We know that since there are so many questions and seemingly so many varying resources it can be difficult to know where to start! So we teamed up with Trusted Nurse Ashley Elsbernd to learn more about her own experience in order to create this Trusted Guide to Medical Missions. We'll let Ashley take it away from here!
Medical missions are formed with the goal of providing medical care to underserved areas in developing countries. Going on a medical mission trip was something I had thought about for a long time. I knew friends who had ben involved in service trips and volunteer programs as early as high school, but it wasn’t until I was licensed as a nurse and part of a medical team that I really felt like I could make an impact (which is totally not true, just for the record!).
A close friend of mine had been on a handful of medical mission trips with various organizations, and she was definitely the catalyst of finally making one happen for me. She sent me a text last fall saying, “Hey, want to go to Africa in March?” and that was all it took to get the ball rolling!
If you Google “medical mission trips,” you will get an insane number of options. I think this is why you talk to so many people who want to go but haven't; figuring out where to start is overwhelming! That being said, there are options for everyone, even non-medical personnel. The trip I went on focused on primary care through outreach clinics in rural areas, but I’ve heard of many different groups who provide a very specific type of health care such as cleft lip/palate repairs, cataract surgeries, pediatric cardiac procedures, dental care… you name it, there’s probably a trip for that!
Finding the right trip is a definite must. While I don’t think you’ll ever walk away from a medical mission feeling like you shouldn’t have gone, having the right fit will make it that much better. Things to consider:
These are all questions that can help you narrow down the list of trips you're considering. A great place to start is simply by talking to people. You’d be surprised by how many friends or coworkers have been on a trip. Ask questions about what they did, what they liked and didn’t like, and which organization they went with.
Luckily, having a friend recommend me to my initial trip took all the front-end research off the table for me. That being said, my experience in Uganda (my first trip) definitely set the standard for what I want out of future trips. We traveled with One World Health, an organization that serves in Uganda and in Nicaragua. What I loved about One World Health is that they only send teams quarterly, but they have established medical centers in each country that are open to treat patients 24/7/365.
You tend to wonder where people turn for healthcare needs when the outreach teams aren’t in the country, but with this model, you know that the patient has access to medical attention after you leave. Their vision is largely focused on empowering people to take control of their health in the long-term sense, and it’s been a successful venture – their medical centers are designed to be 100% self-sustained in 18 months or less, meaning patients have consistent access to quality healthcare and locals have new job opportunities.
The doors to the first clinic opened in 2011, so One World Health has been around long enough to know how to run their outreach trips in order to give volunteers a great and safe experience.
The word "application" may come across as intimidating, but it’s mainly just a way to stay organized and to make sure you have the appropriate credentials to go along! Some organizations have you apply for specific trips, while others will file your application and contact you as volunteer needs arise. Typically, the applications feel like a job application – you will likely need to submit proof of credentials, level of experience, and answer a few questions about why you’d like to join them.
Most medical mission websites also have great FAQ pages to check out before you apply, and I’ve found that they’re very responsive when you contact them with questions.
Preparing for Uganda was laid out nicely for us. One World Health had online orientation modules that gave us an idea of what to expect on clinic days, an overview of each role, a brief cultural overview, and their expectations of volunteers. Once we got to Uganda, we were joined by a Peace Corps volunteer who talked about more specific cultural considerations, which was hugely helpful! We were also provided with a country-specific packing list, which took a lot of the stress out of that part of the trip.
As with most things, the financial aspect of a mission trip varies with each organization. In some cases, the volunteers’ trips are covered by the organization, and in others, fundraising is expected. One World Health falls into the latter category, and I know many people shy away from that, but I found fundraising to be much easier than I expected. Sharing about your upcoming experience on social media is a great way to let family and friends know about it and stir up some support.
Some people covered their own expenses, some received grants from work, and some got creative (one girl sold t-shirts, and a couple who owns a pizza joint had a beer and football night to raise money)!
There were two fundraising deadlines – half of the amount was due a little over two months from our departure date in order to book flights. One World Health took care of that for us, and as a result, most of the team was able to meet up in the Atlanta airport and travel the rest of the way together. The full amount was due a few weeks before departure. Our only financial responsibility while in the country was for any souvenirs we wanted to take home.
Planning in advance definitely makes the fundraising aspect of a trip easier.
Most organizations have a list on their websites of trip dates and destinations as well as deadlines to apply. My deadline was December 1st for a March trip, and I felt like that was an adequate amount of time to fundraise and prepare myself. Since I’m working in the world of travel nursing, the time off was easy to accommodate (and lucky for me, the trip fell in between contracts), but advance notice obviously makes rearranging work and life schedules much easier.
