How to Become a Nurse with the United Nations: Education, Qualifications & Career Path

Educational Background, Competencies, and Routes to International Agencies

The healthcare in the world is becoming interconnected, thus requiring a competent and versatile nursing workforce trained to meet country-specific healthcare needs in a complex healthcare environment. International organisations like the United Nations (UN) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), as well as thousands of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), are crucial players in addressing these challenges, and nurses are essential to their effectiveness. The demand for nursing specialities in global health initiatives, humanitarian nationals and global development is ever-increasing. Nurses are an indispensable force in building a healthier and fairer world and reaching global health goals. With data available up to October 2023, this report serves as a definitive resource for nurses, students, and professionals looking to progress their careers in this dynamic world stage, covering key educational pathways, qualifications, and expertise required to effect real change in world health.

1. Understanding the Global Nursing Workforce Landscape

Three Scenarios: Global Nursing Shortages: Scope, Impact, & Drivers

There is a massive global shortage of nurses, a crisis that affects healthcare delivery and population health on multiple levels. According to the WHO, there will be a global shortage of 4.5 million nurses by 2030, with the labour market particularly constrained in Africa, Southeast Asia, and the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region. The projection seems to indicate Juneau will be worse than before the estimate because it forecasts that demand for nurses will increase within the next five years, but current strategies with nurses may not be enough to fill the gap in the number of nursing professionals active and grey. The growing shortage highlights the need for immediate action in strengthening the global nursing workforce.

This shortage of nurses has a direct implication on quality of care provision globally. When nurses are not available to provide care, patient outcomes can suffer and health systems become strained. The workforce needed to adequately respond to public health emergencies, including pandemics, is also diminished. In addition, the day-to-day operation of healthcare facilities becomes strained, placing additional burdens on existing staff and potentially contributing to burnout.

This global shortage is due to a number of factors. Among the most important are the migration of nurses internationally, especially from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to high-income countries. This migration is frequently catalysed by the quest for improved working conditions and wages, which adds to existing critical nurse shortages in the countries of origin, thus hampering their ability to rebuild and respond to health challenges, particularly following global health emergencies. For example, small island states have been losing a significant percentage of their nursing workforce each year to countries like Australia and New Zealand. The Philippines, a leading source of international nurses worldwide, is expected to experience an acute shortage of its own in the next few years.

Retention challenges contribute significantly to workforce turbulence, even in high-income settings like the United States. This is not news, as a great proportion of healthcare workers and nurses have stated that they want to leave their jobs in the coming years due to things like burnout or toxic workplaces. Moreover, the ageing of the nursing workforce, with a significant segment approaching retirement age, further exacerbates the issue, posing the risk of an escalating shortage as seasoned nurses retire. Focusing solely on increasing the supply of new nurses through these institutions will have a negligible impact on the problem, as it has been proven that retention and support of the existing workforce is critical in addressing the global shortage of nurses in the field across the economic settings.

Nursing Workforce Initiatives at the International Level

In acknowledgement of the crucial role of nurses in advancing global health, multiple international initiatives and policy frameworks have been developed to tackle the challenges experienced by the nursing workforce. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3), which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages, specifically includes targets on strengthening the health workforce. These targets include the increase of health financing and recruitment, development, training and retention of the health workforce (health workers, specifically nurses, in particular in developing countries). By explicitly addressing the health workforce within SDG3, there is high-level global recognition of the critical role that healthcare workers play in upgrading health and development outcomes on a broad scale.

The WHO Global Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery 2021–2025 present a comprehensive roadmap for countries to maximise the contributions of nurses and midwives to universal health coverage and other population health objectives. It identifies four focus areas for policy: education, jobs, leadership, and service delivery. These include strategic directions and policy priorities for actions that can be taken nationally and internationally in each area. These include educating a critical mass of competent nurses and midwives, creating and filling nursing positions where they are most needed, strengthening nursing and midwifery leadership, and ensuring that nurses are supported and prepared to provide quality services. These strategic directions were developed to respond through a global effort to the acknowledged shortages and challenges identified in the nursing profession.

In addition, the WHO, in partnership with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), has created the Working for Health programme. This initiative seeks to bring the recommendations of the United Nations High-level Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth to life through multisectoral policy dialogue and action in support of strengthening the health workforce worldwide. The programme provides catalytic support at global, country, and regional levels, making investments in the health sector to make decisions based on evidence. These collaborative initiatives by international organisations highlight that solving problems related to the health workforce must be a multisectoral approach.

