Christian medical missions to Haiti - HELP!!

Published

Hi all. I am desperately looking for a Christian organization who does medical missions trips to Haiti. I have only certain dates I can go since our school only gives us certain times off during the year to go. I was looking at one but it was longer than my school break. I would have had to miss a week of clinicals and that isn't good! Anyway, have any of you had any luck (either as students or as RNs) with a particular Christian organization who does medical missions trips to Haiti? If so, just list their organization and I will contact them directly.

Thanks,

hbgwan

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, School Nurse.

I don't know if this group is Christian or not, but they do 11 day trips. Friends of the Children of Haiti

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

My old (sadly, I moved out of state. I still keep up with them, though!) church just took a medical trip to Haiti, partnering with this organization:

http://www.gcanet.org/

Up Vote Up Vote ×

:nurse:Nazarene Compassion International is already in Haiti. Haiti is a dangerous place so you need to make sure you are safe with a group. NCI is a denominational global church with headquarters in Kansas City, KS.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Friends of the Children of Haiti is a wonderful organization. Its headquartered near Peoria, IL and I can vouch for their authenticity! They are awesome!

If you want, you can PM me and I can give you some names.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I know a Christian MD that goes 3 times a year and just asked me last week if I knew any RN's that could go...are you interested?

Sara

Santa Barbara

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Christian MD? As in the CMDA? I am not an RN yet but am well into my clinical rotations. I am interested, though.

thanks,

hbgwan

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in mental health, military nursing.

I'm curious as to why you are "desperately" looking for a missions experience? Overseas trips are rarely worth it while you're in a nursing program- an unseen delay could cost you your entire semester of nursing school. Also, you aren't a nurse yet, so your ability to practice is limited, and most medical missions do not want laypeople - it's a huge amount of liability and expense to take someone along who just wants missions experience.

Focus on graduating, and if missions is where your heart is, work on making yourself worth taking along - get some critical care or emergency experience, do some regional crisis volunteering, learn the language of where you want to serve, and then go overseas.

And in the meantime, read When Helping Hurts, by Steve Corbett and Dr. Brian Fikkert - it's a thoughtful and well-researched book on the right way to do medical missions.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have a friend who works in Haiti as a PA. Her husband is an eye doctor and they work with another doctor as well and other medical staff. She has done just about everything from pulling teeth to delivering babies. Feel free to check out her blog. http://tinhaiti.blogspot.com/ I know they have groups come down and help them out. And bless you for wanting to help.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.
Also, you aren't a nurse yet, so your ability to practice is limited, and most medical missions do not want laypeople - it's a huge amount of liability and expense to take someone along who just wants missions experience.

This was my first thought. While it is admirable that the OP wants to help, her limited knowledge and experience would not be of much use to any medical mission. Such missions need people who are able to jump in with little or no supervision or direction, and a nursing student doesn't fit that bill.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, School Nurse.

Friends of the Children of Haiti does take lay people on their missions.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I'm curious as to why you are "desperately" looking for a missions experience? Overseas trips are rarely worth it while you're in a nursing program- an unseen delay could cost you your entire semester of nursing school. Also, you aren't a nurse yet, so your ability to practice is limited, and most medical missions do not want laypeople - it's a huge amount of liability and expense to take someone along who just wants missions experience.

Focus on graduating, and if missions is where your heart is, work on making yourself worth taking along - get some critical care or emergency experience, do some regional crisis volunteering, learn the language of where you want to serve, and then go overseas.

And in the meantime, read When Helping Hurts, by Steve Corbett and Dr. Brian Fikkert - it's a thoughtful and well-researched book on the right way to do medical missions.

i strongly feel called to do medical missions, since i am a devout christian. there are people who are hurting down there and in desperate need of medical attention. the last time i checked, many medical organizations take laypeople (or students, if you classify a student a a layperson). granted, i know i will not be dispensing meds, making diagnoses or doing anything of the like. but taking vitals and assisting licensed personnel is of value, both to me and to them. i also have a native level fluency in french, so that helps a great deal, as well.

the reason i "desperately" am wanting to find an organization is because i want to help in any way that i can. medical missions in haiti is where my heart is. the organization i was looking at extended their trip dates, which went into my semester. obviously that trip is a no-go. so i am looking at other options.

i am trying to not take offense to the comment that i want to go "just for missions experience." the calling is much higher than that. i would not pay $1500+ just to go down and "get missions experience." i can get that type of experience working in the local ER.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion