cbrown12

To start exploring missions I would contact International Medical Relief, based out of Colorado. They are a very organized and prepared mission organization that goes all over the world. It is a little expensive but it is the perfect way to start.

I have been a missionary nurse off and on since 2002. I lived in Honduras for 2.5 years, then did short term trips while I went back for my FNP then lived in Guatemala for 2 years and now am in Guanaja Honduras for the last year. Mission nursing is a calling most folks don't even make it 2 years - mostly for financial reasons. Most mission organizations do not pay, you fund raise your own support, typically signing up with a mission agency or as we do our church handles our donations. Some places will give you a place to live - most do not. Get on the internet and start searching. Once you find a couple of places that look interesting go there for at least a month, 3 would be better. You need to get past the visitor stage to really see if you fit with the organization. Each one operates differently and has different rules that you may or may not be able to live with. If you plan to go to Central America or most of South America it is time to start taking Spanish. You will not be able to do a lot if you can not communicate in Spanish. Guatemala has a bunch of Spanish schools that have volunteer opportunities that you could get involved with. It takes about 3 months of full time classes to begin to be functional with your Spanish. Some take longer. 1 month will make it so you can go to the store and buy stuff or say some basic stuff. If you start at home you can at least get a jump start on vocabulary - just make sure some one helps you with the pronunciation. I would highly suggest getting at least a years experience before starting in the mission field. School gives you the basics but the practical application is more important. ER experience is the best (in my opinion). Learn what ever you can. Have a doc teach you to suture, ask why one antibiotic is used instead of another. Pick peoples brains. Tell them why you are bothering them and they will be more willing to give you tidbits of information. Ignore technology, in third world countries it is what I call "gut" medicine. You ask a lot of question, do the best exam you can then go with your gut - simple to more uncommon. I have diagnosed patients with everything from Malaria to leukemia, treated pregnancy to seizures. You really have no idea what the next patient is going to have and that think all nurses are doctors and since you are from the US you will have the answer to their problem It is tough, you live in a different culture, fight loneliness, strange illnesses and frequently ask to give away anything you have. Preparation and flexibility is the key. All that being said I wouldn't change my job for the world it is fabulously rewarding. If you have any specific questions send them my way. Best of luck in school -Cheryl

So is there a forum where you can go and find out from nurses that worked at camps before to see how they rate a camp. I am not in the position to check out a camp (live in Honduras). I can only visit the web sites and talk to the managers. I would love to know what other folks thought of the camps

So I have had an interview with a camp that offered 750/week and 675/week and others ask how much I would want. What is the going rate? and what camps should be avoided?

I traveled with IMR (International Medical Relief) if you are new to missions this is an excellent organization that goes to several different countries. They are a bit expensive but you do not have to worry about anything.

Volunteering in a foreign environment is life changing and lets you develop your physical examine skills as you do not have all the fancy tests. It opens your heart and eyes to how hard it is for many to just get basic care, how poor the education is in 3rd world countries and how lucky you are to live in USA. It can suck you and break your heart so be sure to allot time for your studying. I am a full time missionary FNP in Honduras. 10 years ago I went on my first mission trip and fell in love with nursing again. After 2.5 years I went back to the US to get my FNP and then went to Guatemala for 2 years and now am back in Honduras. I have been to Ethiopia, Argentina, Haiti too. It is a great way to see the world and give back. So go, experience and then remember how you have been blessed. Besides, if you have to wait to work and take the NCLEX you might as well do some good in the world, I can not imagine an employer would look poorly on this.

I studied using the Barkley audio tapes and went to the Fitzgerald seminar. I scored 65-85% on practice exams. I really thought I would not pass the boards.. I took them just to see what they were like thinking it would help me study. I took the ANCC boards and passed they were more application then regurgitation of facts. SO don't psych yourself out it was a heck of a lot easier than I thought it would be.

I graduated from an FNP program in 2009, so not so long ago. My class was small 14-20 students depending on the semester. We had nurses in the class with a variety of background from psych nurse, geriatrics, women's health, med/surg. So your back ground to get into the program is not important. I will say, and this is based on my personal experience and nothing more, is the folks that worked in the ER or ICU had a SLIGHTLY easier time because they were used to working more independently with standing orders and making quick emergency decisions. (this is not to say other nurses don't but ask a floor nurse they hate the ER and put me on the floor and I flounder -it is just a different focus). Most did well, some just had to study more because where they worked typically had a single focus and the medications they use have the focus of that specialty. Example the psych nurse did not have a strong background in primary care medications. Almost everyone in my classes did well it was just the amount of time they had to dedicate to studying. In other words, the nursing background is not important just be sure to allot enough time to studying the things you haven't been exposed to a lot.

Apparently I can not PM someone till I post 15 quality topics. Anyhow, I filled out an application for WGU for an evaluator last night. I had not in the past because I got hung up on the internet requirements - but my IT husband said we met the requirements, what do I know. Hopefully something will come of this. I have felt I was more than qualified for several positions I have applied for but have heard nothing from any of them. I get hung up on the pay question, I do not want to under sale myself, but do not know what the going market is for online positions, so maybe I am asking too much. Thanks for the suggestion!

I am a FNP (MSN) and also have a MEd. I love teaching and I am a missionary in Honduras and love that too. I am finding it hard to find an on line teaching job, even though I have classroom experience. Because I am a missionary money is a HUGE issue. Is getting a DNP worth the cost? And what is the cheapest/quickest program out there. I realize that this is not the "right" way to approach an education but in my case it is imperative. Thanks for any suggestions.

I am a FNP licensed in Texas where we have zippo autonomy. If I go to Arizona where NPs work independently and is a compact state which state rules apply? Can I right Rx's in Arizona without a collaborative physician? The TX BON states that you have to abide by the rules of the state you are working in, but when these rules are much more laxed than the state you are licensed in which rule applies?