Nursing is a noble profession that involves caring for sick people and providing them with the needed attention and treatment at the right time. However, if you want to gain experience before your professional exams, you need to find yourself in any of the nursing volunteering opportunities.
The work of a nurse in the health sector cannot be overlooked, as they play a core role in hospitals, clinics, and other health facilities.
Health is Wealth, and the health sector is one of the most important in any country of the world.
However, it has been discovered that many countries lack the needed facilities and human power, to cater to the health needs of their citizens.
Hence, the need for volunteer nurses and other medical professionals to foster health in many countries of the world.
Table of contents
- Why should a Nurse Volunteer?
- Does Volunteering at a hospital look good for Nursing School?
- What does a Volunteer Nurse do?
- How Can a Nurse Volunteer Abroad? A Step-by-Step Guide
- How can one find Nursing Volunteering Opportunities?
- 17 Nursing Volunteering Opportunities in 2022.
- #1. Medical Volunteer Program in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam:
- #2. Healthcare Volunteer Project in Costa Rica
- #3. Medical Volunteer Program in Delhi, India:
- #4. Medical Volunteer Program in Livingstone, Zambia
- #5. Medical Volunteering in Arusha, Tanzania:
- #6. Medical Volunteer Program in Accra Region, Ghana:
- #7. Medical Volunteer Program in Sri Lanka
- #8. Medical Volunteer Program in Lima, Peru:
- #9. Medical Volunteer Program in Cambodia:
- #10. Medical Volunteer Program in Guatemala, Antigua:
- #11. Medical Elective Volunteer Project in Nepal:
- #12. Healthcare and Medical Volunteer Program in Buenos Aires, Argentina:
- #13. Medical & Healthcare Volunteer Program in Zanzibar, Tanzania
- #14. Medical and Nursing Healthcare Volunteer Program, Sri Lanka:
- #15. Medical Volunteer Program in Surin, Thailand:
- #16. Medical Volunteer Abroad in Peru, Cusco:
- #17. Medical Volunteer Projects in Nairobi, Kenya
- Conclusion
- References
- Recommendations
Why should a Nurse Volunteer?
Asides from the sense of fulfillment and satisfaction that volunteering affords a person, a volunteer nurse would also be contributing a great deal to the community, where he/she is sent to volunteer.
Many communities need medical personnel to help out in the health sector, however, they lack the funds to achieve this.
Hence, with the availability of volunteer nurses, this burden would be greatly relieved. As these nurses would contribute their quota to help move the society’s health sector forward
Below are some reasons why a nurse should volunteer:
To start with, volunteering as a nurse allows one to develop his/her skills and gain experience.
Most volunteer nurses are usually students in nursing schools, or aspiring nursing students. And with a chance to volunteer, you would be learning a whole lot about medical practices, able to observe professionals as they work, and gain experience.
Volunteering as a nurse also helps build your resume, as a result of what you have done while volunteering. In building your resume, important information such as your education, certifications, and experience is highly considered, when you are seeking employment.
Hence, as a volunteer nurse, you can do a lot of things, that count as experience. And these can be included in your resume, give you an edge over other candidates at a job interview, or when applying for anything related to your profession.
Getting access to a network of professionals is another benefit to enjoy when you volunteer as a nurse.
Building a successful nursing career is not only dependent on your education and experience. Having access to professionals in the field, who can recommend and refer you for job opportunities is also key.
And volunteering gives you the chance to work with and assist these professionals, with whom you can develop a relationship, which goes beyond the workplace.
Does Volunteering at a hospital look good for Nursing School?
Volunteering affords you many opportunities, as a nursing student or aspiring nursing student.
And in getting into nursing school, volunteering in a hospital is a great foundation to lay, to help you in this journey.
Here are some of the reasons why volunteering looks good for nursing school.
To start with, during the admission process of getting into a nursing school, you most likely would have to go through an interview, where you would be asked questions by the admission committee.
During this process, the fact that you have previously volunteered in a hospital or any health center can look good to the admission committee. It could also give you an edge in the selection process, and make you stand out from other applicants.
Also, volunteering at a hospital would give you a glimpse into what you may encounter in nursing school, during an internship, and as you advance.