Preparing for a Career as a Global Nurse

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) as a Foundational Degree

Those nurses seeking careers abroad — especially with the United Nations (UN) and other entities — a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is usually considered essential learning. The UN’s position on BNS for certain job positions implies how the roles require clinical knowledge and skills, i.e., a higher level of nursing practice due to the expectations from the UN. As such, a BSN programme offers a well-rounded education that includes both classroom instruction and hands-on training in clinical practice, equipping graduates for a wide range of roles in the healthcare field.

But a BSN programme will typically cover more areas such as anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, microbiology, and pathophysiology, among others, to ensure a strong foundation in the biological and physical sciences that support nursing practice. Students also learn about nursing theory, research, ethics, and evidence-based practice principles. Under the guidance of experienced nurses, students get to pair and practise their knowledge by working in clinical rotations in hospitals, health clinics, and community health organisations. Additionally, BSN education frequently prioritises instilling critical thinking and leadership skills, relevant for nurses working in multifactorial and diverse global contexts. Being able to use this data to synthesise, to make clinical decisions and to lead teams is sought after in the global health space.

Graduate: MSN and Global Health Concentrations

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is a solid start to a career in global health, but a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree is critical for developing the tools involved in specialised or leadership roles with international organisations. It is increasingly common to find MSN programmes that offer a specific focus or specialisation in global health, which indicates a growing acknowledgement within the nursing education community of the specialist knowledge and skills needed for effective practice to address health challenges internationally. These tracks provide nurses with enhanced skill sets in public health, global health policy, epidemiology and leadership.

Many of these specialised MSN programmes blend advanced clinical knowledge with policy, economics and leadership principles as part of the curriculum. For instance, an MSN in Healthcare Policy with a concentration in global health will educate nurses for roles within organisations like the WHO by focusing on areas of healthcare policy, both national and global economics, global health systems and leadership. Likewise, an online MSN in Nurse Leadership in Global Health addresses advanced concepts related to global health policy, finance, leadership, evidence-based practice, research design, biostatistics, and preventive healthcare practices. An example of this is the MSN in Global Health Nursing, which focuses on the global health nurse as a teacher, clinician, scholar, and policymaker and often incorporates an internship and research capstone project for hands-on experience. The inclusion of several undergraduate and graduate programmes related to global health, such as Bachelor of Science, Master of Public Health, and Master of Science degrees, reflects the increasing academic interest in this area. An emphasis on hands-on experience and research skills has made such programmes—some of which include research projects or even internships—popular among nurses who want to have a global impact in health.

A Global Perspective Exploring Potential Global Health Specializations in Nursing Curricula

Through their respective BSN and MSN programmes, students will find the choice of studying global health practice often built into their courses as specialised content or modules. These sets of specialisations allow for focused learning on issues that directly impact international healthcare issues. A Bachelor of Science in Global Health programme, for example, might cover topics such as Population Health, Health Systems of the World, Issues in Global Health and Epidemiology for Public Health. The multidisciplinary precepts of using public health principles to enhance nursing practice help meet the challenges of addressing complex global health issues that nurses face today. Students learn about global health challenges more broadly and to identify health needs in diverse communities.

At the graduate level, a global health certificate program may consist of classes such as Essentials and Practice in Global Health Nursing, Health, Health Care and Culture, and Program Planning and Evaluation in Community/Public Health. Program planning and evaluation are essential skills for nurses to acquire to develop, implement and assess the resulting health interventions in an international context. These are essential skills for public health practice and project management in global organisations. Topics such as infectious diseases, humanitarian preparedness in nursing and cultural competence are also commonly included in the nursing curriculum to further prepare nurses for the prevalence of global health work. Such courses provide the specific knowledge and skills that nurses need to contribute significantly to international healthcare programmes.

