International Missions as a NP Clinical Option:Safety&Cultural Considerations
Safety & Cultural Considerations
Safety considerations are always a priority with international travel. A mission partner needs to have an established track record with in-country hosts, transportation and approvals of the state department and local governmental agencies. It is essential that trustworthy relationships have been established in the country to assure team safety. Country selection depends on travel costs (flight duration) and current characteristics of the country including the prevalence of disease, need and local crime statistics.
Team Preparation is extensive and includes required immunizations, as well as prophylactic treatment for any prevailing diseases such as malaria and cholera. The incidence and prevalence of illness, chronic conditions and disease risk status must be considered. Personal safety concerns can be minimized with good education, particularly related to things that should be left at home (such as jewelry and expensive camera equipment). Clothing guidelines and behavior expectations should be clearly defined to avoid attracting unwanted attention. Contacts for health and safety emergencies (consulate, police, hospital, and local healthcare providers) should be identified before departure.
Cultural Considerations vary by country and local community and should be identified prior to departure. Common American cultural norms, such as some hand signals, can be misinterpreted or even insulting to some cultures. Appropriate approaches to local community members with respect of modesty and potential prejudices can avoid awkward or insensitive situations.
Best practices for selecting student team members include the use of a short essay to express contributions to the team and their prior experience, letters of reference, and good academic standing. The remainder of the team should be diverse and include medical support by NPs, physicians, translators and non-medical personnel who can assist with crowd control. Taking the time to allow students to share their emergency contact information with other team members and their families can help to minimize stateside anxiety by maintaining lines of communication between families when the team’s ability to communicate may be minimized due to an emergency.