Learn about community health nursing on clinical rotations in Belize!
During this two-week community health nursing clinical internship in tropical Belize, you will participate in clinical nursing rotations where you will have the opportunity to shadow Belizean nurses and medical professionals.
During the program, you will spend one week shadowing nurses in hospital facilities in San Ignacio and another week with community health workers in surrounding towns and villages. You will develop an understanding of Belize’s health system and gain an appreciation of what it means to be a health worker in a different social and cultural context.
Although you will work hard, you will also have plenty of opportunities to immerse yourself in the culture and natural beauty of Belize, a multicultural, biodiverse country that borders the Caribbean Sea.
In addition to an organized wilderness excursion, you will have free time to explore, shop at the town market, get to know your fellow interns, and have some fun!
Examples of possible clinical placements include:
- Public hospital
- Private hospital
- Medical center
- Home visits with community health workers
Your clinical shadowing program will allow you to shadow in multiple settings throughout the program.
Highlights:
- Introduction to the history, culture, and society of Belize
- Overview of the Belizean health system and the Belizean Ministry of Health
- Interaction with a diverse array of nurses and other medical professionals
- Full-time two-week internship
- Rotations in public, private, and community health sites
- An organized wilderness excursion
- Free time to choose your own adventure in Belize
PROGRAM DETAILS
The Center for Engaged Learning Abroad’s Community Health Nursing Clinical Internship is a two-week clinical experience in community health nursing. Nursing students from any college or university are welcome to apply. During this internship, you will shadow Belizean nurses and community health workers and develop insight into different methods of healthcare delivery, effective cross-cultural communication, and the provision of culturally competent care.
You will be comfortably housed in a guest house in shared rooms with other CELA nursing interns of the same gender. WiFi is available. Transportation to clinical sites and breakfast are included in the program tuition.
During your program, you will get to know the people and culture of Belize, an English-speaking Central American nation that borders the Caribbean Sea. Referred to as “the Jewel” by those who visit it, culturally diverse Belize is known for its beautiful beaches, lush rainforests, and ancient ruins.
You do not need a visa to travel to Belize and, in most cases, can use U.S. dollars. English is the country’s official language, so language is not a barrier. You may need to provide us with a simple resume for placement at some clinical sites.
For this program, you can receive 1 credit from our partner University, Culver Stockton College.
Want to spend a month in Belize? CELA also offers a two-week Global Perspectives in Health program, which is a great complement to the community health nursing clinical internship. Add the Global Perspectives in Health course and spend an entire month with us in Belize! See the program page for the four-week program for more details.
Exact program itinerary is subject to change.
