Are you a nursing student, resident, or nurse practitioner? Elective Africa's Nursing Internships abroad and Nursing Volunteer Programs are tailored to the specific skill sets and educational backgrounds of the program participants; giving them an opportunity for hands-on experience in the nursing field under mentorship and supervision.
Besides strengthening your clinical skills and experience, a nursing internship abroad is a unique opportunity to garner global health insight through interacting with a differentiated healthcare system and connecting with like-minded nursing students and nursing professionals from other parts of the world.
Nursing students and nurse volunteers abroad get to see how poverty, socio-cultural traditions, and inadequate resources impact healthcare delivery. You will shadow qualified nurses and other healthcare providers abroad in busy understaffed hospitals serving huge populations.
Our Nursing Electives are offered in over 10 clinical sites spread out across rural, urban, and coastal locations in Kenya and Tanzania.
Apart from the hospital rotations, participants get to volunteer in our community outreach programs that include teaching local communities about reproduction health, hygiene, visiting orphanages, local schools et cetera.
These activities will not only make you stand out among your peers in clinical skills and knowledge but also a chance for you to travel, experience an African safari or climb Mt. Kilimanjaro; (take a look at this Youtube video to see if it is worth the trip).
Program Mentorship/ Nurse Shadowing Abroad
Our programs provide a minimum of 25 hours a week in a working hospital environment.
You will be assigned to a registered nurse as your mentor. He or she will be responsible for your safety and will ensure you are under professional supervision at all times.
You will share your medical goals and objectives with the mentor so as to help you achieve them. The mentors will share with you their medical insight and invite you to observe different clinical procedures in the various hospital departments.
Always keep a journal, ask many questions, and hear more about their experiences.
Specialties Available
Our nursing internship programs abroad are customized to suit your medical school requirements and your personal clinical interests. Whether it's general medical, emergency and trauma, surgical theatres, pediatrics, labor and delivery, mental health, critical care nursing, or outpatient.
It is important to note that the different clinical sites that we have partnered with have different opportunities.
What Will I Be Allowed to do in the Hospital Internship Abroad?
Elective Africa’s hospital internships abroad follow AAMC’s Guidelines for pre-nursing and nursing students providing patient care during clinical experiences
Depending on your level of experience, you may be asked to engage in roles such as recording a patient's medical history and symptoms for doctors reading, office administration, changing bandages, monitoring recovery, checking blood pressure, weighing babies, and applying first aid.
Why Undertake a Nursing Internship Abroad
Participating in nursing internships abroad gives students a competitive advantage over their peers. The program exposes you to the realities of health care delivery in the developing world.
You will learn to be inventive and overcome challenges in pursuit of providing quality care despite the limitations of technology, diagnostic services, and treatment options.
Benefits:
- Enhance your soft skills i.e. communication skills, teamwork, emotional stability, empathy, physical endurance, and problem-solving skills.
- Develop a global mindset and cultural intelligence.
- Boost your confidence as a result of meeting patients and working in a team.
- A chance to travel and unwind
Program Duration
Elective Africa's nursing placement abroad ranges from 2 to 12 weeks.
Nursing students and medical volunteers who spend more time on their programs have the scope to become better integrated over time, gaining increased insight into culture and understanding of international healthcare.
Do you want to Come with a Group of Friends?
You may opt to travel alone and join a group of participants or travel as a group and make memories together.
You might also have the opportunity to get a group discount if you tag along with your friend(s) or classmate(s). For more information on groups, contact our placements advisors at operations@electiveafrica.com or inquire here!
What Is Included in the Elective Package?
Our aim has always been to provide you with a memorable, adventurous, and hassle-free program.
Our nursing abroad program applicants pick the desired destinations in Kenya or Tanzania and departments they want to rotate through. We guarantee your department choices well in advance of your trip.
We provide you with detailed pre-departure information such that you can plan your nursing internship overseas down to the finest detail.
The Program Includes:
- A customized program to your nursing school requirements and clinical interests.
- A comprehensive pre-departure guide.
- Airport transfers as per different location guidelines.
- Designated mentors and support from local staff.
- Gated, safe and comfortable houses complete with in-house catering, Wi-Fi access, and support staff.
- Biweekly global health tutorials.
- Two-way transport to your clinical site.
- Basic Swahili lessons twice a week.
- Certificate of participation on program completion.
- Volunteer activities as per schedule by local staff.
- A chance to explore and travel: safaris, excursions, and mountaineering as optional add-on activities.
For more information, download a free brochure for our nursing internship abroad in 2024 and summer 2025.