How Nurses Can Prepare for Global Health Career - Essay Sample

The nursing profession is constantly metamorphosizing and currently, nurses are penetrating in global leadership positions. To become an international health nurse, there are preparations that nurses should take. A global health nurse might work on various global issues in different places. The nurses might be contracted by government agencies like the World Health Organization or serve as independent consultants. Working as an international nurse exposes the nurse to different conditions of care available in different nations. In preparing for a global nursing career, the nurse should undertake the prerequisite education and training in nursing, and acquire a practicing license (Gerken, 2020).

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The nurse aspiring for a global nurse career should equip themselves with information concerning the epidemiology of different global diseases. Different populations have differing demographics and are consequently affected differently with various diseases. A global nurse should, therefore, have the knowledge of chief global ailments like tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, and how they have affected different geographical locations (Gerken, 2020). The nurse should also learn about the various health challenges and their influence on area inhabitants. The world is currently faced with a challenge in access to health, especially due to the changing population demographics and increasing poverty levels (Gerken, 2020). The population is growing steadily, and the volume of those who need medical attention is also rising. Moreover, quick environmental alterations and degradation are causing significant health issues. Since global nurses are committed to helping all people equally, they are supposed to possess extensive knowledge about how to manipulate various factors in nursing practice.

Further, an aspiring international nurse should have great leadership qualities. A global nurse should be someone who is committed to lead others during difficult situations. Currently, nurses are taking up leadership positions to help better the healthcare setup. A global nurse should engage in creating effective policies that aim at promoting health (Gerken, 2020). Given that global nurses are deployed in areas faced with crises, the nurse should learn disaster planning and intervention skills. The nurse should also train on how to teach other nurses to prepare for emergencies and crisis circumstances (Gerken, 2020). For example, the current coronavirus pandemic called for the intervention of the World Health Organization to train health practitioners and nurses on how to protect themselves when dealing with Covid-19 patients. As a prospective international nurse, one should be knowledgeable about how to deal with different emergency situations. The nurse must also learn to work in a highly coordinated team. The international nursing career requires interaction with other nurses from different countries, all of which must build a team to drive their activities (Gerken, 2020).

An international nurse can also prepare by volunteering or searching for a job in global health organizations. There are different global health organizations that have been formed to promote health universally. The organizations usually have opportunities for volunteers. Partner in Health, for instance, offers numerous opportunities for volunteers to help in steering their goals. Volunteering in such organizations equips the nurse with extensive knowledge about an international nursing career (Gerken, 2020). The working experience in international organizations also empowers the nurse with knowledge on how to handle various situations that arise in the field. It develops the passion to assist the vulnerable communities in society. Again, volunteering in global health organizations will help the nurse connect with other international nurses who will mentor them to the field (Gerken, 2020). The networking may also help the nurse grab a career in international nursing through referral or absorption.

References

Gerken, J. (2020). MSN insight: Why is global health important to nurses? https://www.waldenu.edu/online-masters-programs/master-of-science-in-nursing/resource/msn-insight-why-is-global-health-important-to-nurses