Medical mission trips tend to have fairly specific roles for their volunteers depending on their credentials. That being said, some may allow for flexibility. For example, in Uganda the nurses ran the triage area – we were the first point of medical contact for our patients. However, I spent every afternoon working in the pharmacy area to help fill prescriptions. Other nurses helped to distribute meds and do some patient teaching, and some helped our physical therapist demonstrate exercises.
On other trips, people have been able to spend a day just interacting with people outside of a clinic role as well. It’s all dependent on the goal of the trip and the members of the team. One World Health has a team director and a medical director on each trip, and they work together to determine the logistics: how many patients can be seen depending on patient flow, which areas may need help at various times of the day, etc. They are also a resource for the team members as questions arise.
When we arrived in Uganda, one of our first tasks was to take inventory on supplies, including medical equipment, office supplies, and medications. Basic medical equipment was available to us (first aid-type supplies, blood pressure cuffs, stethoscopes, thermometers), but some people brought other supplies along with them. This particular trip had a strong dermatology team, so two providers brought along a suitcase full of supplies for procedures. We also had several radiologists and had the luxury of a portable ultrasound.
Some people also brought their own basic medical equipment such as stethoscopes and blood pressure cuffs. We were fortunate to not have to improvise too much, and if the patient needed further follow-up, they were referred to One World Health’s medical center. Our team worked within our US scopes of practice, and I imagine other organizations operate in a similar fashion. As medical professionals we tend to hold ourselves to the same standard regardless of where we’re practicing. If I wasn’t comfortable performing a task or procedure with all of the resources and oversight I have in the US, I wouldn’t do so in another country either. A patient is still a patient.
Being open to the different cultural norms is the best way to prepare for the culture shock. That said, there will inevitably be some culture shock. We are so incredibly fortunate simply by living in the US, and it’s incredibly eye-opening to see how people live in other countries with varying resources. Knowing that it will be different is good, but try not to have specific expectations.
While we were in Uganda, we stayed at a hotel. It wasn't the Ritz, but we had running water, real toilets, and showers, so I was in absolutely no position to complain! We shared rooms with other team members, which was a great way to get to know other people on the trip that you may not have gotten to know otherwise.
Leisure time is dependent on how clinic days go, but there is always a little bit of downtime in the evening. Some days we got back with just enough time to wash our heads and head to dinner, but the dinner table provided great opportunities to make connections with the rest of the team. One World Health has also developed a pretty neat habit to foster this. After people are done eating but before leaving the dinner table, you’re given an opportunity to share your life story.
This could be as simple as where you were born, where you went to school, and your professional experience; but, for most of our team, things got pretty deep. I heard intimate stories from many people that started with, “I can’t believe I’m even telling you this,” that sometimes ended in tears. Opening up and being vulnerable, especially with a group of strangers, really put our hearts in a place to be open and shaped by the experiences of the week.
We also had some time after dinner to play games or to just hang out with each other before bed. And, of course, I have to talk about the safari! As a way to relax after a week of hard work, One World Health took us “glamping” and then on a sunrise safari.
Safety of the team is a top priority for One World Health, and in my opinion should be a top priority when you’re looking to join a team. The hotel we stayed at was gated, and we were escorted by security guards whenever we were off hotel premises. Our drivers are locals with great reputations who have worked with the organization for years. I love that One World Health partners with local people and places to build long-standing relationships that benefit both the businesses and the team.
This trip was definitely more of an opportunity for personal growth than professional growth. That being said, there were things that came up during the week that are definitely applicable to daily practice. Another unique aspect to One World Health is morning devotionals. They help set the stage for the day and give you reflecting points, but they definitely laid the foundation for some big themes throughout the week:
One of our team directors summed it up perfectly by saying, “If you don’t go, you don’t know.” So first and foremost, just say yes. Go into it with a positive attitude, an open mind, and an open heart. Your experience is going to have an impact on you, but there’s no way to predict what that impact will be, so don’t overthink it! There’s no way to know how your week will go, and the trip I took this March may look completely different next March.
Each person tends to feel a little bit differently about their experience.
Be present and enjoy it! You get to make a big difference in people’s lives, and that’s nothing compared to the difference they’ll make in yours. And then go tell people about it. Nursing has been named the most trusted profession for nearly twenty years – we have the opportunity as a profession to make a HUGE global impact! All it takes is people who are willing to go.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions! My email address is ashleyeelsbernd (at) gmail (dot) com. For more information on One World Health and the work they’re doing in Uganda and Nicaragua, visit www.oneworldhealth.com. And if you’ve been on any mission trips, I’d love to hear about them and the work you did!
To hear about another mission as well as the challenges and solutions involved in international medical trips, check out this piece! Safe travels!
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