Nurse (Guatemala)

  Guatemala

San Andres

Durations of Program: 7-12 months and 1-2 years
Typical Duration of Program: 7-12 months
Dates: January 2009

Description: The internal clinic serves the children, staff and volunteers of the orphanage. Each home has a different arrangement with a local community doctor or a permanent clinician. In the event that a doctor is not on the premises, the nurses are the primary medical assistance for any accidents or medications that are needed. The clinic is open 24 hours a day to serve the needs of the children at all times. The nurses take turns spending the night in the clinic and working in the day. If there are no children in the clinic during a night shift, the nurses have a radio and can leave the clinic for a while as long as they can be reached. In the event of any serious accidents or emergencies the children are taken to the nearest hospital to be treated accordingly.

In the day, when the doctor is not there, the nurses have a variety of tasks to perform. If there are no children in need of attention, the nurses visit the houses to check the first aid kits and add whatever is needed for all the sections of children, sterilize materials, and restock. They also organize appointments with specialists in the city. Once the appointments are made they inform the children and caretakers what day and what time the children will be taken in and organize transportation for the trips. One person generally goes with the group of children to the city to supervise and bring each of their files to the doctor. There is usually a group that goes to a specialist of some kind once a week if not more often.

When there are children in the clinic, they are examined, given their medication or injection, and are allowed to stay in the clinic until the doctor comes to check them later in the day. The staff in the clinic are responsible for bringing food from the kitchen to feed the children, assisting them in their bathing and addressing whatever other needs they may have. When new children arrive at the orphanage, they often stay in the clinic until their places are ready in their house. They are tested for HIV and other illnesses, treated for lice, and are given a few days to get accustomed to being at the orphanage.

Often there are groups of doctors or medical students that visit the orphanage with the intention of working in the clinic. The nurses structure activities for these groups as they know the needs of the home and the children best.

Highlights: In 1996, the Guatemalan government gave permission to NPH to establish a home for abandoned children, and the orphanage Hogar San Bernardo was founded. Since then our family has continued to grow, and by now 340 children have found a new home with NPH Guatemala.

In 1997, thanks to generous donations we were able to buy new property for our home. After budget shortages delayed the construction several times, in August 2003 the basic buildings were finally completed and we were able to move into our new home. The new children's home, named Casa San Andres is situated 1500 meters above sea level in Guatemala's highlands, about an hour from Guatemala City.

Apart from the boarding houses for the children, the kitchen and the big dining hall there is also a new library and a computer room. Three smaller staff houses have just been finished, creating more space in the children's houses. Also complete is the first building for the new workshops, in which the older children are going to be trained in vocational skills. Further buildings are currently under construction. The new clinic is constantly growing and construction will hopefully be completed next year. In addition to serving the needs of the NPH children and staff, it will also provide medical assistance for people living in the surrounding communities. This recent considerable progress would not have been possible without the great support of a group of Canadian volunteers, which provide us not only with money but also with help constructing new buildings.

Qualifications:
    * Licensed Nurse.
    * Comfortable working with children.
    * Comfortable working in another culture.
    * High levels of patience and flexibility.

Friends of the Orphans International Volunteers must be 21, and we prefer that they speak Spanish and/or Creole. Volunteers serve for at least a year in one of the 9 NPH homes. NPH offers room and board, plus a monthly stipend (US$50-$100, depending on the home), and access to health care. Volunteers are responsible for paying for their travel to/from the country, medical insurance and language school fees (if necessary).

Successful volunteers are cooperative, flexible and extremely patient. They have strong work ethics and are able to work with people from many different cultures.

Minimum Education: Diploma/Certification

Salary / Pay: Volunteers are paid a stipend that ranges from US $50- $100.

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: The most effective volunteers come to NPH with a positive life-loving attitude, a strong work ethic, flexibility, realism and a sense of humor. Typically, volunteers may arrive with the expectation that living conditions are more primitive than they are. However, they are often not aware of how hard they are expected to work. We also seek candidates whose main motive is to help the children and be models. NPH volunteers are not rebellious to rational authority, disrespectful or insensitive to the cultures where we work and are guests. Affluent Europeans and North Americans can afford to be rebels, with long hair, tattoos and pierced body parts. In Latin America, this kind of self presentation can ruin chances for a job. Please remember, we accept volunteers only if we are convinced that they will be good for the children. We are not judging them as people, only as models for children who need to be prepared for their lives beyond NPH. We have numerous openings for long-term volunteers throughout the year. We are sometimes able to accommodate volunteer groups such as school and church or youth organizations for short-term volunteering as well. See our Volunteer Requirements, Volunteer Opportunities, or proceed directly to our Volunteer Application. If you are interested in helping NPH in your local community, please contact your nearest local fundraising office to find out how you can become involved. There are always positions available for translators, special event staff and office support. Working in your local office is a great way to get to know NPH better.

Age Range: 21+

This Program is open to World Wide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Guatemala Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently Or in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• In-Person Interview when Feasible
• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Phone Interview
• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Resume

Friends of the Orphans's Mission Statement: Friends of the Orphans is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide funds and awareness for Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH)- Spanish for Our Little Brothers and Sisters. NPH serves orphaned and abandoned children in 9 countries in Latin America: Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Peru, Bolivia, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. NPH's mission is to provide shelter, food, clothing, healthcare and education in a family environment based on unconditional love. A worldwide community of donors, staff and volunteers enable NPH to help the children become caring and productive citizens in their countries.

Year Founded: 1954