Traveling Nurses Easing Staff Shortages

Nurses are a crucial part of the healthcare system yet there is a shortage of nurses in America. The travel nursing industry has been thriving, fighting to meet demand with more foreign-staffed nurses and offering more opportunities to Americans looking for work. As American hospitals continue to struggle with staffing shortages, it’s important that people know that they have the option of traveling abroad. While the United States cannot compete with other countries when it comes to cost of living or available career options, they offer compelling career opportunities for those looking for a change.

Hospitals and health care facilities in the United States typically rely on local nurses to staff their facilities. Nurses are crucial medical professionals that make sure that patients are receiving proper care and undergo necessary procedures. However, hospitals are struggling to find enough qualified nurses. The problem stems from nursing’s expected high demand, low supply, and the fact that many graduates tend to choose a position at other health care facilities rather than work in U.S. hospitals or clinics.

It’s an unfortunate reality for Americans in need of healthcare service but also a cause for concern since there is a shortage of nurses worldwide. In fact, the shortage of nurses is such a problem that the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that countries support nursing schools and find ways to encourage more nursing students to pursue a career as a nurse.

The largest portion of the travel nursing industry is made up of nurses recruited from other countries. The largest portion of these nurses are recruited in the Middle East, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. According to NRN data , there was a peak in hiring internationally in 2014 and 2015 but that trend has tapered off since then. However, international staffing companies are still available for American employers that need additional staff for their facilities .

There are a number of reasons why nurses are so in demand in their native countries. The majority of the world’s nurses and health care workers are women, who many international employers simply assume are looking to work abroad. Additionally, nurses working in their native country may not be able to find a job at all due to several factors including scandals such as the ones that occurred with Catholic Health Initiatives and the Catholic Church. Most importantly, it is imperative that foreign employers are able to communicate effectively with American hospitals .

There is also an advantage for Americans who decide to travel abroad. The costs for a nursing student will be a fraction of what he or she would pay back home and the cost of living is a fraction of their costs back home. Additionally, American students can take advantage of study abroad programs that are available in countries that have strong health care systems and educational opportunities.

The travel nursing industry is constantly trying to meet employers’ needs with different variations of staff to help with short-term staffing shortages. The U.S. Army travels nurses from Europe and Canada to provide healthcare services in Iraq and Afghanistan . There are also hospitals employing travel nurses from Canada to work at facilities located in the United States . U.S. travel nurses that are traveling abroad for work have the opportunity to return home after working for a few years and take advantage of the benefits provided by their private health insurance .

The opportunity to travel abroad is available to Americans with or without prior experience. If you’re interested in traveling abroad, consider looking into a travel nursing career. Some of the largest travel nursing agencies are listed here , and they can help you find nursing jobs that will allow you to live in other countries while helping other people in need of healthcare services.

It only requires a few minutes for you to register with these companies and even less time for them to begin searching for healthcare jobs in your desired city. These nursing jobs will often allow you to stay anywhere from a couple of weeks to several months depending on the health care services that they need. You can choose where you want to go and which hospitals or clinics are best suited for your needs.

Finding housing shouldn’t be hard either; many travel nurses prefer staying in furnished apartments or nearby hotels so long as they still have access to the healthcare facilities that they regularly attend. The medical facilities themselves will cover all of your meals while providing you with ample resources to help you learn about the healthcare system in your new country of employment.

If you’re someone that is well-versed in the English language, you’ll definitely want to consider living in England. The National Health Service (NHS) is perhaps the most renowned healthcare system in the world, and it offers plenty of opportunities for travel nurses. English speaking travel nurses can enjoy watching a variety of entertainment, or explore many other countries such as Ireland or France. You can read more about working abroad as a nurse on our blog .

There are also many reputable private clinics in England that may not pay as well but will provide you with invaluable experience. The NHS has recently faced major budget cuts and hospitals across England have been struggling to maintain their facilities and services despite these issues. The travel nursing industry has provided a solution by offering their services to fill the gap that the NHS has left behind. England remains one of the most popular countries for travel nurses to visit due to their accessibility to so many different job opportunities, high quality facilities, and low cost of living .

If you’re more interested in traveling abroad and living in a less-developed country, it’s worth considering working in Africa. Unfortunately Africa is home to some of the most poor healthcare facilities in the world. However, there are also plenty of opportunities for you to work with NGOs or at private clinics that are dedicated towards helping people in need. The most popular countries for travel nurses include South Africa, South Sudan, and Burundi .

South Africa’s economy is rapidly developing, which means that its medical facilities are quickly improving as well. The facilities in South Africa are some of the highest in the world due to their modern aspects. However, the cost of living is low and there are many English speaking medical professionals that may be looking for a similar experience to what you can offer .

In South Sudan , you’re likely to encounter a great deal of poverty in the countryside but also a strong focus on healthcare. The country has been featured on many documentaries due to its unique past and unique opportunity for travel nurses to give back during their time abroad .

Conclusion

Travel nursing is a great opportunity for Americans that want to travel abroad and explore other cultures. These travel nurses are in high demand, and there are many benefits to choosing this type of career. The healthcare systems in these countries tend to be high quality, and travel nurses will have a plethora of resources available to them in order to help them get accustomed to the culture. If you’re interested in traveling abroad and exploring different cultures, consider looking into a travel nursing career. There are plenty of opportunities available abroad with different healthcare facilities that will allow you explore the world while practicing your nursing skills .