Wanting to work in Caribbean as a Registered Nurse

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I'm a 3rd year nursing student who will be graduating this fall. I am extremely interested in traveling abroad (mostly islands) to go and work. For the past few days, I've been trying to find more information about this, but I can't anywhere! Is anyone interested in the same thing and has found information? Or has anyone done this before? I've heard of many people traveling to the cayman islands, Barbados, etc to work and it is a great experience. help, please!

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Specializes in Nephro-Dialysis / Intervention Radio.

I currently work in the Caribbean, in the Netherlands, Antilles, to be specific, and different islands have different regulations regarding nursing practice. Each island or territory usually adapts the system or recognizes the nursing license of nurses registered in their mother country or former occupying country.

For example, if you are licensed in the UK, you can freely practice nursing in Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Barbados, Grenada, and the British Virgin Islands. If not, they do, for example, in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, recognize a passer of CGFNS or, better yet, NCLEX-RN for an RN to be registered in the roll of RNs there.

RNs in the Netherlands can openly practice in St. Maarten, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, and Saba. RNs in France can work in St. Martin, Martinique, Guadeloupe, etc.

The catch, however, is these islands have a common regulation regarding granting working permits. Before a foreigner is hired by a hospital or healthcare institution, they must prove that no resident is available or applying for that same position as the foreigner; otherwise, they will hire the locals first.

In this case, the edge of foreign nurses will be the length of work experience and the area of specialization. In several cases, referrals from relatives/former colleagues already based there are very effective too.

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On which Island are you currently working? It is interested in Bonaire. But my license is in the US (RN). Any advice?

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Specializes in Nephro-Dialysis / Intervention Radio.

Hi, Rachel. I'm based in Sint Maarten.

If you're interested in Bonaire, I suggest you take Dutch language lessons. Of the Dutch Caribbean islands, it's only in Sint Maarten that English is widely used.

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Bronze,

I'm a 6-year RN specializing in CHF, PHTN, and telemetry. I am trying to gather the best information on moving to Curacao as an RN. I would like to know if you have advice on how to get licensed in Curacao/ Netherlands. With the understanding that nothing will be easy, I hope to have all the necessary items and an open position waiting for me by next year. I know people in Curacao that could assist with finding an open position and would like to have my end taken care of beforehand. Any assistance would be most helpful.

Thank you

Marinda

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Hello Zero, I am an RN in the US and an NCLEX RN. I am moving to Sint Maarten next month. Do you have any ideas on the working climate for nurses there?

Thank you.

Lynne

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Zero. is accurate regarding foreign licensing recognition; depending on where you're from, this could make things easy or difficult. E.g., it is much easier for Brits to work in Barbados than Americans, Canadians, etc. I looked into Barbados, in particular, quite a bit, and it seems that nurses there are not nearly as well-paid as their Canadian counterparts (I am Canadian), nor do they have a scope of practice as broad as that of nurses in many other countries. Having also spent some time in different clinics in Barbados and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (the largest on the island), I never encountered any foreign nurses. Not to say it isn't possible! Just that you may have to look harder.

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If you are a U.S. Citizen RN, then I would suggest, for ease purposes, just come to the U.S. Virgin Islands. No visa is needed. It's just like transferring your license from Michigan to Rhode Island. For all legitimate purposes, we function as a state of the United States. Check out Schnieder Regional Medical Center on St. Thomas. They hire new grads. I am doing my clinical there now.

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Specializes in Nephro-Dialysis / Intervention Radio.

I sent you a PM.

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Hi Everyone!

Could you please help me to answer my question?

If I become an RM graduate from the UK would I be able to work in Guadeloupe? Many thanks.

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Specializes in Emergency Psych, ICU.

Hi Lauren, Guadeloupe is French, so no. PM me if you have questions

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Hey, zero., BSN Are you still currently working on the island of Sint Maarten? I would love to chat with you in private message if possible. My fiance and I will be moving there in a few months. She is a med school student there, and I expect to graduate RN program by May 2017. I would love to have a contact on the Island. Will finding work there be very difficult? I know they don't give jobs to foreigners very often. Please message me if possible. Thanks, man.

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