Medical & Nursing Care Assistant

The program

Our medical volunteering program is based in the vibrant and bustling city of Cusco, Peru. The experience will allow you fully immerse yourself in a whole new culture whilst gaining essential work experience to develop in your chosen medical discipline.

Medical students or professionals will be placed in "Centros de Salud" or Hospitals which provide both primary and basic emergency care to low-income families. Clinics receive a large amount of patients every day.

Volunteer work

Medical students can support the provision of medical care, participating in hygiene campaigns and healthcare education. You will be working alongside doctors and nurses, rotating within the different departments of the clinic, such as pediatrics, obstetrics, and general medicine.

Medical Interns will be given a level of responsibility that corresponds to their level of training, Spanish and ability to take initiative.

Responsibilities might include:
– Observe and aid in patient consultations
– Observe and aid in physical examinations
– Assist with processing, reporting, and interpreting laboratory tests
– Observe and perform injections, sutures, and suture removal
– Aid in obstetric check-ups and consultations, as well as family planning services
– Prepare and sterilize equipment and materials
– Organize patient medical files

Our medical volunteer program allows you to learn about healthcare and medicine on an international level often very different from Western medicine. Working with local doctors and Peruvian patients in local clinics and hospitals will give you real-life experience and learning opportunities that will enhance your career while also broadening your horizons to medical problems in South America.

What you should bring

 **Volunteers are required to bring their own basic medical supplies, including white coat, scrubs and stethoscope and blood pressure cuff. Prior to your arrival you may be required to provide copies of your training and credentials.

Upon arrival in Cusco, we will be waiting for you at Cusco’s airport, from where we will go to our host family. We will be given a health & safety and program orientation, and you will have time to rest.

Monday morning, we will meet at our office in Cusco and you will be given a briefing about your project. Then we will take the public bus to the project, where you will be introduced to the director and can start working.

Daily schedule:

Monday to Friday:

7:30 AM - Breakfast with host family
8:00 AM - Volunteer leaves to the project
8:30 AM - Arrival at the project, beginning of Volunteering
1:00 PM - End of project
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM  Lunch with host family
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM Free time
7-7:30PM - Dinner with the host family

**The volunteers on afternoons are free to visit and explore the city, or can chose to take Spanish classes which can be arrange at our office.

Upon arrival to Cusco, we will be waiting at the airport and take you to your accommodation and you will have a small briefing about your itinerary in Cusco including important information about the security, time, money, and also some recommendations for places to go. After this you can accommodate and meet other volunteers.

FLIGHT INFORMATION NEEDS TO BE SENT TO US PRIOR ARRIVAL IN PERÚ.

On the weekend, volunteers have spare time and usually relax or take the opportunity to explore other parts of their local town and Peru. Long weekends can be taken to travel further afield such as Machu Picchu, Colca Canyon or Lake Titicaca. At PV Travel we organize fun and interesting tours for our volunteers, so just let us know where you would like to go!