Globalization and Nursing: Australian Nurses in CARE International

This essay delves into the multifaceted impacts of globalization on the nursing profession, specifically focusing on the experiences of Australian nurses working with CARE International, a global humanitarian organization. The paper begins by defining globalization and its influence on healthcare, highlighting the increasing interconnectedness of the healthcare workforce. It then explores the critical role of nurses in addressing global health challenges, including the demand for nurses exceeding supply and the importance of nurse migration. The essay centers on CARE International, examining the roles of Australian nurses within the organization, particularly in addressing humanitarian needs in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. It discusses the benefits Australian nurses experience, such as international networking and professional development, and the challenges they face, including cultural adaptation, language barriers, security concerns, and health risks. The essay concludes by emphasizing the complexities of global nursing and the critical need for nurses to navigate a diverse range of challenges and opportunities in delivering healthcare across international boundaries.

Running Head: GLOBALIZATION AND NURSING
Globalization and nursing
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GLOBALIZATION AND NURSING 2
Globalization and nursing
Introduction
Globalization is usually comprehended by those ascribe to neoliberal ideologies as an
irreversible process which is developed and enhanced to its own dynamics and logic. Some have
described globalization to go beyond determination since it becomes a field of political as well as
social scrutiny. However, globalization is described as an increase in the global cooperation,
integration and unification in ecological, cultural, social, economic, technological and political
fields (Gonzalez, 2016). Viewed from the sociological angle, globalization corresponds to a
thought mentality or process instead of state of affairs because it reflects a change in the social
environment. The contentious nature of globalization as an idea is basically due to lack of
general agreement on the nature of social processes attached to it (Gonzalez, 2016).
Globalization of healthcare establishes a progressively interconnected workforce spanning global
systems, boundaries, processes, as well as structures to offer care and enhance the health of
individuals around the globe. Since nurses are one of the largest members of the healthcare
systems in the globe (Foley, Pollack, Britt, Lennox & Trollor, 2018), they are usually called
upon to offer vital portion of health and nursing care, therefore, they play significant role in the
international health care economy.
To realize international health care needs, healthcare providers particularly nurses usually
move within and among various countries, solving health care challenges and opportunities for
health care organizations, countries, communities and profession. Policy makers, academic,
researchers and industry leaders have to grapple with globalization impacts on the health and
nursing care workforce. This paper will critically discuss the impacts of globalization on
healthcare system in Australia with respect to the Australian nurses working in global health

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organization outside Australia. The paper will investigate and examine the various roles played
Australian nurses in the identified global organization, the benefits and challenges faced by these
nurses in that organization.
Globalization, health and nursing
The association between health and globalization is very intricate. Globalization in health
us not a current concept. The creation of the World Health Organization is considered as the first
step which was taken towards globalization in health (Hartmann, 2016). World Health
Organization is active in the international scene of health politics and assumes three various
roles; taking regulative steps and introducing standards at a global level, framing the worldwide
health agenda to create incentive for synergistic action and prescribing how national health
policies are enhanced or restricted via global policies as well as planning the distribution of
health resources. As a transnational expansion and integration of social, cultural, economic and
political values, globalization has particular impacts on nursing as well. Globally, the demand for
nurses exceeds nursing supply and chronic shortages are attribute of the present international
nurse workforce (Tan & Macneill, 2015). Different global health reports have indicated that
shortages of nurses as critical barrier to realization of the sustainable development goals for
enhancing the health of international population. Furthermore, various reports have identified the
significance of nursing as a vital element of infrastructures of health systems. Several studies
have documented the significant association between levels of nurse staff, delivery of services as
well as health outcomes, stating that vital issues exist with respect to the management of nursing
health workforce (Vrontis, 2016).
One significant factor which has gotten considerable attention is the migration and
mobility of healthcare providers especially nurses as well as their effect on the international

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delivery of health services. Globalization of healthcare providers must be determined within the
context of the global development of the global knowledge. The notion identifies human capital
as a worthwhile resource and promotes the export of knowledge and education workers as a vital
contributor to a nation’s economy. For instance, national policies and regulation in India and
Philippines promote and encourage the export of nurses while Korea and China are beginning to
follow the same path (Tontus & Nebioglu, 2018). Australia have seen tremendous increase in the
number of nurses who are moving out of the country to look for permanent or temporary nursing
jobs in other countries. One such organization which has attracted a huge number of Australian
nurses in CARE International.
CARE International and globalization
CARE international is a global organization which is based on over 71 years of fighting
poverty and humanitarian action in various countries. The organization has defined an
overarching approach in all its programs, that is, tackling the fundamental causes of poverty as
well as social injustices to realize an everlasting transformation to the lives of the vulnerable and
poor individuals. The mission of the organization is to save lives, achieve social justice and
alleviate poverty. The vision is to seek a world of justice, tolerance as well as hope in which
poverty is overcome and every individual live with security and dignity. As a global
organization, CARE International has attracted various nurses from all over the globe to alleviate
poverty and fight social injustices. Australian nurses with the desire to help the world have found
themselves being absorbed by CARE International. Some of the roles of Australian nurses in this
organization include but not limited to;
1. Recognizing that women and children are the most affected during hazards and
emergencies, nurses including Australian nurses are always called upon to assist women

