The benefits of nursing jobs that allow you to travel

Nursing is one of the most rewarding professions. Helping people to recover from illness and injury on a daily basis can bring intense career satisfaction. However, an extra level of enjoyment can be gained from entering the nursing profession - the chance to travel the world and work in various countries and cultures.

Many different nursing jobs allow you to travel and explore the various corners of the world. In this article, we will examine the different options that are available to nurses who are considering working in other countries and how you could benefit from exploring these options in your career.

The benefits of nursing jobs that allow you to travel

For nurses at all stages of their careers, travelling the world, experiencing different cultures, and exploring how nursing is carried out in various countries can be an eye-opening experience that can revolutionise your career path and open a multitude of opportunities. Travelling to other countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland may give you vital experience of different nursing techniques that can help you drive your nursing career forward and keep up to date with the latest methods.

Additionally, as well as gaining a professional advantage, you can also garner benefits in your personal life too. Getting the chance to live in other countries and see incredible sights can be an amazing experience, whether you have just qualified as a nurse or if you are further along in your career.

Are additional qualifications required?

Needing additional qualifications can be a concern that may daunt nurses who wish to work in other countries. However, for the most part, they are not needed if you already hold the qualification of Registered Nurse: Adult. This qualification is transferable and recognised by the majority of healthcare systems across the world, although it is always a good idea to check the local rules in the country that you wish to visit.

For some specialist sectors of nursing, such as paediatrics or mental health nursing, you might need to pass additional exams or assessments which can vary from one country to another. Before you get started, it is important to research the local rules in the country or countries where you wish to work to ensure that you are eligible to practise there.

What do I need to do to work abroad?

There are many considerations to take into account when looking for a nursing job overseas. Working as a nurse in many foreign countries will require you to produce a certificate of current professional status (CCPS). This can be obtained from the Nursing and Midwifery Council if you live in the UK. If you are based outside the UK, it is a good idea to contact the governing body in your country to inquire as to what documents you will need.

Additionally, you might also need to produce a historic transcript of training. These are often available from the college or university where you did your nursing training. If not, it might be possible to obtain them directly from the NMC. One final consideration is that you might need to apply for a visa to be able to work overseas. It is important to make your application in good time before starting a new job or taking on locum work.

Salary considerations

Nursing salaries vary from one country to another. In Australia, the yearly average salary for a registered nurse is $106,967 (AUD) - or around £57,000 (GBP) and £28 an hour. In Australia's antipodean neighbour, New Zealand, a registered nurse can expect to make $95,654 (NZD) per year on average which equates to approximately £48,000 (GBP) every year or £24 per hour.

Nurses in the United Kingdom earn an annual average of £47,155 or £22.67 per hour, with bonuses for living in the capital city as living costs tend to be more expensive in the southeast of England. As the NHS pay scale is standardised across the rest of the UK, for nurses who are looking to travel while keeping down their living costs, it can be cost-effective to work in Northern cities, where rents tend to be cheaper.

It is also important to keep in mind that locum nursing jobs tend to be more lucrative than permanent roles. Locum nurses can command a higher hourly rate. Taking a locum job as a nurse also gives greater flexibility to nurses who are looking to travel the world as it doesn't entail the same level of commitment to living in a specific country or city as you would need to make if you take a full-time job at a specific hospital.

What are the benefits of locum nursing jobs?

Locum nursing jobs offer a plethora of benefits to nurses. Firstly, you can enjoy significantly more flexibility and travel between cities and countries with increased ease. Moreover, you can also benefit from an improved work/life balance. This is because you can schedule your work around your lifestyle. For example, if you want to see the sights in a specific country, you can tailor your work life around this.

The enhanced pay rate can also be extremely attractive, especially if you are visiting a country that has a higher cost of living. When you are working abroad, it also means that you can work fewer hours and still earn a good living, allowing you more time to explore that country and enjoy the local delights.

The career opportunities on offer to locum nurses are extremely diverse and available in all fields of nursing. Whether you are a paediatric nursing specialist, cath lab nurse, theatre scrub nurse or a specialist in any other type of nursing, you can find locum opportunities in the UK and globally that may appeal to you. Keep in mind that taking a locum job as a nurse and travelling within your career does not necessarily need to entail foreign travel. You can benefit from nursing jobs that allow you to travel, no matter which country you're in. For example, if you live in the UK, it is possible to work as a locum nurse in various cities across the country, getting all the benefits of travel and locum work while still having the reassurance of remaining closer to home.

You can find the most suitable jobs for you by using a healthcare recruitment agency. For more information on worldwide and UK nursing jobs, please don't hesitate to contact Globe Locums today.