International NursingAshley Johnson

Meredith Schrum

WH

AT IS

INT’L N

UR

SIN

G? International nursing provides the opportunity for nurses to travel across the

world and work alongside health care professionals of different cultures and educational backgrounds.

Past vs.

Present vs.

Future

The Past

International nursing found it’s beginning with the development of the International Council of Nurses› Formed in 1899 with Great Britain, United

States and Germany.› World’s first and widest reaching

international organization for health care professionals, particularly nurses.

The Past

Was only practiced in war times › Florence

Nightingale In peace time,

purely consultative roles

The Present

Volunteeringor

Professional

The Present: Volunteering

Involvement through: › Short-term medical mission trips

Yucatan, Mexico (UF)› Doctors Without Borders› HOPE Worldwide› Peace Corps

Work in group setting and not required to know language

Volunteering

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwOumIsAJCI

The Present: Professional

Opportunities:› Private practices› Travel Agencies› Hospitals› Training other healthcare professionals› Can be in either developed or

underdeveloped countries

Professional

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hL532TFNeDY

Past vs.

Present vs.

Future

The Future

ICN’s Vision of the Future: › To lead all societies towards better health› To achieve higher levels of nursing

education in every nation› To ensure nurses are fully integrated and

can utilize multidisciplinary roles

The Future

We are the future!

Becoming nurses allows us the opportunity to travel abroad, whether it’s permanent or temporary.

Requirements

To become an Int’l nurse, one must have:› Licensure of country› Proof of fluency in language› Obtain a visa› Ability to adapt quickly

Process takes 12-18 months.

Culture Shock

Nursing varies greatly depending on where you are; therefore, a nurse planning to go abroad must be adaptable and be prepared to deal with the unexpected.

African Rice Heart

Thinking about culture:› The right thing might be the wrong thing. (p

102) “He said, ‘No. This is the family’s responsibility. If

people learn that they can be irresponsible and someone else will pick up their responsibility for their child, everyone will do this.’”

Environments differ:› Tb: tired but (p. 110)

“The old church is being used as the tuberculosis ward.”

Culture Shock: Uganda

Maintain a high standard of care. Have unlimited passion. Cope with diseases like HIV and AIDS, but

work well with limited resources. Minimal workspace. Sickest ward- pediatrics. Nurses lack knowledge to rationalize

action. Have no lesson plans or presentation

materials.

Culture Shock: Germany

Job satisfaction is extremely low. Heavy workload, low salary, and

underappreciated by the public. Acute shortage of nurses. Can receive money in school.

Culture Shock: Brazil

Wealthy receive better health care than the poor. › Government operated, health care is a

right. National Federation of Nurses faults

education of nurses because it is focus on individual-based care.

Nurses face challenges by trying to preserve the right of the individual and work together the communities.

Culture Shock: India

From a nurse in Tripura, East India:› Fate decided- work in hospitals, includes house

keeping.› 90% come from poor families.

700,000 Rupee’s (4 years)› 1 year work at hospital without being paid.› Starting pay- 2500 Rupees › No laws to protect nurses.

No pay for extra hours worked. (12-15 hr shifts)

› No holidays; treated as slaves.› Provide fake records to government to cheat.

Culture Shock: China

Patients might not discuss mental disease or depression

Yin and Yang: Health is viewed as finding harmony.

Use of home “herbal” remedies vs. traditional western medicine.

Delivery requires no sharp objects.› Silence or presence of evil spirits.

International Nursing…

Provides countless possibilities, either as a professional or a volunteer

Brings benefits and obstacles, that different cultures bring,

But is a rewarding experience overall.

References

ASN of Hawaii Community College. (2005 Sept 9). Chinese Cultural Beliefs. Traditional Health Beliefs:

Chinese: Pregnancy & Childbirth. Retrieved from http://www.hawcc.hawaii.edu/nursing/RNChinese02.html

Gennaro, S. (2000 Nov-Dec). International nursing: the past 25 years and beyond [Abstract]. PubMed.gov.

Abstract retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11100648

Haines, A. (1993, Feb 20). Health care in Brazil [Abstract]. PubMed.gov. Abstract retrieved from

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8448465

ICN Board of Directors. (2013, June 14). About ICN. About ICN. Retrieved from http://www.icn.ch/about-

icn/about-icn/

ICN Board of Directors. (2007). Vision for the Future of Nursing. Vision for the Future of Nursing-ICN.

Retrieved from http://www.icn.ch/about-icn/icns-vision-for-the-future-of-nursing/

Johnson & Johnson. (2013). International Nurse. International Nursing – Discover Nursing. Retrieved from

http://www.discovernursing.com/specialty/international-nurse#.UnBC4_mTiSo

ReferencesLupieri, S. (2013, May 21). Where have Europe’s nurses gone?. CNN.com. Retrieved

fromhttp://www.cnn.com/2013/05/21/health/europe-nursing-shortage/

Neves, E. P. and Mauro, M. Y. C. (2001 Jan 1). Nursing in Brazil: Trajectory, Conquests, and Challenges. The Online Journal

of Issues in Nursing, 6. Retrieved from http://nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/

OJIN/TableofContents/Volume62001/No1Jan01/ArticlePreviousTopic/NursinginBrazil.html

Smith, D. (2008 Jan 8). Nursing in Uganda: view from the frontline. Focus - NursingTimes.net. Retrieved from

http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-in-uganda-view-from-the-frontline/445401.article

Wikipedia. (2013 Oct 29). Nursing in Germany. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nursing_in_Germany

Wilkens, E. S. (2011). African Rice Heart: A young woman’s journal to radical service. Nampa, Idaho: Pacific Press

Publishing Association.

Working class self organization. (2012 Feb 5). First-hand account from an Indian nurse on the work conditions they face.

Libcom.org. Retrieved from http://libcom.org/blog/first-hand-account-indian-nurse-work-conditions-they-face-05022012