Organizations for volunteer missions that do not cost too much?

[fsv1024]

Hi everyone!

I'm a new nurse (working in both surgical/trauma and med surg for several months) but with plenty of medical experience prior to nursing (I've worked at a cancer institute and an ed for several years prior to this since nursing is my second career). I've gone on several medical mission trips and my goal is to eventually apply to work with Doctor's Without Borders (unfortunately one needs 2 or so years experience in order to apply). However, I'm really interested in going again but now as an rn. My main setback is that I can't really afford to spend the money I've spent in the past.

Does anyone know of any organizations that charge a reasonable fee to volunteer and who wouldn't mind sharing a bit of their experience?

Thank you!

[Spoiled1, MSN, RN]

I don't have any experience but I just inquired with Samaritan's Purse. They have a clinic in Haiti. You are responsible for airfare to and from, and then they cover room, board and transportation while in the country. I researched some flights from here (charlotte, nc) and a RT ticket will be about $720. Not THAT bad in comparison to other volunteer missions I've seen. Hope this helps! Good luck!

[Silkybo]

My dream is to do a short term volunteer project with MEDICO, a non sectarian group in Texas that sends health professionals and students to do one or two week clinics in Honduras and Nicaragua. They charge a reasonable fee, most of the money being used for meds and supplies. You can go as a pre organized crew, like from your hospital or nursing school class (reunion anyone?) or join one of their pre planned excursions. Your accomodations will BASIC and the food is simple but delicious. My 1st trip to Honduras was as a student in my early 20's there to improve my Spanish skills. Instead, it tranformed my life, and I need to give back a little to this Marvelous land now that I am an RN and have a useful skill to offer. I did a lot of research, and MEDICO seemed to have the best combination of short, frequent affordable trips that didn't include a heavy religious bias. If anyone has travelled with them, I'd love to hear firsthand experiences

[Spoiled1, MSN, RN]

My dream is to do a short term volunteer project with MEDICO, a non sectarian group in Texas that sends health professionals and students to do one or two week clinics in Honduras and Nicaragua. They charge a reasonable fee, most of the money being used for meds and supplies. You can go as a pre organized crew, like from your hospital or nursing school class (reunion anyone?) or join one of their pre planned excursions. Your accomodations will BASIC and the food is simple but delicious. My 1st trip to Honduras was as a student in my early 20's there to improve my Spanish skills. Instead, it tranformed my life, and I need to give back a little to this Marvelous land now that I am an RN and have a useful skill to offer. I did a lot of research, and MEDICO seemed to have the best combination of short, frequent affordable trips that didn't include a heavy religious bias. If anyone has travelled with them, I'd love to hear firsthand experiences

Thanks for sharing. I've never heard of MEDICO, but will research them to learn more. :)

[AnnaRN10]

I traveled with MEDICO! I went on more of a pre-organized trip as a nursing student for my final preceptorship. Let me tell you, it was amazing! A nursing instructor brought 6 students and we were the nurses of the trip. We traveled with a group of physicians and medical residents. A MEDICO representative came with and helped as a non-medical volunteer the whole time. Our trip was to Jalapa, Nicaragua. The team leaders had all of our accomodations and meals planned. I am looking for another trip to do through MEDICO. They tend to go to the same areas on a yearly basis, so the locals recognize and have trust in them. The cost is around $800, plus airfare. As was said before, this goes for medications and other supplies for the trip. MEDICO is a non-profit organization. For me, the round trip airfare was about $700, so in total about $1500. I also enjoyed that it did not have the strong religious basis that most missions do, as I am not a religious person.