The benefits of volunteering as a nursing student are enormous and should be tapped into, to help you speed up your career.
What does a Volunteer Nurse do?
The work of a volunteer nurse is not different from the work of a regular nurse.
Though you may not be given full responsibilities to undertake, yet you would do very similar tasks, as a regular nurse would.
Below are some of the responsibilities of a volunteer nurse in medical volunteer programs:
As a volunteer nurse, you would be required to provide care and assist patients with hygiene and general cleanliness.
This would require talking to them, showing love and concern, and also helping them change their bedspreads when needed.
You can also talk to them about their hygiene, and help out where needed.
Another task that you would be required to undertake, as a volunteer nurse is to assist patients to eat the appropriate kinds of food, as recommended by the doctor.
Also, to ensure that all oral medications and injections are administered at the right time.
A volunteer nurse can also help with recording patients’ information, and check their history in the database before present treatment can be administered.
Volunteer nurses help to also check and record patient’s vitals, such as pulse, blood pressure, body temperature, etc.
They also assist victims of emergencies and can give first aid treatments, before the doctor’s arrival.
Volunteer nurses are also to prepare patients for physical examination, and observe any change in them, to give report accordingly.
How Can a Nurse Volunteer Abroad? A Step-by-Step Guide
Signing up as a volunteer nurse abroad involves some steps to be taken; from deciding the country you want to volunteer in, to going there and starting the work.
Below is a step-by-step guide on how to become a volunteer nurse abroad.
To start with, you have to explore various nursing volunteering programs, which are available across various countries.
In doing this, you must evaluate your skills, expertise, and then choose a program that suits your interest.
After checking through these various programs and choosing the one that ticks all your boxes, you should then organize your documents and apply.
The process of application usually involves filling a volunteer application form, in which your details would be required. This is also alongside the submission of some important documents, such as school credentials and other relevant certifications.
Afterward, you then wait to be accepted into the program, if you meet their requirements.
Some nursing volunteer programs would require you to undertake and pass a criminal background check before you can be accepted.
After getting admitted into the program, you can then research the visa requirements that you need to travel to your host country.
It is also necessary to get some important vaccinations, depending on your destination country, to safeguard you, even as you volunteer your skill, time, and effort.
Another important thing is to brush up on your language skills, since you may not be speaking the same language, as the language is spoken in your host country.
You should then proceed to pack your bags, and off you go!
How can one find Nursing Volunteering Opportunities?
There are various means through which one can find nursing volunteering opportunities.
There are some organizations and websites, which give adequate information about these opportunities, and they shall be discussed as follows.
#1. American Red Cross
The American Red Cross is a tremendous force, which contributes significantly to the health sector in America and even to other parts of the world.
Here, nursing volunteering opportunities can be found, as they currently have more than 15,000 nurses, who are involved in providing disaster services, managing blood drives, and attending to the well-being of people.
2. HealthCare Volunteer:
HealthCare Volunteer is passionate about empowering individuals, who are willing to volunteer their time, skill, expertise, to make the world a better place, specifically in the health sector.
Their website has loads of nursing volunteering opportunities that you can harness. And more interestingly, there is always something to do for everyone, regardless of your level of expertise or skill.
3. International Volunteer HQ:
International Volunteer HQ has medical volunteer abroad programs, which came to be as a result of their partnership with local organizations in more than 40 countries across the world.
Their volunteering opportunities are not only limited to professionals in the field, as nursing students are also needed and accepted.
International Volunteer Website
4. Idealist:
This is a website where students and healthcare professionals can search for healthcare-related volunteering opportunities, with local organizations such as area hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, etc.
#5. Project HOPE
Project HOPE is involved in delivering essential medicines and supplies, medical training, etc, to people.
They also respond to disasters, prevent disease, promote wellness, and are generally dedicated to saving lives across the globe.
Here, you can also apply for various volunteering opportunities in various places, and you would get matched with a suitable placement.
Further Reading: Top 15 Medical Volunteer Opportunities In 2023 For Students
17 Nursing Volunteering Opportunities in 2022.
There are various nursing volunteering programs across the world. And each is unique and interesting, depending on the country, where you would be volunteering.
The healthcare department that you would be volunteering in also affords you some unique experiences, which you would treasure for life.
