Nurse in Internal Clinic in Honduras, the Dominican Republic, and Guatemala

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Recruiting Organization: NPH USA International Volunteer Program

Volunteer nurses support our medical staff by ensuring that medications are given correctly and on time and accompany children to medical appointments. This volunteer will also be responsible for attending our children during the Doctor's time off.

Our internal clinics serve the children, staff and volunteers of the home. Each home has a different arrangement with a local community doctor or a permanent clinician. In the event that a doctor is not on the premises, the nurses are the primary medical assistance for any accidents or medications that are needed. The clinic is open 24 hours a day to serve the needs of the children at all times. The nurses take turns spending the night in the clinic and working in the day. If there are no children in the clinic during a night shift, the nurses have a radio and can leave the clinic for a while as long as they can be reached. In the event of any serious accidents or emergencies the children are taken to the nearest hospital to be treated accordingly.

In the day, when the doctor is not there, the nurses have a variety of tasks to perform. If there are no children in need of attention, the nurses visit the houses to check the first aid kits and add whatever is needed for all the sections of children, sterilize materials, and restock. They also organize appointments with specialists in the city. Once the appointments are made they inform the children and caretakers what day and what time the children will be taken in and organize transportation for the trips. One person generally goes with the group of children to the city to supervise and bring each of their files to the doctor. There is usually a group that goes to a specialist of some kind once a week if not more often.

When there are children in the clinic, they are examined, given their medication or injection, and are allowed to stay in the clinic until the doctor comes to check them later in the day. The staff in the clinic are responsible for bringing food from the kitchen to feed the children, assisting them in their bathing and addressing whatever other needs they may have. When new children arrive at the orphanage, they often stay in the clinic until their places are ready in their house. They are tested for HIV and other illnesses, treated for lice, and are given a few days to get accustomed to being at the orphanage.

Often there are groups of doctors or medical students that visit the orphanage with the intention of working in the clinic. The nurses structure activities for these groups as they know the needs of the home and the children best.

More Info on NPH:

Do you love children? Are you interested in serving in Latin America for a year?

• NPH USA helps screen, place and support volunteers who serve for a year or more in one of the nine homes of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH): Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Bolivia, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Haiti. For over 65 years Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos has provided a loving home to orphaned, abandoned and at-risk children. Children are not up for adoption, but live in a family environment where they receive love, education, health care, and life skills.
• Volunteers must commit for a year, and have a job on site during the day. Most volunteers work in education, administration and health care. In addition to their job, volunteers spend time with a group of children each evening. Volunteers live in community with other international volunteers from around the world.
• NPH provides room and board, a small stipend ($50/month), and access to limited health care. NPH USA provides international health insurance (of up to $350). Volunteers must pay for their flights to and from the countries where they serve and any extra spending money. They are also responsible for paying for pre-departure language school, should their level of Spanish require it.
• Our homes accept volunteers to begin in either July or January, and it is best to apply 6-9 months in advance of the start date. We have a July 1 deadline for January applications, and a January 1 deadline for July applications. We accept applications after those deadlines, but we like to receive them all by the same date if possible. Please apply even if the deadline has passed.
• Please check out the different positions being offered at the www.nph.org site. We continuously update the positions that will be open. We always need volunteers to serve in education (as teachers and tutors), medical (nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists), communication, and coordination.

To learn more and apply, visit the www.nph.org website.

For US applicants, contact Jennifer Foster, Director of International Engagement at volunteers@nphusa.org if you have any questions.

For all other applicants, contact Thomas Hartig, International Volunteer Coordinator at vo.int@nph.org.

Stipend Provided

Training ProvidedFalse

Housing Available

Language/Cultral Support Available

Wheelchair AccessibleFalse

Fee RequiredFalse

Fee Amount: None

This opportunity is recurring