Importance of International Urolithiasis Nursing Accreditation Standards

With its special role in this regard, international accreditation is of great importance to ensure the quality and standards of nursing education programmes worldwide. In the information age, accreditation is monumental, as it indicates that the nursing programme is accredited by a recognised entity that ensures an educational programme meets high standards of education quality and that graduates are prepared to safely and effectively provide health care services. The NLN CNEA Standards for Accreditation provide a framework of national and global quality assurance of nursing programmes regardless of type, including programmes with a global health focus. In a similar vein, the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) promotes and supports international nursing programmes for accreditation, as they increasingly reach out beyond the country’s borders for education and professional advancement.

International accreditation can greatly improve the portability and recognition of degrees and licences in nursing around the world, facilitating international practice and providers involvement in multinational agencies. Accreditation Another key milestone in obtaining your degree is earning program or institutional ​accreditation. Accreditation is a mark of quality assurance, indicating that the nursing program meets certain curriculum standards, faculty qualifications and clinical experiences. Employers understand this, and emphasize hiring graduates of accredited programs to ensure a career-oriented education behind them. In addition, accreditation can increase reciprocity and credentials recognition between jurisdictions and settings of care, making graduates easier to endorse or employed in multiple states or nations. For this reason, the level of international accreditation that is given to a program should be a key consideration for anyone considering a global career in the field of nursing as it will impact both the quality of education they receive and the professional opportunities they have in the future.

A Wrong Job Title Can Affect Your Nursing Career

Opportunities with the United Nations (UN): How to Apply?

Nursing opportunities are available with United Nations system agencies, such as UNICEF, UNHCR, UNRWA and peacekeeping missions. They also provide support to people in diverse and often difficult settings as they deliver front-line health care, with a focus on health programme management and policy development. Specific requirements can vary from agency to agency, role to role, and location to location, but here are some qualifications that are commonly sought in general. A university degree in nursing, generally a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or equivalent, is often the minimum education requirement Moreover, national registration and licensure as a registered nurse in the country of origin are required.

Another important consideration to qualify for UN jobs is having good professional experience in clinical nursing. Many positions require several years of progressive clinical experience, often with specific experience such as emergency care and intensive care units. International working experience in an international environment. Another important criterion is language skills. English fluency is usually required, and fluency in other UN languages, such as French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and Russian, can be a huge plus or even a necessity for some jobs. For example, in some jobs fluency in English and French, or English and Arabic, is required. BLS and ACLS certifications are commonly required, indicating proficiency in managing cardiopulmonary emergencies.

This is a basic overview of how to apply for UN jobs. It is common for candidates to register an account on the UN careers portal (inspira.un.com) and fill out an application on the website, including information about their qualifications, experience, and language skills. Many organisations like the UN have a different application structure than a regular CV, such as the Personal History Form (P11). Candidates must understand what the position requires of them and apply accordingly. You might do this through assessments, like written tests or competency-based interviews.

Career Pathways with the World Health Organization (WHO)

The World Health Organisation (WHO) offers nursing careers across its headquarters and regional and country offices around the world. Nurses with WHO work on a variety of initiatives HEALTH AN INSTITUTION239 WHO nurses are part of various teams, working on technical programmes, policy development, specified research for example, on MiTB and emergency response249. Like the UN, WHO generally looks for well-qualified professional nurse with a strong academic background and relevant experience. At WHO, a first university degree in Nursing is an essential qualification for professional nursing positions, and an advanced degree (Master’s or equivalent) in nursing or a related field is desirable. Current, unrestricted registration and licensure as a registered nurse is also required.

WHO positions often require relevant working experience in nursing, especially if the applicant has experience working internationally. You generally need at least two years of relevant experience, and experience in specific areas (e.g., occupational health, development & management of health programmes, international health) can be a big plus. As WHO operates in a global environment, strong language skills are essential. A good understanding of English is essential, and often French is required, and knowledge of other official languages of WHO can be a strong asset. Alternatively, certifications in Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) or equivalent qualifications are typically required, showing an ability to react to medical emergencies in the most valuable way.

Most positions at WHO are advertised and applied for online, as they are subject to a centralised recruitment process in a system called Stellis, available through the WHO careers portal. Candidates must register an online profile and apply for relevant vacancies based on their qualifications and preferences. They will need a cover letter stating their reasons for applying. The selection procedure might be competitive, possibly including a written test, asynchronous video assessment and competency-based interview of those shortlisted. WHO is committed to gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff and encourages applications from women, persons with disabilities and nationals of under-represented member states.

