Missionary Nurse Career Overview
Do you dream of embarking on a global journey, offering both spiritual counsel and nursing care? 
Worldwide, approximately 4 million people confront limited access to quality healthcare, exacerbated by staffing shortages. Missionary nurses, also known as refugee nurses, play a pivotal role in assisting patients in underserved regions across the globe. These dedicated professionals undertake overseas assignments to deliver essential nursing care and Christian counseling. Discover the transformative path to becoming a missionary nurse and gain deeper insights into the profound impact of their work.
How long to become
The journey typically spans 2-4 years.
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Job outlook
Anticipate a 9% growth from 2020-2030.
Source: BLS
Median annual salary
$75,330 (Among ALL RNS)
Source: BLS
Venturing on a mission to offer spiritual guidance and healthcare, missionary nurses collaborate with humanitarian nonprofits, religious organizations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). They actively respond to specific health crises such as COVID-19, HIV/AIDS, or tuberculosis.
While a bachelor’s degree in nursing is generally the preferred qualification for missionary nurses, some can secure employment with an associate degree in nursing (ADN). Both voluntary and paid positions require experienced registered nurses (RNs) to provide general healthcare, vaccinations, and physical exams. In emergencies, less experienced missionary nurses may also be deployed overseas.
Explore this guide further for comprehensive information on the journey to becoming a missionary nurse.
What Does a Missionary Nurse Do?
ADN or BSN required (preference for BSN)
Certification optional
Relief organizations and religious groups enlist missionary nurses to deliver routine healthcare during crises, such as earthquakes or tsunamis. Collaborating with physicians, missionary nurses provide care in underserved communities, with faith often integrated into their work.
Missionary nurses stationed globally conduct physical assessments, collect specimens, provide education and counseling, and share religious or spiritual messages. They may also initiate clean water initiatives or fundraising for communities.
Responsibilities & Requirements
- Assessing patients and documenting medical histories
- Developing quality assurance tools
- Working overseas
- Being tolerant and aware of different cultures
- Coordinating with local partners
- Learning another language
Career Traits
- Assess and care for patients in high-need communities overseas
- Provide spiritual guidance
Where Do Missionary Nurses Work?
Missionary nurses serve around the world, usually in some of the poorest countries. They comply with international standards and guidelines set by the World Health Organization.
Some may receive pay, but most missionary nurses work on a volunteer basis. Experienced missionary nurses and nursing students go on medical missions to help people with limited access to healthcare, clean water, and other resources, such as clothing and food.
Host countries around the world partner with churches, NGOs, nonprofits, and humanitarian groups to place missionary nurses in the following settings:
Clinics
Missionary nurses often work in under-resourced clinics to assess and treat patients. They may perform emergency care, triage patients, or provide routine checkups to adults or children.
Their duties may also include expanding outreach and working with local partners.
Hospitals
Nurses often serve in underequipped hospitals to provide inpatient and outpatient services. Many hospitals operate to serve indigenous people in remote areas, such as the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico or the Rio Viejo of Honduras.
Mobile Caravans
Mobile clinics need missionary nurses to provide educational outreach, free medical attention, and wellness checkups to inaccessible regions. They work with doctors from the U.S. and host countries, often on short-term missions.
Staff also travel to villages to teach the Bible. Domestically, mobile health vans operate through churches to help uninsured patients access screenings and vaccinations.
Why Become a Missionary Nurse?
Becoming a missionary nurse provides the opportunity to share the Gospel and care for underserved populations. While the job comes with numerous rewards, it also presents challenges.
Advantages to Becoming a Missionary Nurse
- Travel to remote regions
- Learn local languages and cultures
- Help people with limited access to healthcare
- Teach people the Gospel
- Foster relationships with local healthcare workers and community members
Disadvantages to Becoming a Missionary Nurse
- Risk of contracting diseases and becoming injured
- Settings with limited resources and high demand
- Staff with varying education and experience.
- Unknown surroundings
- Cultural differences complicating healthcare delivery
How to Become a Missionary Nurse
- Complete prerequisites for an ADN or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN): You need to fulfill prerequisites, including microbiology, physiology, chemistry, English, statistics, and psychology, to enroll in an ADN or a BSN degree.
- Earn a BSN or an ADN degree: After completing the prerequisites, you must take all major credits, including clinical requirements. This process typically takes 2-4 years to earn a degree.
- Pass the NCLEX exam: Approximately 45 days after graduation, aspiring registered nurses can undertake the National Council Licensure Examination for RNs (NCLEX-RN). Test-takers must successfully navigate the computerized NCLEX-RN exam, primarily composed of multiple-choice questions, to obtain a license.
- Find employment: Armed with a license and valuable experience, registered nurses can apply for positions to become missionary nurses. Many religious nonprofits offer placement opportunities for nurses on missions.
How Much Do Missionary Nurses Make?
Engaging in missions seldom offers lucrative opportunities. Many missionary nurses choose to go overseas on a voluntary basis, covering their own transportation and personal expenses. Compensation for missionary nurses may vary, with some receiving full or partial remuneration based on the organizations they are associated with.
Registered Nurses (RNs) earn a median annual salary of $75,330, equivalent to $36.22 per hour. Salaries differ depending on factors such as experience, work setting, and the organization’s structure. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), RNs can earn less than $53,410 or exceed $116,230.
Undeveloped countries often rely on missionary nurses to provide essential healthcare, particularly in remote and inaccessible locations. Job opportunities for RNs are projected to increase by 9% from 2020-2030, as reported by the BLS. In the U.S., more than 3 million RNs contribute to the healthcare workforce, with employers expected to add 194,500 positions annually during that period.
Missionary Nurse FAQs
What does a missionary nurse do?
Missionary nurses travel overseas, providing nursing care to those with limited access to healthcare services. Work settings may include medical health vans or clinics, where staff face cultural and language barriers with limited resources.
How much does a missionary nurse make?
Compensation varies, and many missionary nurses volunteer, covering their own expenses. When paid, wages may not match those in other nursing fields, with differences based on experience and organization.
How do I become a missionary nurse?
Earn an ADN or a BSN, pass the NCLEX-RN exam, and secure a license. Prospective missionary nurses can then apply for positions with religious nonprofits offering missions.
Where do missionary nurses go?
Missionary nurses can work globally, including in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Nigeria, Peru, Honduras, Kenya, Bangladesh, etc.
Resources for Missionary Nurses
CCHF’s job network provides opportunities for missionary nurses to spread the Gospel and improve healthcare in disadvantaged areas.
Missionary nurses and students can access research and articles from a peer-reviewed journal enriching nursing practice from a Biblical perspective.
IMR offers domestic and international missions, providing medical services, health education, and clean water initiatives to vulnerable communities.
Mercy Ships operates with volunteers offering free healthcare globally, with opportunities for missionary nurses after completing a boarding program.
Samaritan’s Purse, headquartered in Boone, North Carolina, provides assistance in disasters, poverty, disease, and war, offering opportunities for missionary nurses on active missions.
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