#1. Medical Volunteer Program in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam:
The city of Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam requires volunteer nurses to offer their skills and services, to assist medical personnel in the medical centers in the city.
Volunteers are not usually allowed to carry out independent tasks on patients, hence, they only assist.
Volunteer nurses would be required to assist with basic triage, wound care, rehabilitation, etc.
Volunteers must be 18+, and if under 18, they must get their parent’s/ guardian’s consent. Volunteer work spans for 2-24 weeks, and volunteers are required to work from 8 am-5 pm every day.
#2. Healthcare Volunteer Project in Costa Rica
Volunteers are required in Costa Rica to assist professionals in clinics for disabled children, the homeless, etc.
Volunteer tasks include distributing and sorting medications, assisting with rehabilitating exercises, helping with meals and bathing, making beds, providing companionship to patients, etc.
They would also be required to take patient’s vitals, do checkups, prepare medical equipment, etc.
Volunteers must be 18+, and if under 18, they must get their parent’s/guardian’s consent, and they should be fluent in speaking the English Language.
The volunteer period spans 1-24 weeks, and volunteers must work from 9 am-5 pm.
#3. Medical Volunteer Program in Delhi, India:
Volunteers here are required to work in local hospitals or slum clinics. They are placed with professionals, to observe and learn about the prevalent diseases in India.
Volunteers are also saddled with other tasks, such as taking the measurements of patients’ height, weight, blood pressure, etc.
They can also provide advice on topics like nutrition, general health, sanitation, etc. They treat minor injuries, clean and bandage wounds, etc.
Volunteers must be 18+, and if under 18, they must get their parent’s/guardian’s consent. Volunteer work spans for 1-24 weeks, and volunteers are required to work for 5 hours a day.
#4. Medical Volunteer Program in Livingstone, Zambia
Formerly, there were very few clinics in Zambia. However, that has changed, and as a result of the increase in the number of clinics and healthcare centers, the need has arisen for medical staff and volunteers to give quality healthcare to citizens.
Volunteers are required to assist medical doctors and can assist in specialized departments like gynaecology, pharmacy, maternity, pediatrics, etc.
Volunteers must be 18+, and the volunteer work spans 1-16 weeks, while volunteers must work from 8 am- 4 pm.
#5. Medical Volunteering in Arusha, Tanzania:
Good healthcare is not easily accessible in many poor communities in Tanzania. Hence, the need for volunteers to help fill that gap.
Volunteers must assist doctors in specialized departments, such as pharmacy, maternity & family planning, radiology & ultra scan, etc.
They are required to partake in medical outreach campaigns twice a week, where they deliver basic medical care, where it is not often available.
Volunteers must be 18+; if under 18, they must get their /or guardians ‘ consent.
Volunteer work spans for 1-16 weeks, and volunteers are required to work from 8 am- 5 pm.
#6. Medical Volunteer Program in Accra Region, Ghana:
There is a shortage of medical professionals in the rural areas of Ghana, hence the need for volunteers.
Here, volunteers are required to help in small clinics in under-resourced rural areas for two days a week and to also assist with mobile wound care outreach for the remaining three days.
Volunteers are 18+, and if under 18, they must get their /or guardians ‘ consent.
Volunteer work spans 1-24 weeks, and volunteers must work from 8 am- 5 pm.
#7. Medical Volunteer Program in Sri Lanka
Here, volunteer nurses are placed in training hospitals to observe and assist medical professionals.
Volunteers must be 18+; if under 18, they must get their /or guardians ‘ consent.
Volunteer work spans about 1-12 weeks, and volunteers must work from 8 am-3 pm.
#8. Medical Volunteer Program in Lima, Peru:
People here live in poverty; hence, access to healthcare and other medical services is difficult.
However, daily medical campaigns aimed to widen the reach of public healthcare in Lima are carried out, and volunteers play a core role here.
Volunteers’ tasks range from helping with children’s health evaluation, giving health talk, doing basic preventive checkups in local markets, taking vitals, heart rate, blood pressure, height, weight measurements, etc.
Volunteers must be 18+; if under 18, they must get their /or guardians ‘ consent.
Volunteer work spans 1-24 weeks, and volunteers must work from 7 am-5 pm.
