Completing an internship abroad can be an incredibly exciting and rewarding experience. For one, overseas work exposure provides practical skills, knowledge, and learning experience, regardless of the path you wish to pursue.
It’s particularly in demand in the global medical practice, driving internships in healthcare overseas. As a practitioner, you can learn about different health systems and innovative treatment modalities and deal with diverse patient populations.
Of course, optimizing your upcoming international stint takes work. It requires diligence and vulnerability from the start. Consider these key pieces of advice to reap substantial personal and professional rewards when interning overseas.
1. Prepare Meticulously Before Departing
Start by researching opportunities for unpaid or paid internships that healthcare facilities are offering in various locations. After picking your preferred destination, here’s what to do next:
- Study the Host Country’s Situation: Understanding the structure, common practices, cultural approaches, and current or potential challenges will help you navigate your internship better. Read reputable reports and connect with previous interns whenever possible.
- Complete Visa Requirements: Determine which visas you need for a healthcare internship abroad. The process can be lengthy, so start your application early. Secure a copy of the requirements, too, for security.
- Improve Language Skills: Learning basic terms in the local language can help improve daily interactions in and outside work. In a healthcare setting, language proficiency can positively impact patient outcomes. Moreover, it makes the learning process more seamless, considering you work with supervisors.
- Confirm Living and Transportation Arrangements: Intern housing and transportation may or may not be included in the program. If it’s the latter, ensure you have reasonably priced and safe living accommodations near your work site.
- Pack Properly: Place appropriate apparel and gear in your luggage alongside your professional wardrobe. Also, bring power adapters and other essentials that may be hard to obtain locally.
Detailed preparation is key to maximizing your internship experience. It lays the groundwork for uninterrupted learning possibilities in your receiving county.
2. Learn by Observing
As an intern, you may feel pressured to jump in and assist with patient care immediately. However, it’s more prudent to learn by observing during the first few days. Observational learning is key to forming and reinforcing an individual’s skills and knowledge.
Doing these things can help you easily navigate an overseas internship:
- Understand Etiquette: Notice how your colleagues dress and speak with each other. Then, observe how they deal with patients, their families, and visitors. Subtly mirroring positive norms helps you integrate better.
- Ask Questions: Clarify your expectations with your supervisor or coordinator. Discuss dress codes, work schedules, protocols, recordkeeping, intern tasks and responsibilities, and opportunities to observe treatments or procedures.
- Shadow Different Practitioners: Watching various practitioners, nurses, and support staff can provide you with a picture of coordinated healthcare. Ask if you could unobtrusively observe for certain periods.
- Note Diagnostics Processes: Diagnostic technology, questions asked to patients, reliance on tests, and interpretations may vary widely from practitioner to practitioner or facility to facility. That said, strive to understand how these professionals form their medical opinions based on available information and the norms that shape them.
- Attend Rounds and Meetings: Listening intently to practitioners discussing treatment plans can give you valuable insights you can’t get from textbooks.
An internship in healthcare requires you to set realistic expectations by understanding how the system works. So, feel free to politely ask for clarifications to comprehend the issues that directly or indirectly concern you.
3. Find Strength Through Human Connections
Adjusting to a new culture can leave you feeling overwhelmed and filled with self-doubt. You can seek comfort by engaging in activities you love and extending trust to the people you work with. Moreover, building bonds can turn isolation into inspiration. For instance:
- Learn From Seasoned Mentors: Politely approach managers and supervisors who take an interest in your training. Request to meet with them regularly and gain hard-won practical and life lessons. Note local techniques often overlooked by professionals in your home country and express gratitude.
- Build Relationships with Your Peers and Other Staff: Don’t limit your connections to people you look up to. Develop relationships with the other staff and fellow interns you identify with. This camaraderie can go a long way in building a healthy workplace environment.
- Immerse Yourself in the Local Culture: Explore local destinations and hidden gems to boost mental health. Take a glimpse of daily life by attending community events and engaging in friendly conversations with the residents. As inherently social beings, these interactions can help enrich your experience in a foreign country.
Whether dealing with mentors, staff, peers, or locals, practice humility by demonstrating your eagerness to learn and be excited about immersing in your new environment.
4. Be Open to Fresh Perspectives
Expect that the realities of living in another country will challenge your assumptions and beliefs. But there’s always a silver lining. You can leverage this growth opportunity by:
- Recording Your Honest Impressions: Reflect on your daily experiences and record your findings and realizations. If you find confusing or concerning issues, don’t be so quick to judge and discuss them with your mentors.
Understanding the System’s Complexities: Avoid jumping to conclusions as you build your discoveries about your host country and its people. Instead of merely identifying flaws, understand the complex issues impacting the healthcare system and patient care.
Final Thoughts
Beyond cultivating a global professional network, a healthcare internship provides a life-changing experience in a new environment. Gaining practical experience abroad can help you gain various skills to help advance your studies or career prospects.
So, embrace all aspects of your experience—whether good or challenging—with patience, empathy, and mindfulness to develop your character holistically. Proactively putting these tips into practice can help shape your career path and bring you closer to your goals.