Pursuing the International NGO/Humanitarian Mission

Nurses interested in global health and working with vulnerable populations can pursue a variety of meaningful careers through international NGOs and humanitarian organisations. Humanitarian and relief organisations, including Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières), the International Rescue Committee, Save the Children and the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, depend on the skills and expertise of nurses to supply healthcare under difficult, resource-constrained contexts. These positions are of a variety of types, from providing direct clinical care in field hospitals and clinics to managing health programmes, conducting assessments, and training local healthcare workers.

The qualifications desired by these entities will differ based on mission, setting, and responsibility. Nevertheless, you generally need a strong clinical background, usually a BSN or better. A background in one or more of the following areas may be especially useful: public health, emergency response, infectious diseases, maternal and child health, and mental health. Experience in resource-limited settings or in humanitarian crises is typically very desirable, as is the capacity to tolerate challenging living and working conditions. Another ability that is needed for nurses who work in diverse communities is the ability to work strongly as a team worker with effective communication between co-workers and the patients also, strong resilience, and good cultural sensitivity. Being fluent in the languages spoken in the areas where the organisation is active (for instance, French, Spanish, and Arabic) can provide an advantage. The application submissions have a different process, as it is not the same for all the NGOs; however, they agree that the process often includes submission of a detailed application that outlines qualifications and experience or, in some cases, interviews & assessments.

Fundamental Requirements: Degrees, Licensure and Certifications

To summarise, there are some general requirements for nurses looking to work internationally. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is often the minimum requirement, especially for positions with the UN and WHO. Each programme may have different coursework, but a well-rounded education can lead to more advanced career opportunities or specialised roles with an MSN degree or higher. An active registered nurse licence in your country of origin is one of the key requirements. Nurses may also need to become licensed in the specific host country they will be working in, or the international organisation may have other specific requirements. Often having Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications, showcasing critical training in emergency care. Specialised certifications, such as public health (e.g., MPH) or tropical medicine, can greatly enhance a nurse’s qualifications for specific global health jobs. Acquiring these basic qualifications is the first step for nurses intending to offer their skills in international healthcare initiatives.

Building Critical Skills for Global Development

Comprehending the Global Importance of Language Proficiency

In the world of global health, the ability to speak multiple languages is an invaluable tool for nurses. French, Spanish, Arabic, and Chinese – while not the primary languages in which people communicate in international organisations, international nurses who speak more than one language, especially one of the UN’s official languages, can significantly increase how effective they are and the number of opportunities available to them. For example, specific UN and WHO jobs might necessitate fluency in either English and French (or English and Arabic) contingent on where the job is located and what population you are serving.

Being able to speak a language fluently gives an advantage when you communicate with patients, co-workers, and communities with different backgrounds so that trust is established for efficient healthcare delivery. When nurses are able to communicate with patients directly in their native language, they can more fully understand the patients’ needs, offer culturally appropriate care, and provide health education more effectively. This is especially important in international contexts, where linguistic diversity is the rule. Moreover, speaking the local language better allows you to work more closely with international co-workers or participate in a global conversation on the policy level. If you want to work overseas as a nurse, you should consider taking English or other language courses, finding an exchange programme, or participating in immersion opportunities.

Cultural Competence and Humility for Diverse Populations

Cultural competence has emerged as a core competency for nurses in diverse healthcare systems today and globally. It includes understanding, respecting and valuing individuals beliefs, customs and traditions, which will help healthcare professionals to provide patient-centred care effectively. Building cultural competence is an ongoing journey that involves self-reflection, learning and experience. To be able to do this effectively, nurses need to actively consider their own cultural prejudices and look for opportunities to learn from and engage with people from culturally diverse backgrounds. Cultural competence training can enhance providers’ knowledge, understanding, and skills for treating patients from culturally, linguistically, and socioeconomically diverse backgrounds.

Cultural humility is a critical component of cultural competence. This is understanding what your culture does not teach you and who teaches you the information that your culture does not include. It encourages thinking in relation to a worldview that is open and considerate of different cultural perspectives, a consideration that is beneficial in global health as nurses will be challenged with different beliefs and practices. cultural competence training programmes, reflection-based tasks, listening (to patients and to colleagues), immersion experiences in diverse communities, and interest in learning about other cultures. Educated in the healing sciences and possessing a wide array of skills, culturally competent nurses can serve as a bridge between patients from all walks of life and the health care systems that serve these patients, ultimately contributing to improved patient outcomes, greater patient trust, and more equitable health care delivery. –iStock/ijmpe.

