Traveling nurse, worldwide!

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Hello, thank you for taking the time to read my post.

I'm retiring soon and my plan is to sell everything and travel the world via sailboat. I'm not new to sailboats or the world (thank you Navy), however, I was wondering if any nurses here have any international experience as an American nurse. I want to be able to work wherever I go buy I know nursing is different worldwide. I was bummed to learn that you can't be a nurse in China without passing their version of the nclex (which is in given in Chinese), because I was looking forward to an extended stay in China. But what about Spain, Australia, Brazil, France, etc.?

Any salty nurses here?

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Every country will have requirements for licensure usually including an exam and fluency in the official language as well as a work visa.

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I've got to ask, why do American nurses think the world wants them? Without speaking the language of the country and passing the registration exams?

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I know! I think the instructors in school might have given us some bs about international opportunities, making them sound more available than they are. And then there are international mission trips, but what people don't realize is that those often don't require "real" nursing skills (lay people do the same work), or are only very short term. Why would another country want nurses who aren't educated in their system, anymore than we in the US throw open our doors to nurses who can't speak English? And then there's the work visa issue... work visas aren't easy to get anywhere.

International opportunities (sometimes paid) ARE out there, but generally you find the job and accept the country that comes with it... narrowing by country first makes it a lot harder. And the opportunities aren't going to be in Spain or France. In Brazil, BTW, nursing is a low-ranked and low-paid job. Australia is a possibility and you'll find some posts here about that process.

If you're interested in Africa, there are opportunities there--again, sometimes paid. But working your way around the world as a nurse isn't a possibility, IMHO.

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Hello, thank you for taking the time to read my post.

I'm retiring soon and my plan is to sell everything and travel the world via sailboat. I'm not new to sailboats or the world (thank you Navy), however, I was wondering if any nurses here have any international experience as an American nurse. I want to be able to work wherever I go buy I know nursing is different worldwide. I was bummed to learn that you can't be a nurse in China without passing their version of the nclex (which is in given in Chinese), because I was looking forward to an extended stay in China. But what about Spain, Australia, Brazil, France, etc.?

Any salty nurses here?

Just be careful because the are pirates and bandits off many coast all over the world. Best Wishes...

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I know! I think the instructors in school might have given us some bs about international opportunities, making them sound more available than they are. And then there are international mission trips, but what people don't realize is that those often don't require "real" nursing skills (lay people do the same work), or are only very short term. Why would another country want nurses who aren't educated in their system, anymore than we in the US throw open our doors to nurses who can't speak English? And then there's the work visa issue... work visas aren't easy to get anywhere.

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Work Visa / tourist visa will also be an issue. Many countries offer residence reward for turning in people who overstay or have no visa. This is done by the local police not immigrations.

Most places are not like USA or California where Illegal aliens are given work and education and free medical, most of the world don't accept illegal immigration..

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Work Visa / tourist visa will also be an issue. Many countries offer residence reward for turning in people who overstay or have no visa. This is done by the local police not immigrations.

Most places are not like USA or California where Illegal aliens are given work and education and free medical, most of the world don't accept illegal immigration..

This is simply not true, as well as being off-topic.

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This is simply not true, as well as being off-topic.

He's on a roll. He's not even a nurse, but he's an expert.

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Specializes in Telemetry.

And I was somehow under the impression that California was PART of USA :rolleyes:

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This is simply not true, as well as being off-topic.

Incorrect, Which part is not true?

This is from the Bureau of Immigration in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines – Anchored on the Bad Guys Out, Good Guys In” program of Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Siegfred B. Mison, the BI launched a Reward and Incentive Program granting monetary reward to any person who shall report to the BI any overstaying foreign national that will result to apprehension.

Under Immigration Memorandum Circular No. SBM-2014-017 signed on October 27, 2014, Sa Immigration Magsumbong” aims to identify all temporary visitors or tourists who have stayed in the country beyond their authorized stay or commonly known as overstaying aliens”.

Individuals or groups with personal and qualified information on overstaying foreign nationals may report such fact to the BI's National Operations Center (BINOC) through text message (SMS) to the following mobile phone numbers: Globe: +63917-573-3871 ; Smart: +63908-894-6644 ; Sun: +63932-894-6644.

Reports containing the pertinent information must specifically be sent in the following format: SIM Full Name of Foreigner Complete Address Name of Informant.

Upon sending of the message, the informant will receive a reply from the BI acknowledging receipt with a statement that such information will be verified and validated. Once validated, the informant will be advised of the results of the verification and investigation.

A financial incentive of Php 2,000.00 shall be given to the informant upon successful apprehension of the overstaying alien.

Any information received by the BI will be treated with utmost confidentiality. (30)

http://www.immigration.gov.ph/visa-requirements/95-november-2014-press-releases/695-bi-launches-sa-immigration-magsumbong-reward-and-incentive-program

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

First issue is that most nations will require fluency for health care workers in their language.

Second issue is that many nations have their version of proficiency testing just as we do. They also have their own standards based on how their health system works and what they permit nurses to do. Such as in the UK, nursing degrees are somewhat specialized, into a couple of categories. These issues make it more difficult to receive licensure.

Third issue is that there is a worldwide recession going on. In many areas, there are too many nurses for too few jobs. Getting permits to allow you to work for pay in many places, especially in a field overrun by local citizens of that area is very difficult or impossible. The EU nations give preference to applicants from the EU, which has many nurses of its own.

There are contracts in the ME but they are frequently two year counteracts.

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Incorrect, Which part is not true?

It's untrue that the US is more lenient than "most places" regarding illegal immigrants, but apparently you lurk around AllNurses looking for opportunities to bash our immigration policies. I won't be responding further on this off-topic matter. That the OP would struggle to get work visas in other countries (as nurses in other countries struggle to get work visas for the US) has been covered thoroughly.

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