International Travel Nurse

Continental Travelnurse

THE INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL NURSE

$1.25

3/31/2017

Vol XCIII, No. 311

International travel nurses are registered nurses who work on a contract basis to fill in temporary nursing jobs on a global scale.They respond to the unique health needs of the populations they serve. The demand for the international travel nurse comes from both general nursing-shortages as well as from the need for specialized nursing skills. An international travel nurse can work for the U.S.military, Department of State, The Centers for Disease Control, non-profit and charity based organizations. Many international travel nurses, however, work for a for-profit international nursing agency.

How Does It Relate to the International Travel Nurse?

• As an international travel nurse, you have to understand the culture you are going to in order to provide the best care possible.
• Certain cultures may have completely different views on medicine and health than the travel nurse is used to.
• Leininger's nursing outcome is, "health and well-being for the patient." (Black, 2017, p.187)

She used the sunrise model to guide the understanding of how patient's culture influenced their lives

Nursing Theory:

Madeleine Leininger's Theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality

History of International Travel Nursing

Leininger believed in trans cultural nursing. This involves more than being aware of other cultures. "It involves planning nursing care based on knowledge that is culturally defined, classified and tested...and then used to provide care that is culturally congruent." (Black, 2017 p.186)

• She considered culture in all aspects of life, including health.

- International travel nursing can be said to have started with Florence Nightingale when she took 38 nurses with her to Turkey during the Crimean war in the 1950s. (Black, 2017)

Education Requirements

In accordance with Nightingales mission, many international travel nurses seek to deliver care to countries experiencing hardship: Not limited to economic, political, and natural disasters.

& Additional Requirements

History of Humanitarian Missions

Project Hope originally started as SS Hope in 1974, but after its partnership with the Navy in 2005, it became Project Hope.

• The mission cares for more than 820,000 people, giving more than $33 million in medicines and medical supplies.

• Immunization
• more skilled training
• travel paperwork (visas, documentation, etc.)
• Gain specific health promotion skills:

A Broader View Volunteers is nonprofit charity founded in 2007 in Pennsylvania that offers volunteer opportunities in healthcare. (A Broader View Volunteers Corp.)

• There are currently volunteer options in Ghana, Nepal, Honduras, and many other places.

A Broader View Volunteers is a nonprofit charity founded in 2007 in Pennsylvania that offers healthcare related volunteer oppurtunities.

• Currently there are positions available in Ghana, Nepal, Honduras, and many more.

History the ICN's Association with International Travel Nursing

• Nurses need to complete nursing school and pass state boards for licensing.
• Gain experience (1-3 years preferred) working as a nurse.
• Specializing in a specific area is beneficial for travel nurses, especially international ones.

- vaccinations

(understand the kinds of diseases prevalent)

-women's health

- disease education and prevention (corresponding to the area)

According to the World Health Organization the International Council of Nurses (ICN) was established in 1899.

• The ICN now represents more than 16 million nurses worldwide.
• The ICN works to ensure quality nursing care for all, sound health policies globally, the advancement of nursing knowledge, the presence worldwide of a respected nursing profession, and a competent and satisfied working nurse force.

Bisk explains that, "It is important for the internationally traveling nurses to also have an understanding of the cultures in which they are traveling to, Not only do they need to understand the job ,but also who they are going to be taking care of." (Bisk, 2017)

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Work Setting

Salary: What's in it for you?

Job Description

See What One Organization is doing...

(Global/Surgical Medical Support Group)

What Does it Look to serve overseas?

GSMSG is a U.S. based non-profit humanitarian group

• They offer full spectrum medical/surgical aid to communities experiencing the worst of terrorism and war; Including Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

• They teach those in war-torn regions the latest in techniques and practice.

• They direct humanitarian efforts right at the source of the conflict.

(Garbe, E., 2006)

Because there are so many different avenues to being an international travel nurse, there are many variations in salary.

• many employers offer sign on bonuses as high as $6,000
• travel stipends
• subsidized housing
• competitive wages
• attractive health and life insurance policies.

International Travel Nurse Companies

• The economic status and overall development of a country greatly impacts the travel nurse's job description.

• For example, in order to meet community healthcare needs in low resource settings nurses often perform tasks outside of their typical scope of practice within the U.S. This can include prescribing medication in the absence of legislation and regulation. (McGilvray M., Miles K, 2006)

International travel nurses can work in:

-Hospitals:

As ED, OR, Pediatric, Dialysis, or ICU nurses (To name a few). All specialized skills are needed

-Clinics

-In the community

• As an international volunteer nurse, the

work setting as a nurse may be less

structured

So no real average,

but...

(International Travel Nurse, 2017)

DEMAND CONTINUED

HERE'S WHAT ONE INTERNATIONAL NURSING AGENCY HAS TO SAY.

CURRENT DEMAND:

Haiti is the most traveled to country for nurses.

• It the poorest country in the world.
• It is in high need of professional nurses due to:

explains that their travel nurses are typically paid slightly more than the staff nurses they work with. (ContinentalTravelnurse, 2012)

• Today's global nursing shortage is having an adverse impact on health systems worldwide.
• Five countries with the highest demand for nurses

"The premier travel nurse company in England, Ireland, Scotland, & Wales"

-natural disasters

-a high population density lacking public health provisions.

-lack of local industry

-communicable disease

This pay differential combined with subsidized housing allows the travel nurse to live comfortably and still have the funds travel and explore the culture

-Haiti

-Paraguay

-Bolivia

-Dominican Republic

-Nepal

WHAT ARE TRAVEL NURSES SAYING:

One travel nurse talks about her experience in the Middle East...

"The money is good because it is not taxed. Most companies pay around 36,000 to 40,000 dollars. Which is like making 50,000 in the United States."