According to the World Health Organization (WHO), "Nurses are the largest category of health workers. Nursing personnel make up over 50 percent of the health workforce in every country of the world. In many countries in the developing world, more than 80 percent of health workers are nurses." The demand for nurses is high throughout the world due to an across-the-board shortage of nurses. The global nursing shortage is driven by a number of factors; however the major contributors include growing demand, fewer nurses graduating to replace those retiring and also modifications in managed care.

When applying for an international nursing position, your nursing experience is considered along with your language ability. With stretched budgets being a common factor the world over, there isn't much scope for language translation services for staff within the hospitals. While a sole knowledge of English may restrict your search to English-speaking countries, there are also numerous hospitals around the world where English is the lingua franca and required for everyday communication and documentation. However, there are always opportunities for Spanish-speaking nurses in the United States who are able to provide some sort of Spanish translation service as part of patient care, which is always worth considering.

As a rule, a working knowledge of English should be able to grant you access to an international healthcare career. If your English ability isn't quite at this level yet, it's worthwhile contemplating courses to improve your English. More information is available throughout medical schools, or an English language school or English translation company that provides specialised medical terminology and workplace guidance.