The Importance of Subspecialty Certifications (such as Public Health, Tropical Medicine)

Nurses as the pillar of travelling medicine: for specialised positions in international organisations, you may include certifications that would increase your competitiveness, such as those related to tropical medicine or public health. Such certifications indicate sophisticated knowledge and expertise directly applicable to global health issues. 1. An MPH degree is a specialised degree that focuses on the broader aspects of health beyond individual patient care, teaching nurses about community health, global health, and epidemiology. Among them, there are plenty of schools offering MPH programmes with specialisations in global health.

Tropical Medicine ➚ Tropical medicine certifications specialise in diagnosing, treating and preventing diseases and conditions endemic to tropical regions. Nurses may complete tropical medicine courses to sit for examinations such as the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH), followed by a Certificate of Knowledge in Clinical Tropical Medicine and Travellers’ Health. The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine has professional diplomas in tropical nursing, and the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp has postgraduate certificates in introduction to tropical medicine and challenges in international health. A Harvard Global Public Health for Nurse Leaders Certificate programme that focuses on public health policy, strategic planning, and management. These targeted additional certifications indicate a dedication to ongoing education and indicate a higher level of proficiency in areas that are crucial to global health, which in turn enhances a nurse’s job-market competitiveness for specialised roles with international organisations and NGOs.

Internships, Fellowships, and Residencies: Gaining Field Experience

One of the best ways to prepare nurses for the realities of working in global health is through hands-on field experience. It allows for practical experience where we can apply theoretical learnings in a practical setting, gain necessary skills and understand problems and challenges faced in working across various cultures and the resource-limited setting. Internships with UN agencies or NGOs, global health fellowships, and immersive field experiences provided by academic institutions are just some of the ways that nurses can acquire this important experience.

Structured global health fellowship programmes like Boston Children’s Hospital Global Nursing Fellowship [7], Penn Global Nursing Fellowship [8], and the MGH Global Nursing Fellowship Programme provide a framework in which nurses can acquire specialised knowledge and skill sets to provide valuable care to vulnerable and underserved populations [9] in resource-limited settings. Both fellowships typically include financial support, mentorship, and assignments to apply your experience on specific projects with partner organisations in the global health space. These may last from several months to a year or longer and emphasise different speciality areas, including paediatric health, community health, and leadership development.

Internships housed under global health programmes, as sometimes happen under MSN in Global Health Nursing programmes, and field experiences provided by some nursing schools, such as the Yale School of Nursing, can provide an initial exposure to global health work for students and early-career nurses. These experiences typically occur in international settings, working alongside healthcare professionals where students participate in health assessments, provide direct care and participate in community health projects. But in addition to international “global health nursing residencies”, longer-term global health fellowships and extended volunteer work also provide immersive experiences that help nurses develop important flexibility, cultural competence, resourcefulness and clinical experience in a variety of settings, making them strong candidates for global health positions.

Global Health Policy and Global Health Goals: Where Does Nursing Fit In?

With training on data through October 2023 Health Equity Action: Nurses lead on the globe. This directly supports the principles of SDG3, which emphasises the targeting of marginalised population groups and regions with the highest burden of disease. The need for the culturally competent nurse is especially important in dealing with population groups with health disparities to make certain care matches the individual to the beliefs and values of their culture.

Nurses play a critical role in the health of refugees, providing healthcare to individuals and families who have been forced from their homes due to war, persecution or violence. They meet a variety of health needs, ranging from trauma care and managing chronic diseases to preventing infectious disease outbreaks in crowded living conditions and providing maternal and child health services. Nurses in refugee healthcare settings must also be flexible, resourceful, and culturally competent, as they encounter complex humanitarian settings and sustainably collaborate with people who have undergone tremendous suffering. Nurses also give an important voice to refugees, advocating for responses that meet their specific health needs to ensure they receive quality care and protection.

