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Hospitals in Nicaragua
We can offer volunteer positions for medical and nursing professionals at the Nicaraguan public hospital "HEODRA" in León and at the private hospitals "AMOCSA" in León and Chinandega.
Clinical electives/placements are possible at HEODRA in León.
Public hospital "HEODRA"
The government-run hospital HEODRA ("Hospital Escuela Oscar Danillo Rosales Arguello") is a university hospital of León University. Its medical department as an excellent reputation. Overseas physicians regularly come to the hospital as part of international exchange programs.
The hospital receives patients from the whole Northwest of Nicaragua. Many patients are poor and benefit from the free treatment at the public hospital. The hospital has around 350 beds and 1000 employees. There are all typical wards.
Unfortunately, the conditions at the hospital are not perfect due to a lack of qualified staff, equipment and medicine supplies.
Volunteering positions (for qualified physicians, nurses and other medical professionals):
Medical and nursing volunteers are always needed; they should have solid Spanish language skills. The minimum duration of stay should be 3 months; specialists (experienced physicians) can also stay for a shorter duration.
Students (Clinical electives):
Clinical electives/ student placements are possible; however the hospital doesn't have lots of experience with this. It is expected that students are proactive and won't expect to have a mentor at all times. The only wards that have experience with foreign nursing students are "Labor y Parto" (maternity ward) and intensive care.
It has to be mentioned that volunteers and students should have a strong personality. As in many developing countries, patient from remote rural areas often come to be treated at the hospital at very late stages of their diseases. Therefore many patients die due to reasons which in the developed world are rarely fatal. The working conditions are not easy; the treatment often seems impersonal and patients have very little privacy. Between the hospital's staff and between the staff and the patients there are strong hierarchical levels.
Private hospital AMOCSA
AMOCSA ("Asistencia Médica de Occidente S.A.") is a private hospital which has been existing for 15 years. Its nursing standards, hygiene levels and facilities are considerably better than those of the public hospitals. It is being attended by patients who have a health care insurance and can afford such treatment.
In León AMOCSA has got an outpatients department, an intensive care unit (UCI), a children intensive care unit (UCIN) and a surgery. There is a similar AMOCSA Hospital in Chinandega and several smaller dependencies for outpatients throughout the country.
In León the hospital has 170 employees. Particularly in the afternoon, the outpatient's department is very busy, as the private health care insurances require the hospitals not to have any patients waiting for more than 2 hours.
Volunteers:
Volunteers from the medical and nursing subject areas are always needed. Solid skills of Spanish language are expected. The minimum duration of stay should be 3 months.
There are three shifts at the hospital. Shift 1 is from 7am to 2 pm, shift 2 is from 2pm to 9pm and shift 3 from 9pm to 7am. Volunteers are expected to be proactive. The hospital is happy about constructive suggestions how they can improve their work, however it is expected that volunteers are able to adapt to the local way of work and respect the hierarchical structure.
Info box:
Location: León, Nicaragua
Duration: Minimum 3 mont, see text above
Special qualifications
needed: yes
Costs: none, the trouble-free package is optional
Accommodation: Not included
Meals: Not included
Includede: Placement in the project; if you opt for the
trouble-free package the whole range of services which is part of the
trouble-free package is included
Not included: Travel to Nicaragua, health insurance, visa
Book this
placement now!
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