Medical mission trips

Nurses General Nursing

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I will be going on my first medical mission trip to Central America this summer. I am beyond excited, and would like to hear from others who have done similar trips. Any tips, or anything I should know before I go?

Specializes in Pedi.
Be prepared to have your mind blown. Many of these places do not have the same standards to which you might be accustomed. For example, in Peru (Lima no less) they have the cleanest laundry I have ever see but they reuse their chest tubes.

In Tanzania they had basically an old rusty can attached to a plastic tube that they called an enema and it was definitely re-used.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.
I did travel services for a while within a Family Practice. There is something to be said for people who are doing the education to be well versed in some of the subtleties for the travel experience and illness prevention and managment. While there may be a higher price attached to that, the experience someone brings to the table can be priceless. My doc and his wife had traveled the world wide and they taught me so much, from personal experience. Just another thought.

I don't disagree that travel medicine clinics do a lot of good. Just reading the CDC's yellow book on international travel (I read these things for fun) has been endlessly fascinating. Just putting it out there that they're not the only option for needed travel vaccines and if you absolutely have to save $$, that may be a place where you can.

I was a broke grad student the first time I went to Nicaragua & didn't have the $400 to shell out for ALL the things the travel clinic offered after paying for flight & lodging. $92 for the typhoid shot & $60 for the Malarone was a lot more doable, LOL.

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If you're going to call around clinics for best prices, do your research beforehand and just ask questions like what is the out of pocket cost for x?. Worked for a travel clinic and a lot of people would try to get all their recommendations over the phone. I get trying to save money... I do... but when people are also spending money on international travel, let's be real-- it's a luxury and no one's broke. Don't try to get the office visit free over the phone.

Just my advice.

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Specializes in allergy and asthma, urgent care.

I'm leaving the day after tomorrow! I was able to get my vaccines through my PCP, which saved a lot of money. I'm taking Cipro with me, along with Pepto and Immodium. I'm also bringing a jar of peanut butter and Lara bars. I was able to get some medications donated (allergy and children's Tylenol), so those will be taking up a good part of my suitcase.

I'm excited and nervous at the same time.

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