Working with Pandemic Preparedness and Emergency Response

Such efforts have highlighted the critical role of nurses in pandemic preparedness and emergency response during crises, as well as global health threats like the recent global health crises. Nurses play a vital role in all stages of an emergency, from initial recognition and surveillance to direct care of those affected and contributing to recovery. Infection control nurses help stop the spread of viruses and bacteria by implementing best practices to halt the spread of infection, making them essential to protect public health. Nurses also play a role in the screening of patients, remote consultations of patients, educating the public to take precautions and administering samples of vaccines during pandemics.

Nurses and midwives play a critical role in building global capacity in emergency response in these international roles. They could be part of the process in creating plans for responding to a public health emergency, from strengthening surveillance systems to deploying to areas in a crisis zone to provide baseline medical care. In emergencies, they help to rapidly assess health needs, prioritise care in resource-limited settings, and work effectively within interdisciplinary teams. Nurses are also critical in health education and promotion, which empowers communities to take actions to protect themselves and prevent the spread of disease during outbreaks. The commitment and critical role of nurses in global public health security is best illustrated by their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

How Global Degree Portability and Recognition Works

Understanding the process of how international degree portability and recognition works is crucial for nurses who have been educated outside their country of practice. Licensing requirements and processes differ widely between countries and even between states within the same country. All about Credential Evaluation Services: One of the key aspects of the credentials analysis process is to use consideration and evaluation services, such as the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) and similar organisations that validate whether the level of education makes foreign nursing education equivalent to the other country. These services compare foreign credentials with domestic norms and commonly send a report that is needed by nursing regulatory agencies.

Besides credential evaluation, overseas-trained nurses must prove their language skills on tests like TOEFL or IELTS. They will also usually need to pass the national nursing licensure exam of the country in which they will practice, such as the NCLEX-RN in the U.S. In the US, for nurses with a multistate licence under the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), they can practise in other compact states with no restrictions; however, there are particular rules for moving between compact and non-compact states and for nurses on visas. As such, it can help make nursing degrees and credentials processed in different countries much more comparable and transportable. For these nurses, a detailed understanding of the destination country’s specific requirements and a reliable, accredited credential evaluative body will be key to successfully practising abroad.

Nurses Are Critical in Achieving UN Sustainable Development Goal 3

Nurses are the key to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Goal 3 (SDG3) to promote healthy lives and wellbeing for all. Their contributions underpin almost all targets under SDG3, ranging from reducing maternal mortality to ending preventable deaths of newborns and children and curbing epidemics such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Nurses better surface and contribute to efforts towards achieving universal health coverage through the availability of essential healthcare services where people first interact with healthcare and in ensuring that everyone has access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines.

Ensuring a stronger nursing workforce is a target in itself (Target 3.c), acknowledging that staffing of an adequate and well-supported nursing workforce is critical to the achievement of broader health goals. Nurses help inform this goal with their involvement in educating, training, and mentoring the next generation of nurses. hostname Their impact goes beyond clinical care to include health promotion, disease prevention, and advocacy. Through partnerships with communities, nurses are essential in facilitating healthy lifestyles, improving sanitation and hygiene, and addressing the social determinants of health. They inform the policies of the health sector, which helps to create supportive work environments and guide enhancing the quality of health service delivery. Nurses play a vital and diverse role, making them valuable partners in the worldwide movement towards SDG3 in order to improve health and well-being for populations around the globe.

To identify stale opportunities and areas for impact

An Overview of Global Health Fellows and Specialty Divisions

Not limited to traditional roles in nursing, a variety of underreported opportunities await those looking to pursue global health. An international global health fellowship, which is a unique path to professional development and engagement in international healthcare. Many of these programmes also offer specialised training, research opportunities, and leadership development within a particular area of global health, including but not limited to paediatric care, community health, or disease prevention. The Boston Children’s Hospital Global Nursing Fellowship, for instance, concentrates on paediatric coverage in resource-challenged jurisdictions, and the Penn Global Nursing Fellowship encourages fellows to partake with global agencies dedicated to enhancing health in resource-restricted settings. The MGH Global Nursing Fellowship Program is a short-term opportunity for nurses to provide clinical expertise and mentorship to global partners. Global health fellowships databases offer many such targeted opportunities for nurses wishing to expand their reach and impact.

There are also specific nursing roles that may not be familiar that exist within international organisations and NGOs. Additional opportunities exist in specific areas relevant to infection prevention and programmes around specific diseases (e.g., HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria) or on policies around health. Advanced-degree nurses and board-certified nurses from various specialities are in the best position to play these new roles, lending their expertise to focus on global health initiatives.

