Thinking about working abroad
Why work abroad ?
Nursing abroad can be a very rewarding and valuable experience, offering challenges and a new outlook on health care. Many nurses find that the experience enhances their development and increases their confidence both in a personal and a professional capacity.
Opportunities for nurses to work overseas are varied, ranging from working with development organisations in remote, rural conditions, to working in developed countries in highly technical environments.
Whatever type of work is undertaken there are many issues to consider before taking a position overseas. The first is perhaps exploring the reasons for wanting to work abroad.
There will be many positive reasons for wanting to nurse overseas, including
the challenges of working and living in another country with a different culture.
Nurses from the UK who are looking to work in other developed countries may
be attracted by higher salaries and a better standard of living or a warmer
climate. However, nursing abroad may not be as glamorous as it first appears,
and the reality of overseas work may be very different from that expected.
It is worth noting that leaving the UK to work overseas because of personal
difficulties at work or at home may not be the easy option it first appears.
Preparing to work abroad
It is important to understand how the health sector in a country is organised. There may be very different working practices for nurses, even in developed countries. Learning the language of the country will be important as it will be difficult to practice safely and completely without a good command of the host language. It will also make the work more interesting and enjoyable.
Preparing to work overseas needs careful organisation. Information on registration and issues surrounding nursing practice can be found in Practising as a nurse abroad. Before you leave provides practical details on employment conditions, visas and work permits, income tax, NHS pensions, National Insurance, medical insurance and personal health abroad.
Returning to the UK after working overseas should also be considered before travel, in terms of personal circumstances and professionally.
If you trained as a nurse outside of the UK, click
here for details on how to register as a nurse in the UK, plus other useful
information.
Royal College of Nursing International Office
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) provides an information service for its members on working abroad and for overseas electives as part of pre-registration nursing courses. They have a comprehensive information pack containing details on general topics on nursing overseas, and can also provide information on nursing in specific countries in terms of employment contracts, work permits, nurse registration requirements and useful addresses.
Members
can contact the RCN International office at:
Royal College of Nursing
20 Cavendish Square
London W1G 0RN
T: 020 7647 3597
F: 020 7647 3420
E: international.office@rcn.org.uk
Royal
College of Nursing Library and Information Service
RCN Library and Information Service is able to advise about sources of and
searching for information relating to working abroad and sources of and searching
for information about specific countries.
Requests for information on nursing in specific countries in terms of employment contracts, work permits, nurse registration requirements and useful addresses should be made to teh International Office on 020 7647 3597.
Members can also contact RCN Direct on 0845 7726 100
Members should inform the RCN of their intention to work abroad (mainly for
mailing purposes).
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