The world is currently facing a period of hurricanes and natural disasters unlike what we’ve seen in centuries. Right now, it’s safe to say that no one is truly safe from nature. One day, everything could be fine, and then the next, disaster strikes. It only takes one small hurricane, tornado, or storm to undo everything man has constructed in a given area.

While the United States has its share of problems dealing with the aftermaths of several natural disasters, this is sadly the daily routine for numerous impoverished countries, who do not have access to necessary medical resources. Despite the rampant destruction caused by both Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma, there are more than 1.3 billion people around the world who have to face inhumane conditions when they do not have access to basic treatments nor supplies.

It is for this reason that medical mission trips came into existence, so that those who have the means and the knowledge on how to provide medical care could travel to places that are struggling from precarious conditions and lack of essential healthcare services. Developing countries, in particular, are frequently those who are most in need and are popular medical mission trip destinations.

Formally, a medical mission trip is just that: an expedition in which trained medical professionals travel to a specific place, for a determined amount of time, to render specific services. These trips involve every type of medical professional, including nurses, general practitioners, and even specialized physicians, such as obstetricians, gynecologists, and even psychiatrists to provide emotional relief in the aftermath of natural disasters. The duration of a medical mission trip can vary from weeks to years, depending on the necessity of the location and the company that organizes the tour.

Initially, these medical missions were developed and organized by local religious organizations and would provide primary health care while spreading the faith in hopes of improving the community. While some organizations still retain their religious ideals, others opt to provide care, regardless of spiritual intent and will accept any volunteers who offer to lend a hand.

Participating in a Medical Mission Trip as a Working Nurse

As a nurse, you might find yourself bound by your current hospital job, which makes participating in endeavors outside the facility you work in all but impossible. Nevertheless, while the health care system is not obligated by law to provide leave to participate in these medical mission trips, some health centers have policies in place to allow medical professionals and nurses to sign up for these expeditions.

In some centers, you might receive one-week of non-paid leave, while in others you might get more time as a paid-vacation every other year. Since the organizers usually plan these medical mission trips months in advance, you could consult with your manager about your options in case you want to participate. Make sure to inquire about how the hospital handles leaves in these cases and, in the case of considering them as paid vacations, consult beforehand to ensure that the time off is guaranteed.

Once your leave has been discussed, and that you know how your hospital will handle your absence, you can feel free to apply for a medical mission trip. There are many of these expeditions available for participation, which can seem a bit overwhelming when choosing one. In this regard, here are two reputable organizations that you might be interested in.

MEDICO

This organization has, since 1990, made it their mission to provide quality care to those in Central America who don’t have the means to seek medical assistance by themselves. A typical trip with this organization lasts around 7 to 10 days, and are made up of both medical and non-medical personnel. Furthermore, this organization has over 25 years of local partnerships to support its efforts in every country that they visit.

Project HOPE

This organization is driven by the core belief in the universal right to receive adequate healthcare services. Their motto is: “We believe in a universal right to be healthy and thrive, and we envision a world where everyone has access to the healthcare needed to reach life’s full potential.” In this sense, Project HOPE is focused on treating infectious diseases and chronic diseases, dealing with health policy issues, and providing disaster relief and health crisis support on a global scale. As of late 2017, their needs were of Spanish-speaking nurses and physicians to assist in Puerto Rico. However, they have openings all around the world, in places such as China, Haiti, Kosovo, and the Dominican Republic.

However, if you’re a nurse and want to help out in Project HOPE, you’d need to be quick; their positions for nurses are very sparse and often fill up very quickly.