*This is a partnered guest post
While getting to travel the world is always an exciting prospect, making an impact as you travel is even more exciting. This is especially important today as the global healthcare crisis continues to escalate and the shortage of qualified nurses and doctors grows by the millions every year. If you are a recent graduate of a DNP program at Bradley University, you might want to take your new skills to a world in need. However, the first thing you need to decide is how you want to put those leadership skills to work.
Carefully Choosing Your Travel Destinations
While there isn͛t a country on earth that isn͛t affected in one way or another by the shortage of trained medical personnel, you can͛t be all things to all people. Before embarking on your travels as a practicing DNP, you might like to make an itinerary of countries you͛d like to see and then weigh those against nations most in need of what you have to offer. Once you͛ve narrowed down that list, it͛s important to plan how you will use your skills.
Working in the Field
When studying to be a DNP at schools like Bradley University Online, you can choose various career tracks. You can focus on leadership skills or you can focus on working in the field as a doctor of nursing practice. Many nations recognize this designation in the same way we do here in the United States, and so you might want to bring your medical skills to the field, serving the poorest of the poor. Various global health organizations are crying out for qualified nurses and doctors and although you won͛t become rich overnight, you will get paid for your services. This is how you can see some of the world, without financing the trip yourself.
Pursuing an Advisory Career in Developing Nations
Another track you could pursue with your advanced studies would be a leadership track which takes those DNP skills and works from them within an administrative or advisory position. Such prestigious organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) are always looking for qualified professionals to work with developing nations on addressing local health care concerns. Do you envision yourself training medical professionals in those countries most in need of leadership, or would you prefer to be the one personally administering treatments?
In the End – You Decide
Ultimately, either track will enable you to take your skills to a world in need. It͛s up to you to decide which capacity best suits your personal skills. Some highly skilled DNPs are better equipped to look at the ͚big picture͛ while others are more at home dealing on a more personal level with patients and nurses in their charge. Only you can decide which way you want to pursue your career, but the one thing you can always be assured of is that your skills, whatever they may be, are needed. Globally, healthcare is in crisis, so whatever path you choose will be the right path if it helps you see the world while making an impact during your sojourn in those nations.