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and girls in the war-prone regions of Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. CARE International
believes that women in numerous nations cannot swim or are usually confined to their
homes due to cultures, therefore, they are not easily evacuated in times of emergencies.
Nurses provide women in such areas with therapeutic care as well as offer them
counselling. Nurses advise them on the diet to take to improve their nutrition in times of
drought in which food is scarce.
2. Nurses also assist in promoting maternal, reproductive and sexual health in the
organization. The organization in recognizing that poverty and poor health usually occur,
have put up various strategies to fight alleviate poverty by enhancing the lives of millions
of people particularly women and girls. In various poor nations, girls and women
particularly struggle to live safe and healthy lives. The organization is improving the
health of women by offering access to services of health care through Nurses. The nurses
are also involved in improving reproductive health of women, offering services that
alleviate or reduce the prevalence of HIV and maternal care. For instance, in Cambodia,
the organization through their nurses are improving access to quality and affordable
public health care services. Moreover, Australian nurses through their experience and
skills, upgrade the skills of other healthcare providers in their host countries. In Malawi,
the organization is providing education to assist in slowing the spread HIV/AIDS and
other sexually transmitted diseases.
With globalization, healthcare workers in in developing nations having harsher
environmental, economic and social conditions usually migrate to developed nations where
there is better working conditions as well as better wages are provided (Lal, 2015). The
migration flow is not a present phenomenon even though it has gathered pace for the last

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three decade. The international flow which is also known as brain circulation or brain drain is
usually linked to the reduction in the number of health workers in developing countries in
which the workload in healthcare is normally too much as well as concomitantly having rates
of mortality rates linked to poor health and pregnancies (Sá & Sabzalieva, 2018). Therefore,
globalization has created its benefits and challenges especially to foreign nurses that move
from their countries especially in Australia.
Benefits and challenges Australian nurses face working in CARE International
Through working in countries outside Australia, Australian nurses make international
contacts and lifelong friends through networking. They usually make friends ranging from
the people they live with, the hospital staff as well as meeting cast of unique people during
their temporary or permanent work holiday. Sharing experiences with other nurse, learning
about their culture is usually beneficial as it strengthens the friendship bond among the
nurses. The memories usually last for a lifetime (Sellers, Ebi & Hess, 2019). Moreover, these
nurses have the chance of making invaluable international contact form the CARE
International directors to the nursing colleagues. Through working in CARE International
Australian nurses are usually presented with a chance to develop professionally and
personally. Working abroad under CARE International provides nurses with a chance to
learn a lot and quickly. Working in areas with scarce resources, these nurses usually learn
resourcefulness as well as resilience from the local colleagues who have adapted to such
environment. Confidence of these nurses increase through engaging with the various
challenging experiences which come with the local environment. An experience such as this
changes the way Australian nurses view things.

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It also changes the way they see themselves, the way they view healthcare and
particularly the way their view nurses (Rikke & Despena, 2015). One of the serious
challenges facing Australian nurses is adapting to the various cultures of the host countries in
which CARE International work. Some of the countries have different and unique cultures
that are very new to the nurses making it difficult to communicate and relate to the local staff
and community. Adapting to their new culture always takes long period of time and limits
them in delivering healthcare services to the people. Moreover, there is a challenge of
language barrier especially in developing nations in which literacy levels are low. Most of
the target groups in which CARE International in working to alleviate poverty and bring
social justice are the women and girls. In most cultures, these women and girls are usually
disadvantaged when it comes to access to social services like education and healthcare
services (Gebreyesus et al., 2019). Having a productive conversation with these women is,
therefore, very difficult making it impossible to deliver effectively and efficiently healthcare
services.
Moreover, in areas that language proficiency is required, these nurses must do language
tests which somehow are difficult and expensive. Language barrier also prevents nurses from
networking and having new friends especially in regions in which even the staff members
face language barrier. These creates a sense and belief of low self-esteem among the nurses,
doubt among themselves, insecurity, and in some worse cases depression to these nurses. In
most of the countries in which CARE International works in, there are usually rife with civil
wars and conflicts. Living in such areas demands that one walks with security to access the
vulnerable members of the society, that is, children, the elderly, girls and women (Shepley &
Yilin, 2014). Most of the times, foreign nurses especially Australian women face insecurity

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in their line of duty; some are maimed, injured and in worst case scenario killed. Due to
inadequate security personnel in such regions, most of the nurses do not fully and effectively
reach the entire population to deliver healthcare services to them. With increased cases of
communicable diseases like Ebola which is prevalent in Africa, most of the foreign nurses
are usually affected and infected by these diseases making them vulnerable (Sheikh, Pilati,
Tilly & Sperotti, 2015). Public health records and statistics have indicated that foreign
healthcare providers have been infected by Ebola in the Sub-Saharan Africa. These cases
have prevented nurses from effectively and efficiently meeting their goal and mission of
fighting disease and poverty in CARE international countries (Schadewaldt, McInnes, Hiller,
& Gardner, 2016).
Moreover, Australian nurses are usually faced with high malnutrition and inadequate
food supply since some of the countries they work in are arid and semi-arid areas. Lack of
basic amenities like clean water, food and shelter prevents or hinder nurses from delivering
their mandate of providing care to the local people. Instead of delivering vital health care
services to the local community, these nurses usually find themselves looking to find ways of
adapting with their environments. Clean water which is usually vital to human health is
usually scarce in some areas, thus, some nurses end-up suffering from dehydration as well as
water-related diseases (Weise, Pollack, Britt & Trollor, 2017).
Conclusion
Globalization has created a global village in which people all over the world connected.
With the development and advancement in technology, the idea of globalization has been
simplified especially in the public health sector. Globalization has made migration of nurses
possible especially in Australia. The migration, however, has created various challenges and

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benefits not only in Australia but also to the individual nurses. Therefore, it is vital to
understand the concept of globalization in relation to nursing.

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