The demand for nurses has increased considerably in the post-Covid era. The State of the World Nursing Report (2020) states that by 2030, the world will need 1.06 crore new nurses. Kerala being the prime source of nurses in India is likely to meet a significant share of this demand.

Dr Bindu Mathew, Dean of Nursing at Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences in Karnataka and Vice-Principal of the postgraduate department at St John’s College of Nursing, Bengaluru offers, tips to nurses planning for a career abroad.

• English language skills: The main hurdle faced by nurses from Kerala who have Malayalam as their mother tongue is poor English language skills, said Mathew. “Nursing students should start improving their fluency in English as soon as they join the course. Speaking to each other in English during the course period also will help,” she added.

• Institution matters: When joining a nursing college, confirm that the institution has the necessary basic infrastructure, good faculty and facilities for clinical training. Authorities in foreign countries carry out checks to ensure that nurses seeking employment have received adequate clinical training.

• Gain work experience: Instead of applying for a job abroad immediately after completing a nursing course in India, it is preferred to work for some time in a well-equipped hospital with at least 500 beds here before travelling to a foreign country. Experience in departments such as intensive care unit (ICU), emergency and operation theatre would be a big advantage while seeking employment abroad. Nursing specialisation also would help land a job in foreign country easily.

This is the third of the series on opportunities for nurses abroad. Read : Part 1 - Opportunities galore as Kerala nurses head to Europe

Part 2 - Numerous opportunities for nurses abroad but how to avoid pitfalls in recruitment!

Part 3 - Avail ODEPC, NORKA services for nursing opportunities abroad