An adult nursing elective abroad puts you at the heart of the action

Get eye-opening experience in a hospital in the developing world. Learn how local culture, customs and resource shortages affect how nurses care for patients, and discover that the 6Cs are a luxury we take for granted.

This is a unique opportunity for you to join a team of local healthcare professionals on the wards and get real-life experience that will forever change the way you view your discipline.

You’ll see local nurses improvising clinical techniques on the spot, and patients with advanced-stage conditions you’ve only read about, like malaria and dengue fever.

"There were up to four patients to a bed"

“One of the most memorable cases involved a patient who was in hypovolemic shock. The patient was in an open corridor being manually ventilated by her brother, who stood by her for hours.

Both of them were in full view of other patients. There were up to four patients to a bed out in the corridors, but no one seemed phased.”

— Koren Harper, nursing student from Anglia Ruskin University

Social Media - Priya Reehal - @prireehalWhile you're on the wards you’ll see:

  • Families providing bedside care, including manual ventilation
  • A lack of patient privacy including multiple patients in a bed
  • Traditional herbal medicine used in place of modern techniques
  • Back-to-basics care like manual intubation (without analgesia)
  • Disposable equipment being sterilised and reused

Once-in-a-lifetime adventure experiences

Spend your evenings and weekends exploring your chosen destination with new friends from the Work the World house.

This is your chance to have make unforgettable memories — you could:

  • Stay up late at legendary parties on tropical beaches
  • Get up close to wild elephants, lions and giraffes on safari
  • Swim with curious sea turtles in warm tropical waters
  • Hike (or paraglide!) through snow-capped Mountains

BROWSE DESTINATIONS

On the ward in Arusha, TanzaniaBy the end of your trip you Will:

  • Gain perspective that reframes your view of the NHS
  • Build your confidence by stepping out of your comfort zone
  • Get a competitive edge that boosts your career
  • Collect story-worthy travel memories to share with friends back home

Your trip is tailored to you, so offers what you personally need to have an experience you will never forget. You'll find out what you’re capable of and by the time you get home, you’ll feel ready for anything.

Hansen Brevetti John"IT WAS MY TIME WITH WORK THE WORLD THAT GOT ME THIS JOB, IT TOTALLY PREPARED ME FOR IT!"

"A Work the World placement stands out on your CV as a badge of durability, resourcefulness, and cross-cultural aptitude.

During the interview for my current position, I felt as if I started every sentence with 'When I was a student nurse in Tanzania…'. It got me the job. It’s the best investment you'll ever make in developing your skills, your career, and yourself.”

John Hansen-Brevetti, former nursing student at Queen Margaret University

Here's what you get:

  • A supervised overseas elective in your choice of departments
  • Complete preparation process before you go
  • Accommodation in a private, catered house
  • Language lessons
  • A 24/7 in-country team to support you

This is the kind of trip you only take once, so it needs to be right first time. You need to know you're in experienced hands.

We are the experts in planning, customising, and building nursing electives abroad. We were founded in 2005, so we’re the longest-running and most experienced elective organisation there is.

We’ve created unique electives for 18,000+ students and graduates around the world who have independently rated us 4.8 out of 5.

    prices and inclusions

    What might your personalised elective trip LOOK like?

    It's easy to find out — get in touch today to tell us which destinations and departments you’re interested in, and our experts will give you a clear idea of the many options availabe to you.

    We dedicate 100% of our time to building and overseeing quality overseas elective placements. So you get total peace of mind knowing that we have the best understanding of what makes a perfect overseas healthcare elective. You'll get support tailored to your needs every step of the way, including the safety aspects of the placement.

    Take your first step towards your own once-in-a-lifetime overseas experience by getting in touch today to see what’s possible.

    ENQUIRE NOW

    What do our adult nursing electives offer?

    A Work the World adult nursing elective abroad gives you the chance to undertake a clinical placement in the developing world. You will spend time in a low-resource hospital and see unfamiliar practices and advanced conditions.

    What are the benefits of an adult nursing elective with Work the World?

    The benefits of our adult nursing electives include:

    • Getting invaluable clinical experience in the field
    • Making yourself more attractive to employers
    • Building your professional network  
    • Doing some proper travelling

    How long is an adult nursing elective with Work the World?

    An adult nursing elective is as long as you want it to be. Our minimum placement duration is one week, but students typically travel on their nursing electives for 4 weeks. There is no upper limit to how long you can travel for.

    What is an adult nursing elective?

    An adult nursing elective placement is your opportunity to get some real-world experience in a clinical setting. Undertaking your nursing elective placement overseas massively expands the scope of what you'll be able to achieve. It also looks great to employers as it shows your passion for your vocation.