PhD, MS, MSN, RN, APRN-BC, CDCES, CNE, CCRN
Nursing is a compassionate profession that goes beyond the walls of hospitals and clinics and often expands across international borders. For nurses who want to make a global impact and provide healthcare to underserved populations, volunteering for a medical mission can be a transformative experience.
Medical missions allow nurses and healthcare professionals to offer their skills, expertise, and compassion to those who lack access to quality healthcare. However, embarking on a medical mission requires careful preparation and a good understanding of the challenges and responsibilities that come with it.
Knowing what to expect can help you prepare for a successful experience.
The term “medical mission” does not have a religious connection unless you want it to. It’s a general phrase that refers to medical professionals volunteering in underserved areas and populations to provide free medical services.
Nurses can donate their time and services by volunteering with many wonderful organizations, including religiously affiliated organizations, nonprofits, for-profit, government, and non-government organizations (NGOs). The best organization to choose is one that matches your purpose, price, and goals.
If you serve with an organization that doesn’t have religious affiliations, there will be no proselyting. If you choose to combine your personal spiritual or faith-related interests with a religious group, your group activities may include prayers, spiritual messages, and collaboration with churches.
The term medical mission, however, is generally focused on using your medical skills to help others with medical needs.
Medical missions have often been nicknamed “voluntourism,” as many destinations include developing exotic countries where service is mixed with a fun measure of tourism. Each medical mission will have its own style, and if you know what to expect, you can prepare.
Some medical missions are truly rescue missions after natural disasters, and there is no time for play or tourism. It’s important to really understand the nature of your work during the medical mission. Some can be short-term, such as one or two weeks, and other organizations may have you commit for a month or more. Know your scope and purpose.
Before committing to a medical mission, you should thoroughly understand its purpose and scope. Medical missions aim to provide medical care, education, and support to underserved communities, often in remote or economically disadvantaged areas. Nurses need to align with the mission’s goals and be ready to adapt to environmental challenges.
When choosing an organization, ask what their focus is on and the scope of nurse responsiblities in the medical mission. Some organizations may specialize in surgery, while others focus on public health, general medicine, or women’s and infant care.
Nurses will likely work alongside doctors, other nurses, interpreters, and local healthcare workers. Effective teamwork and collaboration are vital to delivering comprehensive care and achieving the mission’s objectives. Being open to sharing knowledge and learning from others enhances the overall impact of the mission.
Being prepared physically for a medical mission means you will have the energy, appropriate clothing, and supplies needed to help others. One mission that caught us by surprise was to Peru in August, which we neglected to realize was winter for them.
We arrived underprepared for cold weather and had to shop for jackets, scarves, and gloves. A medical mission often requires you to bring your own medical supplies.
Packing sufficient snacks, medications, toiletries, and changes of clothes is critical, but also recognize that only you will be carrying your luggage.
Preparation also includes having matters organized for your home and family while you’re away. Prepare your international passport and visa, if needed, exchange foreign currency, and register your phone and credit card for international travel. Purchase international charging cords, airline tickets, lodging, transportation, and maps. Unfortunate stories are told of the well-intentioned nurses who quickly traveled to disaster areas but became more of a burden to rescue teams as they themselves were not well prepared.
The health and safety of nurses on a medical mission should be a top priority. Make sure you’re up-to-date with vaccinations and have the necessary travel insurance. Be aware of the potential health risks in the destination country and take appropriate precautions, such as using insect repellent to prevent vector-borne diseases.
Adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential, especially in environments where infection control might be challenging. Check out the recommended vaccines from your local travel vaccine clinic and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.
Follow the medical mission team’s rules for your physical safety. If you’ve seen the movie “Taken,” it’s imperative to always be with a buddy, know your surroundings, to not flaunt or count your money in public, and stay with the official guide and group.
One reason to serve a medical mission is to help people in dire need, which means you will be serving in impoverished communities and won’t have the comforts you’re accustomed to. It can break your heart to see the level of poverty and filth people live in.
There is no better remedy to increasing your own gratitude for what you have when you see others who have so much less. Volunteering for a medical mission can be emotionally challenging.
You might witness the effects of poverty, lack of access to healthcare, and severe medical conditions, so building emotional resilience and coping mechanisms will help you process these experiences.
Support from fellow volunteers and debriefing sessions can help you manage your emotions and continue providing compassionate care. One of the greatest “souvenirs” you will return home with is a deeper sense of gratitude.
You’ll want to attend pre-departure training sessions to learn about the region’s health challenges, cultural norms, and the logistics of the mission.
These sessions provide insight into safety measures, emergency protocols, and the types of medical cases you might encounter. Equipped with this knowledge, you can better navigate the challenges you might face.
Depending on the scope of the mission, expect to use your basic triage, physical assessment, and clinical judgment skills. You will also learn about healthcare and nursing that you never read in your nursing textbook.
In many developing countries, an American registered nurse may have similar skills to a trained medical doctor. Be willing to learn and be humble. The country and mission may require you to share your license and documents, as you will not be working “under” someone else’s license. You are responsible for working within the scope of training you have received and not more.
You might encounter a range of medical conditions and situations you don’t typically see in regular practice. Be prepared to work with limited resources, makeshift facilities, and unfamiliar medical equipment. Being adaptable and resourceful will help you provide effective care in these settings.
Cultural sensitivity and effective communication are so important when working in diverse and unfamiliar environments. Respect local customs, beliefs, and practices while delivering care. Taking the time to learn basic phrases in the local language can foster trust and improve communication with patients.
Nonverbal cues, gestures, and a friendly demeanor can bridge language barriers and create a more comfortable atmosphere for patients. Develop cultural humility. The worst scenario is for American nurses to come into a foreign community with an air of superiority, only to leave them abandoned after their service. Ideally, your time and service will strengthen their existing infrastructure and healthcare workers to deliver even better healthcare because of your example and service.
You also have a lot to learn from them. A successful medical mission experience serves as a bridge where both parties come together and leave better because of their association with each other.
Cultural humility involves recognizing your own cultural biases and being open to learning from different cultures. Approach medical missions with an open mind and a willingness to engage with diverse perspectives. Additionally, ethical considerations are crucial, especially when dealing with sensitive medical decisions and respecting patients’ autonomy and beliefs.
There are many wonderful organizations you can serve and travel with. Research their goals, purpose, cost, and experience. Ask for references from people who have traveled with them before, and don’t be afraid to ask what it was really like. Ask details on meals, transportation in and to the country, and translator services. You should be given an itinerary and a packing list.
While medical missions provide immediate relief, also consider the long-term impact of your efforts. Sustainable interventions and capacity-building initiatives can lead to lasting improvements in healthcare access and outcomes for the community. Nurses can contribute by sharing knowledge, training local healthcare workers, and participating in community health education programs.
Volunteering for a medical mission is a noble endeavor that allows nurses to make a positive impact on the lives of underserved populations. It can be a life-changing experience.
However, this journey requires careful preparation, adaptability, cultural sensitivity, and a commitment to collaboration. By understanding the purpose of medical missions, honing your clinical skills, and embracing the challenges and rewards, nurses can contribute effectively to these missions and leave a lasting legacy of improved healthcare access and quality.
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