Relocating to another country and restarting your career is never easy. Foreign nurses often have to leave their little kids behind as they venture into the big, wide world seeking better economic opportunities. Some of them decide on this step in their late 30s or 40s, making the transition that much harder.
Nowadays, with the power of the internet, people get acquainted with the social and political situation in the United States from afar. Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean you won’t encounter any cultural shocks when visiting the country. As a vast country with well-developed technology, it presents numerous challenges to foreigners.
Before you head out to an international nurse recruitment agency, it is vital that you get acquainted with some of the issues you might encounter living and working in the US. Through preparation, you’ll be able to eliminate some of these issues, reducing the homesickness you’ll likely feel.
1. Different Language
Although many language experts consider English one of the easier languages to master, that doesn’t mean you don’t need time to adapt to it. Furthermore, foreign nurses have to learn it all while going through their exhausting day-to-day duties.
Knowing good English is especially important in professions such as healthcare, where small mistakes can cost a person their life. Things get even tougher when you consider the fact that nurses have to potentially get acquainted with new, advanced equipment, all of which should be handled with care.
Perhaps the best way to tackle this change is to get started while you’re still back home. English tutors are cheaper in underdeveloped countries compared to the US, which puts less strain on your budget. Furthermore, you’ll have ample time to prepare in the comfort of your home, instead of trying to master the language on the fly, in a clinical environment.
2. Work Environment
While doctors and nurses across the globe abide by the same Hippocratic oath, the differences in procedures and policies can’t be more different between the US and some underdeveloped countries. To make matters worse, each American state has different laws, which is especially challenging for nurses who might change their location a few times.
The transition is especially challenging for nurses who have worked in a foreign system for years. Nevertheless, you can adapt to the issue by keeping an open mind and understanding the underlying needs for these policies.
The best way to go about things is by inquiring with your local management. Although there might be numerous policies that you must learn, only a handful of them can cause issues. Ask your higher-ups to give you materials or take you through some of these laws.
3. Cultural Issues
Misunderstandings are very common when you go to another country. Although the Americans are well-known for their manners and politeness, that doesn’t mean you won’t have issues at work, especially in a dynamic hospital environment.
Besides your job, you might also encounter other challenges in your day-to-day communication with the locals. For example, there might be differences in what people say and how they act upon their words. Another common problem is what they expect from you in terms of presentation and manners.
To learn about the US culture, we recommend that you join local nursing groups. Reaching out to other foreigners, especially those coming from your home country, is another great method to learn about cultural nuances. It is best to slowly build relationships while letting the other side do most of the talking. Keep in mind that a single comment out of context can completely ruin your rapport with a colleague.
4. Homesickness
As mentioned, people who travel abroad seeking work are usually the ones who are pressured to do so. A vast majority of these professionals have kids at home, which is why they decide to take drastic measures in the first place. Almost all of them will start feeling homesick after a few weeks or months.
The problem with homesickness is that it can affect your mental well-being and performance. At first, it might seem like a minor problem, but it gets tougher over time. Occasionally, not even talking to your loved ones will help. In the worst-case scenarios, nurses might even fall into depression.
The good news is that a lot of these issues can be somewhat alleviated with advanced technology. You can communicate for hours with your loved ones with programs such as WhatsApp without spending a dime. On top of that, airplane tickets are much cheaper today than they were 20 years ago, allowing nurses to visit their families on a frequent basis.
5. Financial Considerations
Although the US gives amazing chances for making profits, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get rich by working in the country. The potential profit margins have become even narrower in recent years, as the rest of the world is slowly starting to catch up.
When you start working in the US, there are a lot of things you must consider. The rent is perhaps the biggest expense, something that you potentially didn’t have to cover in your home country. The price of food is also quite high, and we can’t forget about the various state and federal taxes.
At the end of the day, you must see if working in this country even makes sense. Contact acquaintances and other nurses who have gone to the US to work. Try to calculate how much you can save each month, to see if these earnings warrant going to another country.
Succeeding in the US
Working and living in another country is not for everyone. Some people will get homesick to the point where they’ll develop mental issues. This is why you must be very careful and do proper preparation beforehand.
We suggest that you learn the language before heading out, to avoid mistakes and confusion with coworkers. Making financial projections is also a smart move, as it will help you determine how much money you can send back home each month.