Nursing Placement in Sri Lanka – My Voluntary Trip

As a lot of people know I am half way through my Adult Nursing degree at Bournemouth University. In October, the final year of my studies, I am taking the opportunity to experience a 3 week placement in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. My placement will be tailor made by a well known organisation, Work the World who will provide me with my overall experience, catered accommodation and support me while working in a local hospital. For two weeks I will be voluntarily working in a local hospital as a student nurse caring for individuals, who suffer from many ailments and diseases. Often these types of diseases aren't as common in the UK, so I will be able to gain knowledge of providing nursing care to individuals with some types of tropical diseases. I will observe and be able to appreciate the way their health care system works and how they provide nursing care to patients with a lack of medical resources or equipment compared to the UK.

The final week involves staying with a host family in a local village to experience health care in a more rural environment. lt will involve working alongside traditional healers and doctors who use natural plants or animal matter to help heal ailments and diseases; this will broaden my experience and knowledge. While staying with the host family, I will take part in many activities such as cooking and foraging that will allow me to appreciate their way of life.

Any funding donated to my voluntary trip will be used to cover the expenses needed to fulfil my placement. For example, funding will help towards costs like:

- visa/travel insurance

- accommodation and flights

- vaccinations

- personal equipment like nurse scrubs, mosquito net and protective equipment like hand sanitiser.

If enough funding is raised a percentage will be used to buy medical supplies when I arrive in Sri Lanka. I may be able to provide basic equipment, such as sterile gloves or aids that professionals are in need of to provide safe and effective care. Work the World will work in partnership with me to be able to buy resources at a medical supply store and provide required aids to local hospitals and their surrounding health care clinics.

As you can imagine this is expensive, but it's an opportunity of a lifetime and I can't risk not doing it, only to regret not doing it. Any donations are hugely appreciated! Only a few pounds per donation will go along way in my amazing trip.