Nursing Internships in Arusha
This is a perfect internship abroad for nursing students. Interns shadow and assist qualified and experienced nurses in a range of departments within hospitals and clinics in Arusha, Tanzania. Build on your theoretical knowledge and develop real life experiences providing quality care and treatments in a unique healthcare environment.
Internship Highlights:
- Learn specific nursing techniques and skills by working closely with professional nurses.
- Gain specialized experience in medical departments of interest to you.
- Enjoy spare time in Arusha, go on safari in the Serengeti, and explore world famous natural landscapes.
Type of host organizations:
- Hospitals
- Health clinics
Internship details
This is a perfect internship abroad for nursing students. Interns shadow and assist qualified and experienced nurses in a range of departments within hospitals and clinics in Arusha, Tanzania. Build on your theoretical knowledge and develop real life experiences providing quality care and treatments in a unique healthcare environment.
This is an in-country internship, with accommodation and meals provided.
Nursing interns in Tanzania get to experience unique nursing care in a regional or community hospital environment in Arusha. You’ll assist under the supervision of an experienced nursing team working across diverse areas of the hospital, allowing you to focus your efforts in one particular healthcare department, or complete a rotation across different specialties. These departments can include:
- General medicine
- Surgery
- Outpatients
- Children’s wards
- Community health
- HIV outpatients
Please let us know in your application if you have a preference for a particular department or area of speciality. Each internship is customized to suit your own skills, experience and interests, so interns are able to request specific departments that you’d like to gain experience in. Placements are subject to availability, though requests are accommodated wherever possible.
Nursing interns can expect to be shadowing and assisting local nurses as they carry out their routine duties. Interns will not be directly responsible for patient care or be given hands-on tasks that you’re unqualified for. However, you will be able to provide assistance where it’s appropriate and learn from a committed and knowledgeable range of medical professionals. Not only will they coach you in regard to patient care and treatments, they will also provide an invaluable bridge between cultures, as you develop your cultural intelligence and learn more about the cultural diversity of Tanzania. Your nursing internship will provide you with valuable learning opportunities in dealing with patients who have a wide range of conditions. You’ll experience different techniques and treatments that might differ from what you may encounter at home.
Nursing interns must prepare to encounter healthcare facilities that are very different from what you may have previously experienced. Many hospitals and clinics in Arusha are under-resourced and under-developed. While this can cause culture shock initially, it also presents a valuable learning experience for you. You’ll be encouraged to consider your supervisor and in-country coordinator as valuable and knowledgeable resources and mentors. They’re in the best position to provide guidance and local context into the needs and challenges of the local community, and will be happy to support your unique learning experience throughout this internship abroad.
Due to the unpredictable nature of patient flow in clinics and hospitals, interns should note that the timing of treatments can be irregular. This means that there will be days which are very busy, as well as slower days, if patient workload is lighter. Interns should be adaptable, proactive and willing to help where it’s needed. You will be welcome to discuss your schedule at all times throughout the internship, should you wish to pick up any extra hours. (This is subject to availability and must always be discussed with your in-country coordinator, who can facilitate any necessary arrangements for you).
It is important to note that the internship placements grouped as “Medical” require interns to make a Ministry of Health contribution. This supports the operation of placements and covers supervision for interns on medical-related placements. This contribution is not included in the internship program fee; it must be made directly, in-country, under the direction and guidance of the Program Coordinator in Arusha. Interns will not be permitted to commence their placement until this has been covered. The amount of the Ministry of Health contribution varies, as it is not the same for every clinic/hospital. However, to cover the contribution sufficiently, we ask interns to budget up to US$75 per week.
In all cases, interns should expect that the first week of your experience will focus on settling in and gaining some introductory knowledge, as you will not “hit the ground running”. Rather, you should start with learning about the placement to gain an understanding of what you can build upon, develop, learn, and contribute. Ensure that you ask questions and provide feedback during the introductory period, so that your supervisor understands how you’re progressing. This will help them to better understand important details, such as how quickly you learn, what you find challenging, what you find interesting, etc.
Understand and expect that individual internship experiences vary, as the specific placement that you’re assigned will depend on review of your resume and your current level of studies and experience. Therefore, if you’re at a more introductory level, you should reasonably expect a more introductory internship. Likewise, if you’re interning for a shorter duration, you will have a different experience from someone who is interning for a longer duration. Placement preferences are considered but always subject to availability.
Career Benefits
Nursing interns learn from a qualified and experienced supervisor, and can be involved in:
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Shadowing and assisting local nurses in hospital departments or clinics.
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Providing basic treatments and taking patient details.
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Completing rotations across a range of medical departments.
Professional development opportunities:
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Gain practical insight into the routine of professional nurses.
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Develop your knowledge of nursing skills in a range of specific departments.
