Your role as a volunteer
As an intern joining a Nursing Elective with OGVO in Ghana you will gain a wealth of valuable experience to take with you in your career. You will find the hospitals in Ghana an excellent base for learning and improving your Nursing skills.
You must be a nursing student to do an Elective placement. You will come into contact with conditions that you wouldn't normally see in Western countries, such as malaria and typhoid, on nearly a daily basis. Nursing methods will also be different from what you are used to and there will be much for you to experience and learn.
You will shadow one of our supervisors who all speak English and are very experienced at working with nursing students. They will be ready to test out your nursing experience, as well as give you the benefit of their training and knowledge.
Our Nursing Elective programs in Ghana are based in Kumasi, Gomoa Fetteh and Onwe. You will be based in a bustling city hospital, working with patients who have a wide range of illnesses.
Why it is important
The hospitals/clinics that we work with have realized that exchanging medical technology with foreign volunteers would be beneficial to both parties and also provide them with extra assistance that they need. Due to lack of adequate nursing/medical staff, the nurses at the facility are not able to provide all the care necessary for the patients, without doing many hours of overtime each week. Nursing student volunteers could do much to relieve this stressful situation.
The nursing/medical student volunteers would be asked to help in several areas,(depending on their qualification and experience), such as: attending to patients various needs, giving prescribed medications to those whom require it, consulting with patients about their current situation and what to do to help reduce risk. Nursing/medical student volunteers may be asked to work in the antenatal/postnatal maternity section of the facility or in the HIV/AIDS and Family Planning division.
Student nurses would be expected to assist with administrative duties as well, be it updating patients files or recording of current medical data etc. The scope of a nursing/medical student's experience at this facility is vast and he/she could not only enhance their medical knowledge but also provide assistance in a very worthwhile endeavour
Nursing Student Electives in Ghana with OGVO
When you first arrive at the hospital you will discuss your work schedule with the OGVOcoordinator and the placement supervisor who will be a member of the hospital staff. If you are specializing in a specific area of nursing, you will discuss this with us and we will ensure that you are able to develop a program of study to support this. Many students choose to spend time in a variety of different departments within the hospital, including accident and emergency, pediatrics, maternity, pharmacy, physical therapy, and surgery.
Students on Nursing Electives are also encouraged to take part in regular medical outreach work, which involves treating children with minor wounds or illnesses from small villages or paying a visit to an orphanage. Those on a Nursing Elective wanting to specialize in the outreach work can join a full time Public Health.
Nursing Student Electives in Ghana are available for shorter periods than 4 weeks. While you will be able to gain valuable medical experience on a short-term trip, we recommend staying for a longer period to allow yourself more time to get to know the local medical system, see more of a variety of conditions and procedures, and develop stronger relationships with local medical staff.
Can I use this program as part of a college or university placement?
It is certainly possible to use one of OGVO’s programs as part of your university or college placement. Project staff can sign off any paperwork required by your course tutors. OGVO regularly receives medical, childcare, psychology and nursing placement students at our projects across Ghana and we have ties with some of the leading universities.
If you’re a course tutor and would like further information about how one of OGVO’s programs could meet the placement requirements for your degree course then please contact us directly.
Ghana is hot. It is always hot. What’s more, it's always humid. Humidity usually lingers between 95 and 100 percent. The rainy season lasts from mid-June to mid-November - sometimes. The rain provides a little respite from the intense heat, but temperatures will still be in the mid-80s Fahrenheit. The south of the country experiences the heaviest rainfall during September.
Typical day
- 7.30 AM – 8:00 AM: Breakfast with the host family
- 8.00 AM – 9:00AM: Volunteer leaves home and travels to the project
- 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM: The volunteer joins with the local staff. You will be given a duty roster and a plan for your work. There is usually a tea break and a lunch break. Work and hours is dependent on the project and location that the volunteer is participating in.
- 2.00 PM – 5.00 PM Work at the project usually ends. The volunteer at this point has free time to explore Kumasi, catch up with friends and/or do any necessary shopping.
- 7.30 PM: Dinner with the host family.
Details on Arrival
This program is available all year round, so volunteers or interns can arrive any day of the week or any month of the year with advance notice!
Free-time activities
During weekends Volunteers/Interns have the opportunity to visit all
that Ghana has to offer. Weekend trips available include visits to Mole
National Park in the Northern Region of Ghana. This National Park offers
a great Safari-like experience and is one of the biggest Elephant
Sanctuaries in Africa with the chance to spot Lions, Leopards &
Antelopes in their natural habitat.
Volunteers can also take a trip to
Cape Coast in the Central Region of Ghana to relax in the beautiful
beaches and see the famous Cape Coast castle, the Kakum Canopy walkway
and Elmina castle, where slave trade begun.
NOTE: We do not provide tours, however you can add a tour before or
after your volunteer program for an additional cost. We can perform
quality tours and can offer discounts to volunteers.
Program Requirements
Included Services
Before your journey
On-site services
- airport meeting and transfer to project site
- comprehensive pre-departure information
- introduction to host family and program orientation
- accommodation and meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner)
- supervision and visa support letter
- Application review and processing
- support and guidance as well as 24 / 7 hour emergency back-up from staff
- all information before and during your time with us in Ghana
- regular culture activities (personal spending not included)
The price does not include visa, flight, vaccinations/immunizations, personal insurance (required), personal spending and in-country travel.
You should arrive into Kotoka International Airport in Accra (ACC). You will be met at the airport by one of our local staff or an appointed driver who will be holding a named sign. They will take you to your accommodation where you will spend the rest of your day at leisure.
Volunteers on this program will be accommodated with a local host family, and will gain the opportunity to become immersed in the local culture and custom, improving their knowledge of the people, culture and language. Ghanaian families are renowned for their kindness and hospitality and they love to learn about different cultures. Living with a local family truly is the best way to throw oneself into the local culture and to meet people who will often become lifelong friends!
All families have been fully vetted by our team and have extensive experience hosting international volunteers. Bedrooms are private but generally shared with volunteers of the same gender. Volunteers will be provided access to a shared bathroom. Generally, your host brother, sister or mother assist you with your laundry but it is not an obligation, learn to wash your clothing’s with your hands in several buckets, enjoy the sun drying your clothes and odor the African fragrance in your clothes.
It is important to remember that the living conditions in Ghana are different from home. Most families have running water, but hot water is still uncommon in some areas. Although the accommodation is basic, this is part of the challenge and experience of volunteering in a developing country. With a little patience, and a flexible attitude, you will quickly get used to your new surroundings.
Three meals a day are provided by the home-stay families and consist
mainly of traditional Ghanaian meals with some flexibility for home
comforts when available.
Breakfast is usually ready by around 7am; however you can eat later if you prefer to get up late. Lunch is usually packed by your host family in a lunch box so that you can eat at your project if you wish. Dinner is usually served around 6pm.
If you have special eating needs, you can indicate that while applying. Even though special eating needs are not something we can guarantee, we will do our best to meet your needs.
Program Fees
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