What would you do...

LouiseDorman

So I am a nurse... I love being a nurse, but I can't say that I love my current workplace. Its far from my family, and I just haven't settled in. I gave it a year, so I know its time to move on.

I have applied for jobs closer to home, but here we do waiting list trawls, where they advertise usually every 6 months, everybody applies, gets an interview, and is ranked 1, 2,3,etc... and then as jobs come up over the length of the waiting list you are offered. It has its flaws, and is very frustrating. So basically I am on two waiting lists, with no idea where I am on the list, or if I will ever get an offer. So I can't really rely on it.

But, I have an option of Saudi Arabia. The plan would be a 1 year contract, typically £42000 tax free,
free accommodation in a compound, so pool, gym, shop, restaurant without the need for abaya
All utilities paid
Free shuttle to and from work, and outings to shopping centres, etc...
53 vacation days a year

But on the other side.... Saudi culture for women is particularly harsh.

Would you do it??

Person_one

I wouldn't, but I know a lot of 3rd year student nurses who are planning to!

Where would you be at the end of that year though? Apart from having some cash in your pocket, would you have gained anything else or be any further along in your long term plans?

If you're missing family now, how will you feel being on a (sort of) different continent with travel restrictions?

getmore4less

get advanced live saving and go cruise ship based.

Jobseeeker

Wouldn't you just be in the same position after a year? You could be out of work for a while after you return

LouiseDorman

getmore4less wrote: »

get advanced live saving and go cruise ship based.

I am ALS and PALS, also come tuesday will hopefully be ATLS, but the thought of being on a boat during a storm leads me to suffer palpatations!! I am not great on boats! lol

LouiseDorman

Person_one wrote: »

I wouldn't, but I know a lot of 3rd year student nurses who are planning to!

Where would you be at the end of that year though? Apart from having some cash in your pocket, would you have gained anything else or be any further along in your long term plans?

If you're missing family now, how will you feel being on a (sort of) different continent with travel restrictions?

Really? When I was a student I wouldn't have considered it, but then again 2 years post qualification experience seemed so unrealistic. Yet here I am 3 years in... and not sure!

My long term plan is to do my MA in Medical Law and Ethics, enrolled and requires 3 days face-to-face a semester. I start in september. Then to go into global health policy. So long term plans, in an interview I can spin an insight into the diversity of the health care provision in a global context :P

And as regards family, I am close, but too far at the same time? I see them infrequently and a poorly organised off duty often makes it impossible to visit. Where as if I knew I was away, and I would be visiting once a year, I would be mentally prepared.
Also, when I was younger I lived in the USA from 11-17, without any family... and survived.

Jobseeeker wrote: »

Wouldn't you just be in the same position after a year? You could be out of work for a while after you return

When I return, I dont neccessarily want a fixed term contract, and there is no shortage of bank shifts for ED trained nurses. Many girls leave to do the midwifery, paeds training, and end up coming back... we are a fickle bunch!

Laurajo_2

It sounds like the sort of opportunity that you'd regret not taking....what will the living conditions be like? Would there be other people there in the same boat?

Prothet_of_Doom

How much of the £42K could you actually save in a year.
Accomodation is free, but food, restaurants etc?

I'd do it, if I could do an open university course in my spare time, and bring back £35K.

Errata

Unless you have significant intellectual objections to the status of women in Saudi, I'd say go for it and use the year to save and use your free time for personal study not partying. A year will pass very quickly.

liney

If I was single, in a heartbeat.

Come back with a house deposit equivalent sum, some great experience, and having had some time to think about what you really want to do next.

Errata

liney wrote: »

If I was single, in a heartbeat.

Come back with a house deposit equivalent sum, some great experience, and having had some time to think about what you really want to do next.

That's exactly what my friend did who is now a senior NHS clinical manager.