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Build culturally intelligent communication skills, pertaining to a medical environment.
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Gain a unique understanding of healthcare provision challenges and solutions, within an under-resourced environment.
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Enhance practical skills and boost your employability, with guidance from Intern Abroad HQ’s Experiential Learning Curriculum to support your learning and cultural intelligence.
Are you eligible for this internship?
Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.
Not sure which program to join?
Tanzania photo gallery
What recent interns said about their experience
I enjoy meeting new people and learning a new language. I also enjoyed working in a new country and seeing how different the healthcare system was. This internship has helped give me more confidence in my nursing career. I was able to get involved in nursing procedures I would not have otherwise been able to. I have learnt a lot from this experience which will help in my future career.
This was an incredible experience that contributed both to my personal and professional development. What I enjoyed most about this experience overall was building relationships with people all over the world and being able to share knowledge with one another.
This internship allowed me to develop my ambitions and gain a greater knowledge of the nursing field I want to pursue. I have been able to better understand how to care for neonatal babies and how important it is to also support mothers. My role in the internship was a nursing role, and I was able to use all my skills acquired in the UK to support the staff and integrate myself into the team. My skills shared and learnt aided me in becoming a productive member of the team, which helped me to support staff, parents and babies. I was also able to do ward rounds with the doctor, sharing my knowledge of respiratory distress syndrome and apnoea spells in neonates. The staff were friendly, engaging and enthusiastic about me achieving my goals and getting the best experience out of my internship. I was able to just be me and meet new people and thoroughly immerse myself in Tanzanian culture. I also gained greater confidence in my abilities, both professionally and socially, and now feel more confident in my clinical abilities. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience and hope to pursue further internships.
My Nursing internship in Tanzania pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me expand my global network and global understanding. I have developed and implemented so many new things within my field since traveling abroad for such an experience! I have developed and implemented so many new things within my field since traveling abroad for such an experience! Some of the most memorable moments for me was completing a full blood count to detect any infection or abnormalities, learning how to feed a patient on a Nasogastric tube, and how to test a patient who is HIV positive. These skills will help me pursue a career in Medicine as I have so much more experience in work, communication skills, networking, initiative, time management, adaptability and teamwork. My Nursing internship in Tanzania pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me expand my global network and global understanding. As I am currently going into my second year of nursing, I want to take all the opportunities I can to learn in different countries. I need to have good universal skills to be an outstanding nurse and the world is waiting for good professionals who make changes to the well-being of patients. I want to be one of them!
To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.
Academic credit available for all internships
Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing an internship abroad or remote internship program with Intern Abroad HQ.
Learn about course creditProgram fees
It’s free to apply for this internship. Once we have reviewed your suitability and accepted you onto this program, you’ll need to pay a deposit of US$499 to confirm your place. The remaining balance of your Program Fee (less your initial US$499 deposit payment) will be due no less than 60 days before your internship start date.
Duration |
Program Fee (USD) |
---|---|
2 weeks | $1,364 Equivalent to $97 /day |
3 weeks | $1,494 Equivalent to $71 /day |
4 weeks | $1,719 Equivalent to $61 /day |
5 weeks | $1,909 Equivalent to $54 /day |
6 weeks | $2,014 Equivalent to $47 /day |
8 weeks | $2,279 Equivalent to $40 /day |
10 weeks | $2,489 Equivalent to $35 /day |
12 weeks | $2,699 Equivalent to $32 /day |
16 weeks | $3,299 Equivalent to $29 /day |
20 weeks | $3,859 Equivalent to $27 /day |
24 weeks | $4,419 Equivalent to $26 /day |
- Airport pick-up
- Daily breakfast and dinner
- Accommodation
- 24/7 in-country support
- Program orientation
- Dedicated support before, during, and after your internship
- In-country guidance for social and tourist activities
- Sourcing and securing your internship placement
- Personalization of your internship plan
- Coaching from your supervisor
- Documented portfolio of your experiential learnings
- Academic credit facilitation
- International reference letter
- Certificate of Internship Completion
- Lunches and weekend meals
- All in-country transportation
- Visa (if required), flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check
- Transfer back to the airport at the end of your internship program
- Personal spending money for snacks, drinks, public transport, laundry, and leisure activities during your free time.
- A deposit of $499 (approximately 499) is required to secure your internship
- It is important to note that the internship placements grouped as "Medical" require interns to make a Ministry of Health contribution. This supports the operation of placements and covers supervision for interns on medical-related placements. This contribution is not included in the internship program fee; it must be made directly, in-country, under the direction and guidance of the Program Coordinator in Arusha. Interns will not be permitted to commence their placement until this has been covered. The amount of the Ministry of Health contribution varies, as it is not the same for every clinic/hospital. However, to cover the contribution sufficiently, we ask interns to budget up to US$75 per week.