International Healthcare and the Demand for Bilingual Nurses

As global healthcare continues to evolve worldwide, the need for bilingual nurses in international healthcare continues to grow. This skill makes bilingual nurses more valuable, as they can effectively communicate directly with patients who speak other languages, which can translate into better patient care, increased trust, and more effective means of health education, particularly in contexts of international and global health. Fluency in in-demand languages such as Spanish, French, Arabic, or other well-spoken languages can be a great asset towards working with international missions or in areas of diverse populations.

Many job postings list a preference for bilingual nurses for different positions, whether at home or abroad. In Spanish, for example, positions that require bilingualism are often posted. For bilingual nurses, it is crucial to highlight this skill in their applications and seek opportunities where they can apply their innovative skills to enhance patient care and communication in a diverse environment.

Field Nursing Residencies: A Launchpad for Global Health Careers

Although traditional nursing residencies specific to global health may be less common (Feinstein 2014), the in-country immersion experience achieves similar objectives for those seeking to orient their careers toward tenure with the nurses hired through these programs. In-depth practical training and experience are offered through longer-term global health fellowships and prolonged field experiences sponsored by academic institutions, where fellows are engaged in navigating and overcoming the complexities of providing healthcare in diverse and often resource-limited settings. Through these opportunities, nurses can hone skills like adaptability, cultural sensitivity, and resourcefulness, as well as practice a clinical skill agenda in different contexts, making them particularly competitive when applying for global health roles with international organisations and NGOs.

Nurses looking to explore global health careers should actively pursue these opportunities — either through targeted fellowship programmes or through longer-term volunteer placements through trusted international organisations. Those individuals who have worked directly in the field provide invaluable skills and knowledge, which can help prepare nurses for working competently in the global health arena.

Leveraging Nurses to Inform Policy And Shape Innovation in Low-Resource Environments

Nurses can have a great deal of impact through national and international health policy, particularly by advocating for the needs of vulnerable populations and the strengthening of health systems in low-resource contexts. As experts on policies, practices, and issues in healthcare delivery, nurses must share their experiences on the front lines to ensure that decisions are informed by practical realities. In response, nurse leadership is now being emphasised in many programmes, allowing nurses to take a more active role in shaping public health policy.

Confronted with the limits of low-resource settings, nurses traditionally show great creativity and innovation to adapt health care delivery models and generate solutions for local health problems. For example, providers in Uganda are sharing simple health tips in villages in the hopes of improving sanitation and hygiene. By engaging in policy forums, meeting with professional organisations, and communicating their successes, nurses can help to develop innovative and sustainable solutions to the greatest challenges their patients face. As healthcare practitioners on the frontlines of their communities, having their voice in the dialogue is particularly important in effecting positive change and improving health outcomes at all levels around the world.

Table 1: Comparison of Educational Pathways for Global Health Nursing Careers

Table 2: Essential Qualifications for Nursing Roles in Key International Organizations

Table 3: Examples of Global Health Fellowships for Nurses

Conclusion: A Guide to a Global Nursing Career that Matters

A career in nursing with global organisations such as the UN and WHO gives you the opportunity to impact global health and help improve the lives of people across the globe. To embark on this journey, one must possess a solid educational background, relevant professional experience, and the development of key skills. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is typical, and those interested in an advanced degree such as an MSN or specialist certification in public health or tropical medicine will enhance their career outlook. Requirements include a valid nursing licence and relevant certifications such as BLS and ACLS.

In addition to educational and experience requirements, proficiency in languages, especially English and other official UN languages, is a highly sought-after skill within this field. Cultural competence is the ability to understand the needs of patients from different cultural backgrounds, while humility recognises that a provider cannot solely judge a patient’s needs based on their own culture. Internships, fellowships, or longer-term volunteer placements can all result in valuable experience that would not only allow youngsters to receive information about the work they are doing but also provide them skills that are helpful in the long run. The role of nurses also has a big influence on promoting health policy and innovation, especially in low-resource settings. Having these capabilities and skills lays the groundwork for a successful and impactful global nursing career with the potential to contribute skills towards addressing the key health concerns facing our world and a path to a healthier and more equitable future for humanity.