Become the nurse you know you could be
A nursing internship abroad with Work the World will help shape you into the nurse you have the potential to become.
Our internships for nurses are educational in nature and will help you develop the confidence to take on any challenge the wards present when you get home.
When you return to your nursing studies you’ll be seen as a strong and competent nursing student, earning you recognition from your peers.
And with a nursing student internship on your resume, employers will be fighting to get you in the door.
Already a practising professional nurse? We can create a nurse internship abroad for you too — learn more here.
Have a specific interest in labor and delivery? Learn about our midwifery internships.
"I also helped patients suffering from malaria to meningitis in the pediatric ICU." - Maura, Simmons College
Invest in your future
There are almost three million nurses in the USA, but only 0.01% of them can demonstrate the sought-after experience our voluntary internships abroad provide.
Invest in your future — become a part of that 0.01% and set yourself apart.
What exactly is a nursing internship abroad?
A Work the World internship is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you to experience a voluntary clinical rotation in a hospital in the developing world.
In our low-resource African and Asian partner hospitals, you’ll have your eyes opened to things like:
- Disposable/single-use equipment being sterilised and reused
- Families providing bedside care including manual ventilation
- A lack of patient privacy including multiple patients in one bed
- Traditional herbal medicine used in place of modern techniques
- Back-to-basics care like manual intubation without analgesia
Whatever your interests — emergency, pediatrics, labor and delivery, or anything else — we will craft an internship in nursing with your name on it.
You’ll travel overseas to see all the challenges local staff tussle with each day. And you’ll come back a stronger nurse because of it.
Starting to sound like the opportunity you’ve been looking for?
Here are some things you should know:
- You can choose your destination
- You can choose your departments
- You can stay for as long or short as you like from 1 week+
- We will fully prepare you before you go
- Our in-country team will support you 24/7 while you’re overseas
- You get full supervision in the hospital
- You will live in private, catered accommodation
Internships start every Sunday, all year round —perfect for spring and summer internships.
Here’s some more good news: Whether you're training as an RN, an LPN or similar, as long as you have started on a professional nursing degree you automatically qualify for a place on your internship of choice. There is no application process — you don’t need to submit your transcripts or write a five-page essay to get accepted — here's how it works
Travel and adventure
Your focus as a nursing student volunteering abroad is the clinical experience. But you’re going to have free time in the evenings and on weekends to explore whichever country you’ve chosen to visit.
You can choose to do your nursing internship in Africa or Asia, and there are plenty of countries to choose from.
During the week, you’ll live with other healthcare students volunteering like you in the Work the World house. You'll meet a lot of new people there, and you’ll all go on big weekend trips together.
Whether you’re travelling solo or as a group, a nursing internship is your chance to do something big before you graduate into the working world.
Why work the World?
We're the experts in planning, customizing, and building nursing opportunities abroad. We started in 2005 and since then we’ve crafted internships for 18,000+ students from 400+ universities around the world.
Why ARE there limited SPACES?
Our partner hospitals are full working hospitals. That means there’s a reasonable limit to the number of nursing students we can send. So please remember that when one of our destinations is full, it’s full.
But you can secure your place in your first choice of destination by getting in early.
Need more information before you make your choice? Whatever your inquiry, we’re here to help.
Get started now by putting your information into the form and one of our experienced consultants will get back to you.
If you’re not ready to inquire, you can browse our destinations to uncover some of the eye-opening opportunities abroad you could be a part of.
DESTINATIONS
Ghana - Takoradi
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Takoradi is a stone’s throw from palm-lined beaches, working fishing villages, and bustling food and craft markets. You can go on safari, swim in hidden waterfalls, and sleep in tree houses high up in the jungle canopy.
Ghana offers some of the best nursing experiences you can have abroad. You can spend time in The Reproductive and Child Health Department run by local nurses. The department offers services like family planning, postnatal care, and growth monitoring. Visiting schools to undertake immunizations and hygiene talks could also be an option. Read stories from those who’ve already travelled with us to Ghana.
Sri Lanka - Kandy
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Kandy is home to some of the friendliest people in the world, is stunningly beautiful, and has a history of healthcare spanning 5000 years. Trek through jungles, spot elephants, and visit ancient temples still in use today.
