“Working with little technology and, at times, without necessary supplies challenges my expertise, encourages my ingenuity, and brings me back to the all-important basics of neonatal care. Working in the consistently busy and understaffed Special Care Baby Unit is a very humbling experience. Working side-by-side with my Ugandan colleagues who share my love and dedication to the care of sick and premature newborns and their families makes returning to Uganda year after year a privilege.“
-HVO Nursing Education Volunteer to Uganda
READY TO VOLUNTEER?
There are multiple steps to the placement process and often more than one approval is required. The process varies slightly from country-to-country and project-to-project. We strive to make this process as quick as possible but potential volunteers should be aware that final approval can take several months.
- To begin the placement process, complete the volunteer application and submit your CV.
A NOTE ABOUT HVO’S NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAM
Nursing education is central to HVO’s work to improve global nursing availability and quality. Therefore, at HVO, we are seeking experienced nurse educators and nurse practitioners (with master’s or doctoral level credentials) for formal nursing education positions. BS-prepared nurses with several years of relevant clinical experience who are comfortable with formal teaching are most welcome as clinical mentors and teachers. Areas of experience include, but are not limited to, care of people with diabetes, stroke, end-stage renal nursing with dialysis, mental health and psychiatric nursing, burn care, newborn care, care for children on ventilators, general pediatrics, ICU nursing, medical/surgical nursing, and women’s health. For more nursing volunteer opportunities, please review our Wound & Lymphedema, Hematology, and Oncology projects.
ACTIVE PROJECTS
Kampot, Cambodia—Sonja Kill Memorial Hospital (SKMH)
Sonja Kill Memorial Hospital, a non-profit hospital in the vibrant city of Kampot in Cambodia, is seeking volunteers to provide RN training in several areas. Volunteers would be working to increase the knowledge and skills of the NICU RNs around the care of the sick neonate, support the development of critical care nursing skills for nurses working in the emergency room, and increase the knowledge of staff RNs around the nursing care of patients with non-communicable diseases.

Project type: Hybrid (in-person and virtual)
Length of assignment: 2-4 weeks in-person; variable for virtual
Qualifications: Current nursing license and significant experience in either nursing education and/or clinical specialty work. Experience in adult med/surg, NICU, or critical care / emergency are most needed. No opportunities for those-in-training.
Housing: The hospital has guest houses with private rooms with air conditioning and a private bath for rent for $25/day. Meals can be arranged at the guest house for an additional fee ($1/day for breakfast, $2/day for dinner. Lunch is free at the hospital). Two bungalows on campus can accommodate families.
Companions allowed: Adults and minors.
Phnom Penh, Cambodia – Sihanouk Hospital (SHCH)
Volunteers provide lectures and clinical instruction to Cambodian nurses at Sihanouk Hospital. Volunteers also lead journal club discussions.

Project type: Hybrid (in-person and virtual)
Length of assignment: 2-4 weeks in-person; variable for virtual
Qualifications: Volunteers must be registered nurses with a current license to practice in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, or Western Europe. They must have a master’s degree or be a certified adult or family nurse practitioner. Volunteers should have at least two years of teaching experience in nursing, with expertise in a specific area. Retired volunteers are welcome. No opportunities for those-in-training.
Housing: Volunteer responsible for housing; information on nearby facilities provided.
Companions allowed: Adults and minors.
Siem Reap, Cambodia – Angkor Hospital for Children (AHC)
Volunteers will work to improve nursing skills in patient triage and hematology/oncology nursing through clinical and didactic training of nurses at AHC.

Program type: In-person only
Length of assignment: 2 weeks minimum
Qualifications: Volunteers should be registered nurse practitioners or nurses with specialized training, especially in the areas of nutrition/lactation, heme/onc, outpatient Triage, neurology, and / or respiratory care. No opportunities for those-in-training.
Housing: Volunteers responsible for housing.
Companions allowed: Adults and minors.
Luang Prabang, Laos – Lao Friends Hospital for Children (LFHC)
Volunteers will work with the LFHC staff to improve the quality and availability of neonatal nursing care. Volunteers will work with the LFHC Nurse Educator to help establish a sustainable nursing education program, as well as provide hands-on training to staff nurses.

