A Comprehensive Guide on How to Become a Foreign Nurse in Kuwait
There are several factors that make Kuwait a great country for foreign nurses to work in. Some of which are the attractive salary, wide-range of career opportunities, and benefits. The increasing demand for healthcare professionals in the country could help you easily find a nursing job. Aside from those, the fuel is also very cheap in the oil-rich country, which makes the local transport affordable. With this, you could save more money. In addition, the locals treat foreign nurses in the country as guest workers, rather than immigrants. However, it is quite difficult to acquire citizenship in the country.
About the Country
The official religion in Kuwait is Islam. Therefore, the main basis for the Kuwaiti Laws and Regulation is the Islam and the Islamic Sharia. Most of the Kuwaiti Muslims are Sunnis and the remaining are Shia’a. Alcohol and products that contain pork are prohibited, with the exception that some groups of individuals have access to them.
When you live in Kuwait, you will be surrounded by deserts. The weather in Kuwait during summers is long, hot, arid, and clear; winters are chilly, dry, and mainly clear; and it is windy all year. Throughout the year, the temperature normally ranges from 47°F to 115°F, with temperatures seldom falling below 39°F or rising over 119°F.
There are several clubs and organizations that cater to a wide-range of interests. Kuwait is a very friendly city. Many citizens of their country have been educated at American, British, Irish, and other foreign colleges. Individuals in the country are also very hospitable to foreigners, which makes it less difficult being away from your home.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, Kuwait has the third largest Filipino population in the Middle East in 2015. Despite Qatar being thousands of kilometers away from the Philippines, the country still feels like home for many OFWs, due to the large population of Filipinos in the country. There is also an organization for Filipino nurses in the country, called Pinoy Nurses Association-Kuwait.
Type of Nurses
There is a vast number of job opportunities that you could choose to take as a foreign nurse in Kuwait. Some of the types of nurses in the country are Registered Nurses (RN), Nurse Practitioners (NP), and Nurse Midwives (NM).
Registered Nurse (RN)
A registered nurse is responsible for everything from direct patient care and case management to developing nursing practice standards, developing quality assurance procedures, directing complex nursing care systems, conducting clinical research, teaching in nursing programs, and working in a variety of other exciting settings.
Nurse Practitioner (NP)
Nurse practitioners are highly trained, self-contained health care providers with extensive education, clinical experience, and established competence. They are legally allowed to practice at a higher level than a registered nurse.
Nurse Midwife (NM)
Nurse midwives are responsible for interpreting diagnostic tests, and providing treatment. They provide assistance to mothers and families through pregnancies, and post-pregnancy care. They also provide assistance through the birthing process, and they are responsible for detecting any complications between the mother and the newborn.
Salary
The salary of nurses in Kuwait is dependent on their skills, qualifications, and experiences. A senior staff nurse could earn as much as 1,630KWD (₱296,048.55) monthly, whereas an entry-level nurse has an average salary of 500 KWD (₱90,812.44) a month. Staff nurses in the country earn an average salary of 1,040 KWD (₱188,889.87) monthly.
This could greatly vary based on the number of years of experience that you have.
| Number of Years of Experience | Average Salary per month |
| Less than 2 years | 580 KWD (₱105,342.43) |
| 2 – 5 years | 830 KWD (₱150,748.65) |
| 5 – 10 years | 1,090 KWD (₱197,971.11) |
| 10 – 15 years | 1,340 KWD (₱243,377.33) |
| 15 – 20 years | 1,420 KWD (₱257,907.32) |
| 20+ years | 1,560 KWD (₱283,334.81) |
Aside from the years of experience, your educational qualifications and workplace also affect your salary.
Demand for Nurses
There is an increasing number of immigrants in Kuwait. Due to this, hospitals are in need of a greater number of healthcare professionals to treat increasing populations. There is a high demand for nurses in the country, wherein almost all hospitals in the country have a nursing position vacancy, because they want more nurses to assist their doctors. Aside from that, the country is also in the midst of improving their healthcare industry, causing the demand for nurses to increase.
Hospitals
The hospitals in Kuwait are classified into two major categories, public hospitals and private hospitals. Certain hospitals in Kuwait provide specialized medical care services in specific fields, such as Pediatric, Critical Care, Surgical, Gynecology, and Medical Services. The hospitals in Kuwait are armed with the latest and high technology machines, as well as exceptional professionals, with a wide-range of experience.