#9. Medical Volunteer Program in Cambodia:
Here, volunteers are required to observe medical professionals, as they attend to patients. They are also required to assist them in working to make things easier and less burdensome.
Volunteers must be 18+, and if under 18, they must get their /or guardians ‘ consent.
Volunteer work spans for 2-24 weeks, and volunteers are required to work from 8 am- 5 pm.
#10. Medical Volunteer Program in Guatemala, Antigua:
Here, volunteers are required to assist in clinics in low-income areas, elderly homes, facilities for the disabled, etc.
Their tasks vary from doing checkups, recording patients’ details and measurements, assisting doctors, helping patients in disadvantaged communities, etc.
They can also volunteer in specialized departments, such as dentistry, midwifery, pharmacy, paediatrics, etc.
Volunteers must be 18+, and if under 18, they must get their parents’/guardians’ consent.
Volunteer work spans for 1-24 weeks and volunteers are required to work from 9 am – 5 pm.
#11. Medical Elective Volunteer Project in Nepal:
The medical elective volunteer project in Nepal requires volunteers to assist doctors, observe operating rooms, assist with physical therapy, emergency room rounds, family planning sessions, immunizations, etc.
Volunteers must be 18+ and volunteer work spans for 1-12 weeks, with volunteers working from 8 am – 5 pm.
#12. Healthcare and Medical Volunteer Program in Buenos Aires, Argentina:
Volunteers here can work in specialized departments, such as physiology, pediatrics, dentistry, gynecology, mental health, x-ray, etc.
Volunteers must be 18+, and volunteer work spans for 2-12 weeks, with volunteers required to work from 9 am -4 pm.
#13. Medical & Healthcare Volunteer Program in Zanzibar, Tanzania
Volunteers here must work in departments, such as gynaecology, operation theatres for surgeries, physiotherapy, first aid departments, etc.
They are saddled with the responsibility of taking rounds of wards, maintaining patients’ files, measuring blood pressure, pulse, suture wounds, giving vaccinations, etc.
Volunteers must be 18+, and volunteer work spans for 2-12 weeks, with volunteers required to work from 8 am-1 pm.
#14. Medical and Nursing Healthcare Volunteer Program, Sri Lanka:
This is the only country in South Asia that offers free healthcare to all its citizens. However, they need volunteers to assist the professional doctors and nurses, to help out with a large number of patients.
Volunteers must be 18+, and volunteer work spans for 1-12 weeks.
#15. Medical Volunteer Program in Surin, Thailand:
Volunteers here are to provide support to the rural communities of Surin, by working alongside local healthcare professionals in their ongoing care and treatment of the community.
Volunteer tasks include conducting hospital rounds, maintaining patients’ files, carrying out checkups like blood pressure measurement, etc.
Volunteers must be 18+, and volunteer work spans for 1-24 weeks, with volunteers required to work from 8 am- 3 pm.
#16. Medical Volunteer Abroad in Peru, Cusco:
Volunteers work mainly in medical clinics, which provide care and treatment to people living in the poor and underprivileged areas of Cusco.
Volunteer tasks range from suturing wounds, giving vaccinations, taking vital signs, assisting health professionals, etc.
Volunteers must be 18+, and volunteer work spans for 2-24 weeks, with volunteers required to work from Tuesdays to Fridays, from 9 am – 3 pm.
#17. Medical Volunteer Projects in Nairobi, Kenya
Volunteers are required to work in medical clinics, dispensaries, hospitals, etc. Their tasks range from checking patients’ weight, temperature, blood pressure, suture wounds, do hospital rounds, etc.
Volunteers must be 18+, and volunteer work spans for 1-24 weeks, with volunteers required to work from Tuesdays to Fridays, from 9 am – 4 pm.
Conclusion
Volunteering as a nurse affords you a lot of opportunities to develop your skills, increase your experience and advance your expertise.
Not only that, but you would also contribute significantly to the lifespan of people worldwide. It is indeed a noble work!
References
- https://www.nursinglicensure.org/
- https://www.gooverseas.com/blog/volunteer-nurse-abroad
- https://www.volunteerhq.org/blog/how-to-volunteer-abroad-as-a-nurse/
- https://www.volunteeringsolutions.com/medical-volunteer-abroad-programs
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