cover letter/ references. how do i do if all my previous bosses only speak portuguese? should i write it when i send my documents or it wouldn't be recommended? i would appreciate if someone could help me with these questions... thanks and have a great saturday!:balloons:

So, I had another doubt about starting...:typing I'm Brazilian, living in Turkey currently, but looking for a job in Dubai. The question is all these nurses who are working with you all have post graduation courses, specialties? Is it impossible for a nurse who has 4 years experience, but no specialty, to get a job abroad? It doesn't have to be the most perfect job in the world, but at least to give me some international experience. I've been in contact with a head hunter and she has been helping me a lot. But she said I would have a better time now if I had some masters or any postgraduation course and it sounds to me like a " mandatory condition", something I MUST have, and not should have. So, now I'm a bit sad, because I can't believe all the nurses have masters except me... Of course I'm also looking for it, but it takes some time and money... What do you think? Do I have a chance without specialty or MBA, masters etc? Suzanne, could you help me with this question?:chair: Thank you...

Thank you all. I've been realizing (and learning a lot;)) about these differences. For instance: once a friend of mine just said "my hubby" and I spent some minutes trying to find out what it is. I always ask, of course! :roll I learned "husband" but hubby is new for me, as many other words as well. I love to learn new skills, but I hate being slow in the beginning (I know this is normal and takes some time)... It's so hard starting again in another country, another language.... Well, it's a new challenge!

I had the same doubt... I was just willing how would it be the 1st month? I'm experienced in my country. We use american books at university as well(such as Brunner & Sudarth), but I'm afraid of starting to work and see so many different dressings, equipments, words... Could you give me some tips if there's a way I could use to prepare myself? Thanks a lot.

Just to add another coment... Other countries look like a paradise for nurses in my opinion...:balloons: Kind regards.

Well, in Brazil if you work for a private institution, if they ask you, you have to stay. No choice. They say you're doing a "favor", but if you don't do it, soon they will kick you. Lots of competent nurses waiting for your job... In public institutions, no extra bonus either; generally, they give you a free day (it means the same amount of hours that you've worked). But at least you can say what you want to do. Whether stay and work, or go home. Since you work for the government, you can't be fired, unless if you do a huge mistake.

So sweet and polite! I had never thought about that, writing thanks-letter after the interviews, but it sounds really polite. Thanks for educating me!

So sweet and polite! I had never thought about that, writing thanks-letter after the interviews, but it sounds really polite. Thanks for educating me!

Thanks for the great websites. Just a note about my previous experience, which made me sad and made me think to ask for advice from all of you... I used to work at a Public Hospital in Brazil, now I've been living abroad, but not working as a nurse at this present moment. I was responsible to coordinate a floor (general clinic) with 6 wards and 6 patients each one (total: 36 patients and 3 nurse-assistants). Besides I had to do all nurses procedures and whatever could be necessary as you can imagine: giving showers, inserting catheters, helping medical procedures, etc). Being a public hospital in a third world country, maybe you don't imagine how it works: sometimes, it was like a war! It was only me and 3 assistants (practical nurses?) to take care of this whole floor. The only problem was that I had all the time critical patients in the same wards of regular or low complexity ones. Besides my assistants were really great people and excenlent professionals, it was very difficult. As you can see, I'm not trying to find an excuse, but I never could do a plan care for all the 36 patients and I feel very bad about it. I was focused on taking care of them and do my best while I was there... I worked so hard during all my 12 hours shifts and could not do anything more. The only time I was able to seat was during the lunch time, when I usually had 30 minutes just to grab my food and eat. And I knew that everytime I went home, they wouldn't be treatened the same way... At the beginning, I did do plan cares, but all other nurses were laughing about me, saying that was real life, not university anymore. They told me I should wake up! I didn't stop doing whatever I thought was right, but even the charge nurse who should be supporting me, didn't care about it. I was very frustrated about that, but nothing made me happier than see when any patient was recovered and discharged. Lots of times, my husband was the one supporting me and telling that I should not give up, because if I did that and all the others good nurses too, what would happen to those who needed us? Anyway, I don't know if at developed countries it happens, I'd like to know. And if you can give me some advices, more websites, tips about good books to start to improve my care plans and understand how it really works, I would be glad to hearing from you. Sorry for teeling this sad story before my question, but I needed to do it and check if it happened only with me... If the location for this post is not correct, feel free to move it. My best regards to you all...

For sure! That would be lovelly! I'm sending you my e-mail, so you can plan to meet soon. Take care.

Hi! I can tell about nursing in Brazil... We have 3 levels of nursing in Brazil. You must study at least 4 years to become a nurse and once you finish your course, you apply to get your license. No tests are required, but the government try to control the quality of those courses. The best universities are the public ones. You get better education and you don't have to pay anything for your course, The government sponsors it for you and if you are a good student, you have the chance to get a scholarship. There are plenty of private universities, but some of them don't have as good reputation as the public ones, with some exceptions, of course. We have Masters and doctorate courses (doctorate only in major cities) with very good quality and american curiculum based. By the way, our nursing was introduced by an american nurse called Ethel Parsons. Talking about job experience, I worked at a public hospital for 4 years, with at least 18 patients under my responsability. Private and public hospitals are completelly differents. They are like hell and heaven, but I think if we study so much, why not use what we learn? Regards.

Hello KateRN1! I've been living in Istanbul for 8 months. I'm brazilian and I do speak English, French and some Turkish (basic). Unfortunatelly in Turkey you must know a very good Turkish to start to work, which is not my case. During this time I've been there, I took some group and private lessons and after this 8 months, I don't speak enough to start to work. It's a very difficult language to learn! If you do speak Turkish, I would recomend you to look for the American Hospital (amerika hastanesi), French Hospital, Florence Nightingale Hospital... There are lots of them, but be aware that some of them have a policy of not hiring foreign professionals. Hope this was helpful and if you need more informations, let me know. Good luck!

I'm from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Living in Istanbul nowadays and missing the sun!

Hello everyone! To kkettle70: Check the other post "advices to work in UAE" (in international nurses). There are some informations there that maybe can help you. Good luck!

Hello fotografe! I heard that Saudi Arabia is the best country if you are talking about salaries. I don't know about exactelly how much... But if you are talking about LIFE, and if you are a woman, I think it's not a good idea to go there. Women can not drive, can not show even their faces and other things like that. But still, $250000 US anywhere I also think is too good to be true. Regards...

Hello everyone. Thanks for your reply, ninacf. I'll also try this one. If anyone else has another sugestion, please post it here. It would be very nice! I have 2 more questions if you don't mind, just to clarify so I can understand how it works. How long does it take (more or less) from the day you start the process until you can start to work? I mean, all the burocracy stuff... Just to have an idea... How are the shifts here and how many patients are you responsible for? In Brazil I used to work 40 hours/ week in 12 hours shifts. I had to work 2 weekends to have one free. I was responsible for 18 patients at a general clinic. Best regards!

Female, 27 years old. I'll try those. Thank you very much!