Thailand: Volunteer Medical and Nursing Placements and Work-Experience

Nursing Placements in Thailand

Volunteering abroad on a Nursing placement with Projects Abroad offers an excellent way to gain nursing work experience.

All Nursing volunteers in Thailand taking part in one of our overseas voluntary work placements must have completed at least two years of actual nursing studies or training by the time they join this project. Volunteers also need to join this project for at least two months. Each placement is then tailored to your level of experience and interests.

Nursing volunteers in Thailand work in Surat Thani, about two hours drive from Krabi. Volunteers are based in one of three Primary Care Units, all under the management of Surat Thani hospital. Each Primary Care Unit is run by a head nurse and volunteers will be involved in work at the centres and also on outreach work in the communities as part of the Mobile Primary Care Unit programme.

Your Role as a Nursing Volunteer in Thailand

Within the Primary Care Units, nursing volunteers may work in a variety of areas including primary diagnoses, clinics for diabetes and high blood pressure, maternity, A+E, vaccinations, family planning and counselling.

Your role on the project will usually start by being observational and you will shadow the local staff. If you show enthusiasm and initiative and develop a good relationship with the medical staff, you may find that you gain enough trust to be given more to do. As with any job – and especially in the field of medicine - you must prove yourself to be trustworthy before you are given responsibilities.

The facilities are modern by local standards, but the treatments may differ to what you would expect at home. You should be prepared to possibly see some shocking or upsetting cases.

Volunteers on the nursing placement usually work from Monday to Friday and have the weekends free. Daily hours vary, and will be decided during your first meeting with the supervisor at your placement. Please remember that these medical placements should be taken seriously and that the staff with whom you work will expect you to be punctual and dress professionally.

Volunteers can also take part in a Nursing Elective in Thailand.