- Balance of your Program Fee is due 70 days before your internship start date. The Program Fee payment can also be completed in installments through our Zero-Fee Payment Plan. Learn more.
- All payments attract a 5% transaction fee to cover international banking fees and currency charges.
- Terms and Conditions apply.
Free-time experiences & tours in Arusha
Take your internship to the next level with Intern Abroad HQ's affordable activity and tour add-ons in Arusha! Explore your options below and learn how to book them once you've been accepted onto an internship program.
In this tour you will visit two of the most popular destinations in Tanzania - Kilimanjaro Region. The tour starts and ends at Arusha, with experienced driver guides offering the trip of a lifetime!
Enrich your time in Tanzania with a visit to gain an authentic insight into the Maasai way of life.
Visit three of the most popular destinations in Tanzania - Tarangire National Park, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. The tour starts and ends at Arusha, with experienced driver guides offering the trip of a lifetime!
Arrival and Orientation
Internships in Tanzania begin every Monday. Exceptions may be made to this when start dates are shifted to avoid public holiday disruptions or closed when the program has already reached capacity. The minimum duration requirement is 2 weeks up to a maximum duration of 24 weeks.
Airport pick up and accommodation are included in the Program Fee. The accommodation is covered from the Sunday night before the Monday start date - interns are required to arrive no later than the Sunday before their Monday start date, as all orientations are held on Mondays.
Typical ports of entry include the local Arusha Airport (ARK) or the Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). If you are planning to spend time independently in Tanzania prior to your internship and will not require an airport pick up, we can discuss alternative arrival logistics with you.
Upon arrival, interns will be met, greeted, and transferred to the accommodation.
The last night of the accommodation is the Friday night of the final week, leaving interns free to depart on Saturday. Return transport to the airport will be provided to interns at no cost, provided they’re making their way back to the airport on either the Saturday or Sunday of their final week.
Extra nights of accommodation can be arranged in advance, if requested, and are subject to availability.
Orientation covers important details for your internship, including introductions, information about culture, customs, rules, expectations, safety, language lessons, cultural excursions, and more. Your specific internship placement orientation will follow the general orientation, as you’ll be shown how to travel to and from your internship and be introduced to the team you’ll be joining.
Please note that all participants are advised not to book flights until they have first registered to confirm their internship placement.
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Accommodation and WiFi
Interns in Arusha are accommodated together on one of the city’s most top-rated guest houses, located in a quiet and friendly neighbourhood (just 15 minutes from town center). Living is safe, clean, modern and comfortable, including 24/7 gated security, housekeeping, and a live-in local coordinator. (Laundry services are not included but can be arranged directly for a small fee). Amenities include hot showers, WiFi, and satellite television (in common areas). Interns can expect to share a bedroom with 1- 5 other guests, of the same gender. Bathroom facilities are shared. Private/en-suite room upgrades are subject to availability and must be arranged directly with the local team, once registered.
Please note that the accommodation pictured in the photo gallery of this webpage is provided as an example. Since we may work with more than one apartment (depending on capacity), the exact accommodation that you’re assigned may differ slightly from the photos. Rooms sizes, along with storage space, may also vary.
Meals
Internships in Arusha include breakfast and dinner, prepared and served Monday to Friday at the guest house accommodation. Typical dishes in Tanzania are influenced by seasonal produce and the dinner menu is usually set according to a weekly rotating schedule. For example, dinner meals may cover Wali Rosti (rice and meat stew), spaghetti bolognese, Wali Umboga (rice and vegetables), pilau, and chapati maharage (a thin wholemeal pancake cooked on a griddle, with beans). Dinner dishes are accompanied with salad. Breakfasts consist of fresh seasonal fruit, fried eggs, and bread with spreads (plus tea and coffee). A filtered cold water dispenser is available in the common area for use to reduce the amount of plastic bottle use. Bottled water is readily available in Tanzania and volunteers should budget approximately US$5 per week for this (2 liters per day). Please be sure to let us know of any specific dietary requirements that you have in advance (i.e. allergies and intolerances), so that we may ensure your hosts are aware and make recommendations to you accordingly. However, it is important to note that the provided meals will not reflect what you are used to eating at home and flexibility is required. Interns are encouraged to budget extra spending money for any special snacks/treats.
Essential country information
Capital | Dodoma |
Population | 47.78 million |
Languages | Swahili and English |
Currency | Tanzanian Shilling (TZS) |
Time zone | UTC+03:00 |
Weather and climate:
In Arusha, where the Tanzania internship programs are based, the warm season typically lasts from January till late March. During this period, the average daily high is around 81°F / 27°C. The cooler season is from mid May till late August and the coldest month of the year is usually in July, when the low reaches around 56°F / 13°C. The dry season is considered to run from late May through till mid November. Rainfall can occur during the rest of the year, December through April.