Project type: In-person only
Length of assignment: 2 months minimum
Opportunities for Those-in-Training: No.
Qualifications: Current license required; master’s degree or higher preferred; at least 2 years of neonatal and/or pediatrics teaching experience preferred; previous international experience preferred. No opportunities for those-in-training.
Housing: Volunteer responsible for housing; information on nearby facilities provided.
Companions allowed: Adults and minors.
Butwal, Nepal- Devdaha Medical College and Research Institute
The goals of this project include improving the knowledge and skills of nursing staff in the critical care units (NICU, ICU, and CCU), improving methods of teaching in the nursing program, and fostering understanding about the professional nursing role in the care of each patient. In working towards these goals, volunteers may work with nursing faculty, nursing students, nurse leaders, and clinical staff (health assistants, community health assistants, and nurse midwives). In addition to providing lectures and clinical mentorship, volunteers will be teaching/modeling the role of the professional nurse. The project is recruiting volunteers who can serve for two weeks.

Project type: Hybrid (in-person and virtual)
Length of assignment: Minimum of 2 weeks in-person; variable for virtual
Qualifications: Volunteers should be board-certified, highly experienced in their specialty area, and be available to serve for a minimum of two weeks.
Housing: Housing is provided.
Companions: Adults only, no minors.
Hai Duong, Vietnam- Hai Duong Medical and Technical University (HMTU)
HMTU’s four-year nursing program is implementing a competency-based curriculum, which is a learning model that applies active student learning and critical-thinking skills to solve clinical problems. HMTU also has a new masters in nursing program. HVO is partnering with HMTU to assist with the implementation of the curriculum, as well as provide opportunities to build capacity of the nursing faculty. HMTU faculty hold a minimum of a master’s degree and many have completed their PhD’s. Faculty are eager to work with HVO volunteers. Volunteers provide lectures and lead discussions on topics that fit their experience and expertise –with guidance from HMTU administration and the HVO project director. A translator will be provided as needed.

Project type: Hybrid (in-person and virtual)
Length of assignment: 2 weeks in-person; variable for virtual
Qualifications: Volunteers must have an active, unrestricted nursing license. Nurses with masters and/or doctorates, along with teaching experience in classroom and/or clinical settings, are preferred. Volunteers with BSNs who have extensive experience teaching and evaluating student clinical performance are also encouraged to apply. No opportunities for those-in-training.
Housing: Housing is provided.
Companions: Adults only, no minors.
Hue, Vietnam – Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy (HueUMP)
HVO volunteers provide guidance in post-graduate and Master’s-level education in nursing. They assist Hue University faculty with nursing education methods and offer continuing education for current hospital nurses in topics identified by the Hue University nursing department. HVO volunteers also assist with training workshops hosted throughout the year. These workshops will be two weeks in length and focus on 1-2 topics identified by the Hue University nursing department.

Project type: Hybrid (in-person and virtual)
Length of assignment: 2 weeks minimum in-person; variable for virtual
Qualifications: Master’s degree; current license (active or retired); 2 years of teaching experience in nursing; expertise in a particular area. No opportunities for those-in-training.
Housing: Volunteer responsible for housing; information on nearby facilities provided.
Companions allowed: Adults and minors.
Thai Nguyen, Vietnam – Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy (TUMP)
Volunteers will be supporting faculty at Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy and the nursing staff at the affiliated hospital. Activities include in-person and online didactic lectures, mentorship in teaching, researching, and publishing, and organizing workshops. Depending on their expertise, volunteers may also be asked to provide training in Hanoi (about 1.5 hours away with transportation provided for volunteers).

Project type: Hybrid (in-person and virtual)
Length of assignment: 2-4 weeks for in-person; variable for virtual
Qualifications: Current nursing license and significant experience in either nursing education and/or clinical specialty work. Retirees are welcomed. Given the emphasis on team-based caring, the opportunity is open to teams of volunteers with multiple specialties. No opportunities for those-in-training.
Housing: Housing is provided.
Companions allowed: Adults and minors.