How to Become a Traveling Overseas Missionary Nurse
When you become a traveling missionary nurse, you are not only helping others but also sharing your faith with people in another country. You will find that your learning experiences run both ways. As you learn about the culture and people you nurse, your world perspective is enriched. The culture and experiences that you bring to the people you serve will also enrich them.
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Instructions
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Selecting a Program
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Seek information on traveling missionary nurse programs at the school where you received your nursing degree. If you have already graduated, contact your alma mater through their website or friends you still have at the school. If you went to a religious school, they may have nursing missionary programs available. For instance, Goshen College in Goshen, Indiana, has an overseas nursing program for students.
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Look at opportunities through your church. Check with the denomination's website, your pastor, your church secretary or others who may know of such programs.
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Join large religious organizations that provide healthcare to others. The Christian Medical and Dental Association, Youth with a Mission and the Medical Assistance Program are places where Christian healthcare providers can also do overseas missionary work.
Preparing for the Trip
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Get needed information from your school or church about what you should take during your stay overseas. If this is going to be a career, then your organization may help you with finding a permanent home while there.
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Have all of your vaccinations before leaving. Do this well in advance of going in case you have an allergic reaction or if you have to get a multiple shots over a several-month period. Also go the doctor and dentist to make certain that you are in good overall health. Missionaries often go to countries with very bad living conditions. The physical and emotional stress of dealing with ill patients with multiple problems can be draining. Make certain that you are in good shape yourself, before trying to help others.
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Check if your passport is current. If it is not, register for a new passport as soon as possible. It generally takes a few months to get one. Go to the U.S. State Department website for details on where to register for passports. If you live in cities like Chicago, Washington, D.C. or Philadelphia, you may be able to simply visit a regional passport agency to make application. Mailing your application is also an option. Pictures for passports can be taken at the post office, Wal-mart or even drugstores like Walgreens.
Mentally Prepare Yourself
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Pray before leaving and well beforehand. If you have never been overseas or experienced first hand the level of poverty and poor health that can exist in undeveloped nations, then it may be very troubling at first to view a way of life very different than your own. Being strong in your faith will help you deal with the new experiences and challenges.
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Remember what you are going to do. You are helping to improve the lives of others. Always look for ways to share your faith. In this way, you are not only servicing current medical needs but you also may be influencing others to learn about your faith. The example you set may help others enter into the medical field or do other things to help improve their community.
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Be open minded. Unless you are going to a place in the world that your family originally came from, then there will be customs, languages and other things that are completely unfamiliar or even disturbing to you. In some areas, people may not wear much clothing or women may be treated very differently than men are. Understanding what you can live with and what you cannot will help you decide what areas you may want to go and others you'll avoid. Pray as always. God may want you to be somewhere that turns out to be perfect for you, although it does not appear so at first.
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Research the country that you will be going to, after you have decided which one you will work in. Learn about the history, languages, people and religion. Interview people you know who have done missionary work there or who are from that country, who may not be Christians. Learning as much as you can before leaving will help you be less surprised and most effective once there.
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