One of the things that draws many people to the nursing profession is its universal nature. Nurses are needed the world over and always will be, making nursing a recession-proof industry. However, it also means that nurses are able to take a degree and one country and use it to apply for work in a completely different country. Nursing is virtually unique among university degrees in providing this level of flexibility and choice for graduates.

Below are five of the best nursing jobs to aim for those who want to travel and an explanation of why nursing is such an excellent degree choice for travelers.

Why Is Nursing Such A Good International Degree Choice?

There are a number of aspects of nursing as a career choice that make it fantastic for those who would like to be able to work internationally. Needless to say, nurses are in demand the world over. There is not a single country that does not require the services of nurses. In fact, nurses who have been trained in an advanced health care system like that of the United States can then go abroad and work in a number of other countries on the basis of that qualification. There are not many university degrees that offer the same level of flexibility or international recognition.

Nurses will also continue to be needed regardless of local economic or social conditions. It doesn’t matter what else is going on, there will always be sick people in need of treatment and demand for nurses to assist in that treatment. When you enrol to study for a nursing degree, you do so safe in the knowledge that you will be able to land a job at the end of it. It is unthinkable in the current marketplace for a qualified nurse to not be able to find any work.

Working in different parts of the world and in different scenarios will equip a nurse with the kind of experience that cannot be replicated in the classroom. As nurses progress through the ranks of their profession and are able to take on more advanced roles, there will be a growing number of opportunities for them to specialize in one particular area. 

Sometimes, experience gained internationally can seriously enhance a nurse’s resume when they are applying for particular positions. For example, research experience at universities around the world will demonstrate proficiency and a good understanding of different health care systems and different cultural approaches to health care.

Even if you don’t plan on taking a nursing degree abroad immediately, it is a good idea to be aware of the opportunities that do exist out there. As you gain experience working as a nurse, you may find that different parts of the profession appeal to you than you were expecting and that you develop a new burning desire for a different specialty.

Below we have outlined some of the best jobs within the nursing profession for those who want to be able to take their nursing degree abroad and gain experience working in another country.

Volunteer Nurse With a Charity

If you want the opportunity to travel around the world while still being able to help people with your nursing skills, then working as a volunteer nurse for a charitable organization is surely one of the best things you can possibly do. Of course, working as a nurse has been always a rewarding prospect. It is a career that is perfect for anyone who has an altruistic streak in them and wants to dedicate their lives to helping others. However, being able to do so in the context of a healthcare system that is not as advanced as the one you are used to and where there is generally a lower standard of care available to people can be even more rewarding.

Giving something back to your community back home by working as a nurse is one thing, but taking that altruism around the world and using it to help communities a long way away is a truly noble endeavor.

There is no shortage of places in the world that could use some international aid assistance and once you have some nursing experience under your belt, you will be of great value to the organizations that provide aid to these places.

Working in these conditions will also expose you to the realities of healthcare in other parts of the world, especially those places that do not have access to the same funding technology or resources as we do in the Western world.

It will be a valuable experience for you to see how things are done when doctors and nurses do not have access to the ideal equipment for their jobs. Overcoming the challenges this presents will equip you with some skills that simply cannot be learned on any conventional nursing course and can significantly raise your value to future employers.

Research Nurse

Nursing is ultimately a branch of medical science and as a science, there are numerous research opportunities available for those who want to be involved in shaping the future direction of the profession. Nursing research opportunities enable nurses to take what experience they have so far gained and apply it to better understand the current state of the field.

A growing number of nurses are choosing to be Informatics specialists, nurses who are also trained in data collection and analytics. These nurses are encouraged to use their data gathering skills throughout the course of their work in order to collect data that can be used to formulate a strategy for the institutions they represent. This is just one example of the kind of role that a research nurse can take on.

Like all types of nurse, research nurses can choose to specialize and focus solely on research within one specific field or they can apply their skills to numerous different fields and areas of research. For example, a nurse who is passionate about technology could choose to get involved in research in the medical device sector. Meanwhile, a nurse who is interested in improving the administration of healthcare institutions might choose to specialize in informatics and data analytics research.

There will be research opportunities around the world, many of them attached to prestigious educational institutions. Any qualified nurse who also holds a background in data science or analytics and statistics will find themselves at an advantage with regards to research.

Home Health Nurse

Home health nurses are needed all around the world to provide live-in care for long-term and vulnerable patients. All advanced health care systems are finding themselves under increasing strain and are struggling to provide social health care. As a result of this, there are lots of positions like home health nurse that are experiencing a chronic shortage of job applicants. If this is work that you think you can do or even would enjoy then it is something that you should seriously consider as there is definitely money to be made, as well as opportunities to travel.

Work For Private Businesses

If you already have a reasonable amount of nursing experience and have already been able to demonstrate your skills as a nurse in a variety of contexts, you may be able to find work in private institutions. Many big businesses hire nurses in order to conduct simple examinations for the purposes of things like insurance claims or verifying an employee’s health compensation claim.

If you are an experienced nurse then depending on your background, you could be very valuable to the right private business. For example, a business that designs or produces medical technology may well have consultant nurses on staff to share their expertise.

Nursing Administrator

The nurses who complete the highest levels of qualification, such as these DNP executive leadership online programs, will be able to apply for leadership roles within nursing structures. Not all nurses aspire to ultimately take on a leadership role, but for those that do, it is essential that they have the drive to take their academic studies as far as they can. By the time you start competing with others for leadership roles, you are competing with the cream of the crop.

However, once you have gained some experience as a nursing administrator, you will find that your value to employers elsewhere skyrockets. Nursing administrators are needed the world over in order to lead nursing departments and to manage the staff. If you have experience leading a nursing unit in the United States, you can use this as a basis to go elsewhere.

Experienced nurses can work virtually wherever they like thanks to the universal nature of nursing. There are lots of jobs out there that are perfectly suited to those that like to travel, as well as a number that will open up more travel opportunities. What we’ve listed above are just some of the most popular options for nurses who want to take their skills around the world.