International and Rural Nursing: What you need to know

There are many options for nurses who are looking to expand on their career and take it to the next level. International and rural nursing positions are great ways for nurses to expand on their knowledge and help places that might be less fortunate.

If you’re thinking about spending some time nursing remotely, here’s everything you need to consider as well as why you should give it a shot!

The benefit of nursing remotely

International or rural nursing can be a big challenge, but also an extremely rewarding one. Some of the benefits of nursing remotely include:

Financial incentives include higher hourly wages and on-call rates.

The opportunity to work away from the hustle and bustle of a large hospital and instead enjoy a different, outback lifestyle.

Nurses who take up this opportunity can see more of the country (or world!) while they’re working. Their days off can be spent travelling and exploring their new environment.

When working remotely, nurses get the opportunity to work with some different teams they wouldn’t usually associate with. The Royal Flying Doctors Service, doctors on the ETS video link system, local emergency services, outreach services and so many more are all teams nurses in this environment may work alongside.

Experiencing a new culture is one of the most fantastic opportunities nurses have. Immersing yourself in a new culture can teach you empathy, a sense of self, and how life is in a different community to the one you live in.

Nurses who are in remote communities develop a greater sense of autonomy. The remoteness of the placement means there are fewer resources available, as well as greater independence and freedoms available to them.

Being part of a smaller community, nurses can get to know their patients on a more personal level, as opposed to the high influx of patients in large hospitals.

What to consider when it comes to international and rural nursing

While there are so many great benefits to remote nursing, there are also things to take into consideration. These include:

Isolation – One of the most difficult things for nurses choosing to work remotely is the isolation they may experience. Not only are there not many people living in these communities, but they are also often far away from their loved ones. This can bring up feelings of loneliness and homesickness. If you choose to bring a partner with you, be aware that these feelings will affect them too.

Language barriers – If you choose an international placement, there’s the chance you may end up in a non-English-speaking country. Before you agree to go, you need to figure out how you’re going to combat the language barrier. Are you going to learn a different language? Do you already speak the language? Are there people there who do speak your language? Not speaking the same language as a community can also make an isolated experience feel even more lonely.

Cost – Ask around to see what sort of grants and allowances you may be eligible for when undertaking international or rural nursing. For some programs, there are daily allowances, and they might cover travel costs. If these things aren’t included, you’ll need to take into account costings for things such as flights, accommodation, food, etc.

Responsibilities – When it comes to rural and remote nursing, your responsibilities may increase tenfold. Due to limited resources, it’s challenging to meet policies and procedures that are set for larger health centres. This means that rural nurses are often left with a lot of responsibility with very little guidance. However, this can help to develop a strong sense of independence and autonomy. Also, while you may have had a similar daily routine when working in a big hospital, chances are, in a remote place your tasks will be highly varied. This is great as it means no two days will be the same, and you’ll have the opportunity to experience a whole new range of tasks.

You know EVERYONE – And when we say everyone, we mean everyone! You’ll see patients down the street who you treated for something the other week and will often have people asking you things about their health in the supermarket! In small communities, everyone knows everyone, so be prepared to know a little too much about people you bump into all the time. If you have a partner who has relocated with you, it’s also important to keep patient confidentiality in mind, as they will know everyone too!

Long transport wait times – Living rurally means limited resources – this includes transportation. Geographic location has the challenge of time. Getting help to a critically ill patient can take longer than usual, and extreme weather conditions can make it even more difficult.

Fewer resources – Not only are there stressors with transport but there can also be stressors with equipment. If you are working in a remote town or a third-world country, they often can’t afford some of the high-tech gadgets you might be accustomed to working with. Chances are, you’ll only have the very basics of what you need, so be prepared to do something you normally do a different way!

Your nursing team – If you don’t like someone in a big hospital, you can generally avoid them, or at least you might not work with them every shift. When working remotely, there’s only going to be a small team – you and a few others. If you don’t along with someone, things may get uncomfortable. You’re likely to see them every day or every other day, so it’s important to think of ways to deal with this while maintaining a professional attitude.

When choosing to do international or rural nursing, there are so many things to consider. From the remoteness and isolation of working in a remote community to the challenges of limited resources all provide new challenges for nurses. However, the opportunity to gain new skills, independence, autonomy, and knowledge of a different culture make for amazing opportunities for nurses.

Looking to be a remote nurse? Make sure you pack a pair of Biz Care scrubs in your suitcase!