Education

Interested in nursing volunteer abroad? Before you go, there’s a few things you gotta know! There are so many opportunities to help those in need of medical care around the globe. Volunteering as a nurse abroad is one of the most rewarding ways to make an impact on these communities. Whether you are eager to help those most in need in a rural field clinic, or whether you are looking to gain more professional experience in a teaching hospital, there is no shortage of nursing volunteer opportunities abroad. Nursing volunteer abroad opportunities may be a far cry from what you’re used to back home. You may already be a Certified or Licensed Nurse, or you may be just beginning your college career. Opportunities to volunteer abroad as a nurse are available both for those with little-to-no experience, and for those who have been in the nursing field for years. No matter what your skill set, you’ll be able to find a place that needs it. There are so many options to choose from between the various organizations, countless location choices, and varying types of nursing programs. But what is it that you should really KNOW before you embark on your nursing volunteer abroad adventure? Don’t worry—we’ve got the inside scoop for you. 7 things to know about nursing abroad programs 1. You can expand your capabilities as a nurse For a licensed nurse, or nursing student, providing medical care to those in need is a top priority. To volunteer abroad as a nurse in a foreign country provides nurses with the opportunity to make a difference in a new place. In addition to adding medical tasks and skills to their CV, volunteering as a nurse abroad can provide volunteers with additional benefits. While working in a foreign country, nurses are discovering a new culture as well as expanding their knowledge and viewpoint of healthcare systems. Volunteering as a nurse abroad also allows volunteers to discover new cultural customs, which they can take back with them to their home country. Having an understanding of cultural differences can benefit all nurses when helping foreign patients back home.  Nursing students may even be able to gain academic credit for their time spent volunteering with nursing abroad programs. For students who are searching for an internship, volunteer opportunities that are at least one month long can potentially be alternatives to at-home internships. 2. The program varieties are endless There are a wide array of medical volunteering opportunities across the globe. Many of these opportunities take place in understaffed hospitals and clinics, who are simply in need of additional pairs of hands. In many countries, the patient-to-physician ratio is high, which creates the need for additional professionals. Both students as well as professional nurses will be able to provide assistance that is highly appreciated in these specific placement types. Depending on where your program is located and what their funding is like, this might be a BYOS situation (bring your own stethoscope). For both nursing students and nurses who already have certifications under their belts, participating at a teaching hospital can be another excellent opportunity. Students and registered nurses will both be able to learn while assisting in a teaching hospital. In addition to learning new skills, a nursing volunteer abroad will be learning about the local health care system, as well as observing a new cultural bedside manner. It goes without saying that each country practices medicine differently, but a nursing volunteer abroad in India, for example, may see a more natural approach to healing than volunteers in Western countries. Hospitals and clinics are not the only volunteer placement options available. Nursing volunteers can join programs that are based in other locations, such as an elderly care home. These particular placements are ideal for nurses wishing to gain experience in geriatrics and also for those who want a break from the chaos of a clinic. 3. There are specialized programs available In teaching hospitals, nursing volunteers are oftentimes able to choose a few departments of their choice to assist in. Departments can range from the large and general such as emergency, to small and specialized, such as orthopedic, gynecology, maternity, and dialysis units. Additionally, there are a wide array of programs that are focused on fighting specific diseases, or specific health issues. For example, many volunteer organizations in Africa are working to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS. Volunteers on such programs may conduct blood tests in a local clinic, or provide care for those who have tested positive. Other tasks may include educating local community members about how the disease is spread, and educating people on how to prevent it from spreading further. No matter what your focus is as a nursing volunteer abroad, it will be a supremely rewarding experience where you’ll be able to make a real impact. Other nursing volunteer opportunities abroad are focused solely on educating local community members, usually school children, on public health issues. These programs generally require volunteers to perform demonstrations on how to reduce the spread of disease within a community. This means demonstrating how to properly wash hands, brush teeth, and more. These types of programs are suitable for nursing students with little experience, as well as for professionals who are interested in the prevention of disease. Choosing a specialized program can help you explore a specific field of interest. Nurses are needed in all aspects of the healthcare system, from prevention to intensive care. Nurses who want to specialize can get a glimpse into the daily life of being a prenatal nurse, an orthopedic nurse, and more. This is huge for nursing students who are just beginning their studies in nursing school, as they can go into their studies already knowing where in the nursing world they want to end up. Specialized programs, since they are so narrow in focus, are also often observation-focused. If a nurse is not qualified to be handling a newborn for example, then he or she will not be allowed to do so.