Nursing Offers Worldwide Job Opportunities

When a natural disaster hits -- like the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Indonesia's 2004 tsunami -- doctors, nurses and other health care workers have some of the most important roles of those who are sent into disaster-stricken areas.

For many years, health organizations have called upon volunteers from the medical community for immediate service in war-torn countries, following natural disasters and other circumstances where the need for emergency care arose. Some organizations, such as Partners in Health, base their programs on training local citizens to become health-care workers in their own communities. Since it began in 1961, the Peace Corps has done its share of sending volunteers including those with medical training -- to developing countries in need of health services. For decades, the American Red Cross had a nursing service that served during wartime, in international relief efforts and major epidemics.

During and after major disasters, hospitals throughout the United States have responded by sending nurse volunteers among the medical personnel providing health care to those in desperate need. But many organizations send nurses around the world on a continuous basis to provide all the services -- disaster relief, training of local populations and ongoing medical help -- that are the hallmark of health care assistance overseas.

Doctors Without Borders has an 'urgent need' for nurses within its force

The title may mention doctors only, but the work force of Doctors Without Borders includes operating room nurses, nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists, registered nurses and nurse practitioners, among other health care workers. Currently, operating room nurses, nurse midwives and nurse anesthetists are among those who are "urgently needed" for overseas assignments, according to Doctors Without Borders.

Doctors Without Borders, also known as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) -- the organization began in France in 1971 -- began MSF-USA in 1990.The organization provides medical assistance in nearly 60 countries to aid populations devastated by armed conflicts, epidemics, malnutrition, natural disasters, as well as what the organization calls "an exclusion from health care." That encompasses street children, migrants, displaced people, refugees and others who cannot access health care because of their stations in life.

MSF has nearly 27,000 doctors, nurses, other health-care professionals and non-medical aid workers working in international teams. The organization was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999 for its medical service, but also for delivering that service according to the humanitarian principles of medical ethics and impartiality.

With nurses providing support in all facets of medical care, the Doctors Without Borders staff run hospitals and clinics, rehabilitate patients, perform surgery, carry out vaccinations, offer mental health services and operate feeding programs for malnourished children. Non-medical workers construct wells to dispense clean drinking water, provide shelter materials and treat large populations stricken with such illnesses as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.

Cross-Cultural Solutions works side-by-side with local health-care workers

Cross-Cultural Solutions (CCS), a non-profit organization founded in 1995, has had about 25,000 volunteers, including nurses, working in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. The volunteers work alongside local health care professionals to bring medical services to their communities. They are placed in small health clinics and hospitals that are understaffed and serve low-income populations.

"Our health care placements offer an exceptional learning opportunity, in addition to a gratifying volunteer experience," states to the CCS website. "For those who aspire to a career in health-related fields, these placements offer an international learning ground where you can not only view health care in practice, but health care as practiced by professionals in a different country. For anyone interested in social services, observing the administration of health services in other parts of the world is invaluable."

CCS also provides care-giving services by volunteers who work with the elderly, people with disabilities and children to boost the lack of resources and staff in local programs. In addition, the organization places volunteers in teaching and community development services.

Nurses and other volunteers can participate in CCS programs lasting from two to 12 weeks. The "partner program" matches them according to their professional background, personal goals and the needs of the partner site. For those who are able to spend only one week as a volunteer, there are group projects that are structured to meet the needs of a local community and the goal to complete the project in one week.

Project HOPE brings humanitarian aid and health care to countries in need

Project HOPE (Health Opportunities for People Everywhere) began in 1958 with doctors, nurses and other medical volunteers travelling throughout the world on a floating hospital ship, the SS HOPE, which the organization called the "first peacetime hospital ship." Eventually, the program evolved into a land-based program providing medical care, health education and humanitarian assistance in 35 countries.

Today, Project HOPE's work continues in partnership with the U.S. Navy that began in 2005 to participate in humanitarian assistance missions with 800 HOPE volunteers. Navy personnel and volunteers work onboard and ashore to aid medical workers in surgery and primary care. Humanitarian efforts with the Navy last year took place in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and South Pacific island nations.

In recent years, Project HOPE has provided health care to more than 400,000 people, health education to another 100,000 people and an estimated $33 million in donated medicine and medical supplies has been delivered to countries worldwide.