In Kandy, you could help to treat tropical diseases like dengue fever, TB and severe cases of malnutrition. Or, if it suits your interests, spend time on the busy OBG Ward to assist in complicated pregnancies and Neonatal Intensive Care. If you're looking for an international nursing internship, Kandy is a top choice. Read stories from those who’ve already travelled with us to Kandy.
Nepal - Kathmandu
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Kathmandu is a maze of ornate temples, free-roaming monkeys, and motorbike-riding monks. Here you can go paragliding, bungee jumping, and whitewater rafting in the surrounding mountains and rivers.
On your Nursing Internship here you could spend time across departments like Mental Health, OBG, and Paediatrics. Community outreach will give you the chance to encounter cases specific to Nepal, and the creative clinical solutions of local healthcare professionals. Read stories from those who’ve already travelled with us to Kathmandu.
Philippines - Iloilo
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If you want sun, sea and an exceptional nursing internship, Iloilo might be for you. From scruba diving to whale watching, and from island hopping to bar hopping there’s something for everyone.
Show enthusiasm in the hospital and you could gain experience in subspecialties like Ophthalmology, Cardiology, Dermatology, and Toxicology. Time on placement in the busy Animal Bites Clinic will give you the chance to gain experience with cases typical to Iloilo the villages that surround it. Read stories from those who’ve already travelled with us to Iloilo.
Vietnam - Hue
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A bustling hub of Southeast Asian culture and popular with backpackers. Busy markets, popular bars and delicious street food across the city. Nearby, find tropical beaches, rainforests, and ancient temples and pagodas.
In Hue, we’re partnered with a well-respected university teaching hospital. This allows you to get outstanding clinical experience. In low-resource departments like the ED, paediatrics, psychiatry, reproductive endocrinology and infertility, gastrointestinal endoscopy, and oncology. You can even learn about the use of Vietnamese traditional medicine as a complement to the more contemporary practices you’re used to. If you're after a nursing internship in Asia, this placement needs to be on your shortlist.
Tanzania - Dar es Salaam
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Dar es Salaam is a large and busy city, yet on its doorstep you’ll find stunning African landscapes. Head to Selous Game Park and spot the ‘big five’ on safari, take the boat to Zanzibar island for stunning tropical beaches, and fly up to climb Kilimanjaro if you dare.
On a Nursing Internship here, you could assist in the hospital’s HIV clinic, gaining experience in Paediatric HIV and supporting HIV positive mothers. Time spent on a placement here will highlight the challenges of providing quality care with extremely limited resources. Read stories from those who’ve already travelled with us to Dar es Salaam.
"I had the privilege to watch multiple vaginal births as well as c-sections and many other surgeries."
Mia Fitzgerald, University of Manchester 2024
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"Some of the most memorable cases I observed included open heart surgery for a valve replacement."
Catherine Noone, University of Manchester 2024
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"This has allowed me to become more open-minded and look at healthcare from a different perspective."
Constance Forbes, University of Manchester 2024
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"During the three weeks I was there I was able to spend a weekend in Zanzibar and a weekend doing the safari. On my first weekend, me and the girls in my room all went to Zanzibar via the ferry".
Elle Anderson, Bradford University 2024
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"What made me really excited were the tourist attractions in Sri Lanka. The culture, wildlife, and beaches looked breathtaking."
Scarlett Crago, University of Plymouth 2024
Read moreWhat is a nursing internship?
A nursing internship is a clinical rotation nursing students can undertake in low-resource hospitals overseas. Every year, more and more nursing students are doing their nursing internships abroad. To create your own customized nursing internship overseas, get in touch with us today.
What do nurse interns do?
Nurse interns on a Work the World placement will get experience in a low-resource hospital overseas, rotating through departments they choose. The benefits of this include:
- Expanding your clinical knowledge and skill set
- Becoming more confident, independent and resourceful
- Making your resume stand out
- Doing some proper traveling
- Building your professional network
- Sharpening your language and communication skills
- Renewing your perspective on the American healthcare system
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A WORK THE WORLD NURSING INTERNSHIP?
The benefits of our nursing internship include:
- Getting invaluable clinical experience in the field
- Making yourself more attractive to employers
- Building your professional network
- Doing some travelling
HOW LONG IS A WORK THE WORLD MEDICAL INTERNSHIP?
A nursing internship is as long as you want it to be. Our minimum placement duration is one week with a maximum duration of 12 weeks. Costs vary depending on location and duration.
