A Comprehensive Guide on How to Become an Foreign Nurse in Taiwan
Summary:
One of the factors that could convince you to work as a nurse in Taiwan is the relatively high salary in relation to its lower cost of living. This could allow you to save more money as you work in the country. Aside from that, the beautiful landscapes, various cultures, and delicious food in Taiwan are also some things that are worth discovering in the country. Truly, it is a dream destination to work in.
About the Country
Taiwan is a relatively small country in Eastern Asia, with an estimated population of only 23 million individuals. It is located in the Republic of China, situated in the middle of the ocean on the coast of Mainland China. Taiwan is ranked as the second safest country in the world, due to their low crime and violence rates, making the country a great place to live in. The country also has the seventh largest economy in Asia. As a result, the salaries are relatively higher as compared to the cost of living, which could allow you to save more money, but at the same time, not have to cut back too much on your basic expenditures.
Being an island amid East Asia’s highlands, Taiwan has a multitude of influences from the three countries: Japan, Korea, and Mainland China. Due to this, Taiwan is home to various cultures. Furthermore, there are many unique activities and beautiful landscapes that you could discover in the country. You could visit the country’s mountains, and try out daring outdoor activities, such as hiking and cycling. If you are not so much of a daredevil, you could try out their delicious food instead. If you are looking for affordable but delicious food, be sure to visit their night markets, which promote street food that range from various cuisines. Surely, you will fall in love with the delicious food they have to offer.
If you have decided on working in Taiwan, it is important to keep in mind that foreign workers are not permitted to work in Taiwan for more than 12 accumulated years, as stated by Article 52 of the Employment Service Act. Despite this, it is possible for family nursing job workers to submit an application form, together with the necessary documents, in order to extend the work year limit to 14 years.
Type of Nurses
Although there are a variety of nursing careers in Taiwan, there are three common types of nurses, which are Registered Nurses (RN), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN), and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN).
Registered Nurse (RN)
Registered Nurses (RN) frequently work in hospitals, clinics, and healthcare facilities. They are responsible for managing other medical workers, such as LPNs. They also coordinate with the doctors to offer the best treatment to their patients, and they monitor and follow up on patient treatment.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Under the direction of RNs, Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) offer patient care. They are responsible for aiding with patient testing, creating medical records, and supporting patients with their everyday activities, such as eating and dressing.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) or Advanced Practice Nurses (APN), are nurses that have obtained a master’s degree. They perform health assessments, diagnoses, treatments, and other medical operations in a variety of healthcare settings. Their duties are similar to those of RNs. However, APRNs have more specific training and skill. For instance, an APRN may create patient care plans, whereas the RN is responsible for putting them into action. Lastly, APRNs are also in charge of overseeing RNs as well as other medical staff.
Salary
Based on salaryexplorer.com, the average salary of nurses in Taiwan is 107,000 TWD (₱198,906.15) per month. The salary of nurses is dependent on the qualifications, skills, and experience that you have. An entry-level nurse earns an average of 53,600 TWD (₱99,638.97) monthly, while a senior-level nurse earns an average of 166,000 TWD (₱308,583.37). In fact, the average salary of nurses with 20 or more years of experience is 157,000 TWD (₱291,852.94), which is 7 percent higher than nurses with 15-20 years of experience. On the other hand, nurses with 15-20 years of experience have a salary that is 8 percent higher than the nurses with 10-15 years of experience, whose salary is 19 percent higher than nurses with 5-10 years of experience. Nurses with 5-10 years of experience have a salary that is 34 percent higher than the nurses with 2-5 years of experience. These data show how critical the role of the amount of experience plays in a nurse’s salary.
Demand for Nurses
Despite Taiwan producing more nurses than it needs and it employed 185,000 nurses last year, the country still falls short by a minimum of 9,000 nurses. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has suggested one nurse for every seven patients. However, due to the shortage of nurses, the actual ratio is one nurse to twelve patients. Based on the National Federation of Nurses Association, the local hospitals experienced problems in hiring nurses from December 2013 to February 2018. The average vacancy rate was 5.57 percent, and many researchers claim that the nursing shortage continues to increase.
Hospitals
The hospitals in Taiwan are classified into public and private hospitals.
Public Hospitals
The public hospitals in Taiwan include Tri service General Hospital, Taipei City Hospital, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Jing Ho Mental Hospital, St Joseph Hospital Kaohsiung City, Hsin Chu General Hospital, Hsinchu City Health, Taipei Medical University Shuang Ho Hospital, and Far Eastern Memorial Hospital.
Private Hospitals
The private hospitals in Taiwan include Taipei Medical University Wan Fang Hospital, Pojen General Hospital, Shin Kong Wu Ho Su Memorial Hospital, Jianan Mental Hospital, Mackay Memorial Hospital Taitung Branch, and Hsin Chu General Hospital.
In order to be able to work as a nurse in Taiwan, you must fulfill the following qualifications:
Educational Requirement
In order to work as a foreign nurse in Taiwan, you must have obtained a degree in nursing that is equivalent to the country’s standards. You must also have a valid nursing license issued by an institution recognized by the country.
Language Requirement
The official language of Taiwan is Mandarin Chinese. As a foreign nurse in the country, it is expected that you are able to converse with the language in order to be able to effectively communicate with your patients and their families, and co-workers. Your responsibilities as a nurse, such as monitoring your patient’s health, and following the doctor’s orders, may require you to be able to somehow understand and speak the language. In addition to this, most of the time, English is not spoken in the country, which makes it even more important to learn their language.
Use the guide above to determine if you are fit to work in the country. Make sure to prepare the necessary documents to prevent any delays in the application process. Once you have successfully submitted the requirements, you are now one step closer to work as a nurse in Taiwan!
References
- 3 types of nurses: designations, degrees, and requirements – Insight Digital Magazine. (2021). Retrieved 16 June 2022, from https://www.thechicagoschool.edu/insight/health-care/3-types-of-nurses-designations-degrees-and-requirements/
- Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) | American Nurses Association. (2022). Retrieved 16 June 2022, from https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/workforce/what-is-nursing/aprn/
- Does Taiwan’s nursing problem have a cure? – Taipei Times. (2022). Retrieved 16 June 2022, from https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archive
- Fagan, R. (2022). Reasons to Work in Taiwan. Retrieved 16 June 2022, from https://blog.v-hr.com/blog/reasons-to-work-in-taiwan#:~:text=High%20Level%20of%2
- Nurse Average Salary in Taiwan 2022 – The Complete Guide. (2022). Retrieved 16 June 2022, from http://www.salaryexplorer.com/salary-survey.php?loc=212&loctype=1&job=865&jobt
- Private Hospitals in Taiwan. Retrieved 16 June 2022, from https://www.hospitalsworldguide.com/private-hospitals-in-taiwan/
- Public Hospitals in Taiwan. Retrieved 16 June 2022, from https://www.hospitalsworldguide.com/public-hospitals-in-taiwan/
- Work Qualification and Rules for Foreign Workers (2022). Retrieved 16 June 2022, from https://www.wda.gov.tw/en/NewsFAQ.aspx?n=26470E539B6FA395&sms=0FCDB188C74F69A0
- Wu, T., Majeed, A., & Kuo, K. (2010). An overview of the healthcare system in Taiwan. London Journal Of Primary Care, 3(2), 115-119. doi: 10.1080/17571472.2010.11493315