Public Hospitals
The public hospitals in Kuwait include Al Razi Hospital, Jahra Hospital, Adan Hospital, Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital, Hamad Organ Transplant Center, Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital, and Asad Al-Hamad Skin Center.
Private Hospitals
The private hospitals in the country include Al Salam International Hospital, Dar Al Shifa Hospital, Al-Seef Hospital-Kuwait, New Mowasat Hospital, Hadi Clinic Hospital, International Clinic, and WARA Hospital-Kuwait.
Educational Requirement
In order to work as a nurse in the country, you must complete a Bachelor’s degree in nursing or a General Nursing and Midwifery course from any recognized institute. You must acquire a minimum course duration of 3 years. You must also have a valid and active nursing license obtained from an accredited institution.
Experience
In order to apply for a nursing job in Kuwait, you must have a minimum of 1 year experience in your desired field of study.
Registration
You must submit the essential documents to the Ministry of Health’s Medical License Department, which will verify the requirements that you have provided. Once your documents have been verified, you will be asked to attend a personal interview. A medical fitness examination will follow after you have successfully completed the interview.
Examinations
In order to work as a foreign nurse in Kuwait, you must successfully complete the Ministry of Health (MOH) Examination.
Ministry of Health (MOH) Examination
Nursing professionals who wish to work in Kuwait must take the Ministry of Health (MOH) Examination and get qualified for employment in Kuwait. With the exception of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, passing the MOH allows you to work in Kuwait’s five emirates.
The MOH Exam is an online exam that consists of multiple choice questions. It aims to assess an applicant’s skills in nursing. It is important to take note that you are only allowed to take the exam a maximum of three times. The exam fee is RS 7000. You may opt to take the exam in your country of origin, provided that you have a degree in nursing, and you have registered in your home country. You must also have at least 5 months of experience post registration.
Study well for the MOH Examination to secure an excellent score. Make sure that you also prepare and submit the necessary documents required, in order to prevent any delays in the application process. Once you have successfully submitted them, and you have been deemed eligible to work in the country, you are now one step closer to becoming a nurse in Kuwait!
References
- 25 Best Hospitals & Clinics in Kuwait – Top Ratings (2022 Reviews). (2022). Retrieved 5 May 2022, from https://m.edarabia.com/hospitals-clinics/kuwait/
- Certified Nurse Midwife Job Description. (2022). Retrieved 5 May 2022, from https://www.betterteam.com/certified-nurse-midwife-job-description#:~:text=Certified%20Nurse%20Midwife%20Responsibilities%3A&text=Ordering%2C%20performing%2C%20and%20interpreting%20diagnostic,assisting%20with%20the%20birthing%20process.
- Climate and Average Weather Year Round in Kuwait City. Retrieved 6 May 2022, from https://weatherspark.com/y/104331/Average-Weather-in-Kuwait-City-Kuwait-Year-Round
- Kuwait Government Online Official Religion Of Kuwait . (2022). Retrieved 6 May 2022, from https://e.gov.kw/sites/kgoenglish/Pages/Vi
- Living in Kuwait: an expat guide. Retrieved 6 May 2022, from https://www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/international/kuwait/expat-guide#:~:text=Kuwait%20is%20a%20very%20friendly,for%20local%20and%20overseas%20charities.
- Nurse Practitioners Job Description (2022). Retrieved 5 May 2022, from https://ccalac.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/gravity_forms/25-398983c110800ddd0c5c4e38d8739014/2017/03/Nurse-Practitioner-job-des.pdf
- NURSES SALARY IN KUWAIT | nurseinfo. (2021). Retrieved 5 May 2022, from https://nurseinfo.in/nurses-salary-in-kuwait/
- Nurses Vacancy in Kuwait . (2022). Retrieved 4 May 2022, from https://dynamichealthstaff.com/nurses-vacancy-in-kuwait#:~:text=Nurse%20Vacancy%20in%20Kuwait%20for,reasonable%20remuneration%20for%20their%20work.
- Registered Nurse (RN). (2022). Retrieved 4 May 2022, from https://explorehealthcareers.org/career/nursing/registered-nurse/
- Study Abroad in Kochi, Immigration Consultants in Kottayam, IELTS / OET Training in Thrissur, Kerala . (2022). Retrieved 5 May 2022, from https://www.internationalacademy.in/training/kuwait-moh-training