The large majority of travel nursing jobs which you will find out there, are those that involve working in developing nations, third world countries or places where they are in drastic need of healthcare professionals. For those with an education in medicine, this provides a wonderful opportunity for you to travel, discover new and exciting places, and to be able to help out in areas of the world that require support.
Working in these conditions however, are something which will most definitely be a shock to the system and it is important that you understand what kind of thing you can expect, when working as a nurse in developing nations.
Lack of Equipment
Unfortunately for many countries and cities around the world, and in spite of the will and desire of the medical staff, there is a great shortage of equipment in many of the places where you may be a nurse. This lack of equipment is likely down a shortage of money and in truth, the only thing that you can do about it is learn to survive with what you have. For those with experience in first world nations, this can be frustrating and an unfortunate fact of life which you must live with.
Negative Outcomes
Owing to the lack of equipment and the poor education that many people have in developing countries, illnesses and ailments which may be considered as small issues in your home country, could very well be life and death in a developing nation. One must prepare for the fact that some people will have awful consequences for even the most minor of diseases or health issues, and it can prove to be very frustrating for someone from a country which is better off.
Language Barrier
One of the most challenging things for many nurses working abroad is their inability to speak the local language, something which can often prove to an obstacle to giving the best care possible. IF you are heading away for a travel nurse position, it would be a very good idea that you at least learned the basics of the language which you will be exposed to, as well as learning some key medical terms so that you can better speak with your patient.
Sadness
Whilst what you will be doing for this developing nation will be offering them a huge helping hand in terms of improving the lives of the citizens, you must anticipate some very sad moments. Medicine in general offers up these moments of sadness but none more so than when you are working in a developing nation or third world country. Whether it be the death of someone because they didn’t have the means to get to the hospital in time, a child losing family members or having to tell a parent that their child didn’t get the vaccine in time, there are many frustrating and heart-wrenching moments which you must prepare yourself for.
