- Nursing
- Nursing specialties
- Missionary nurse
Missionary nurse
A missionary nurse works through a religious non-profit, or humanitarian group, providing physical care and spiritual support to patients in underdeveloped areas of the world.
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Required education
ADN or BSN
Varied
Take on different tasks, patients, and situations every day.
Managerial
Oversee other nurses and help improve healthcare for all.
Patient-facing
Work hands-on, directly with patients.
Independent
Work on your own or even start your own practice, in some states.
What is the role of a missionary nurse?
You’ll help people who have limited access to basic healthcare and resources, such as modern medicine, vaccines and clean drinking water
What you’ll do as a missionary nurse
Education
You’ll teach people about proper health and dental care, hygiene, and disease prevention.
Guidance
Along with physical care, you’ll provide spiritual reassurance to your patients and people in the community.
Maintenance
Your work will often continue when you return home, including raising awareness and money for medical supplies, schools and facilities for the communities you’ve worked in.
Treatment
You’ll provide a wide variety of direct patient care, from giving vaccinations to treating illnesses and dressing wounds.
Where you’ll work as a missionary nurse
Missionary nurses work in a variety of settings, including:
- Missionary hospitals and clinics
- Community centers
- Churches
- Schools
How to become a missionary nurse
Get an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
Take elective courses in international nursing and foreign languages.
Pass the NCLEX-RN and work as a Registered Nurse.
The National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) is the all-important step between graduating from nursing school and becoming a nurse. It’s a standardized test, set by the Board of Nursing in each state, that makes sure you have the knowledge and skills you need to work in the field of nursing.
It will be helpful if you hold the Basic Life Support Certification from the American Heart Association or Red Cross.
You’re ready to work as a missionary nurse!
Missionary nurse career resources
Become a member of a missionary nurse organization to find career opportunities, learn from your colleagues, and support the profession.
Related nursing specialties
Rural nurse
A rural nurse helps patients living in geographically and culturally isolated areas, who may have limited access to healthcare.
International travel nurse
An international nurse travels the world, taking care of patients in other countries and working in nations where their skills are needed most.