Medical specialties
Project details
Interested in Healthcare volunteering in Costa Rica – San José? International Volunteer Healthcare project enables volunteers to assist in assisted living centers for the elderly and disabled, hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities across San José. Volunteers will be able to help with essential healthcare tasks and may shadow local medical professionals to observe and assist them with their work. It’s a great opportunity to see clinical practice in action and enjoy the cross-cultural exchange of ideas and learnings that comes from volunteering in another country’s healthcare system.
What to expect and how you’ll make an impact
Community care facilities deliver a range of important health services in Costa Rica. The healthcare system in Costa Rica is reasonably well developed, however there is a need for volunteers to support and assist local nurses, doctors and caregivers and plenty of opportunities for observational learning.
What medical volunteers are able to do on the project depends on a number of factors including local regulations, training, qualifications, how well you speak Spanish, your ability to show initiative and how long you spend on the project.
Volunteer with no previous Healthcare experience, students enrolled in pre-medical and nursing programs, first and second year medical students, Health Science professionals, and medical professionals such as EMTs, CNAs or Medical Assistants can expect to volunteer at elderly homes and special needs facilities Volunteer duties typically include:
- Provide much-needed companionship to patients
- Engaging in conversation-talk therapy
- Support staff with feeding, bathing, and changing beds
- Distributing medication
- Assisting residents during exercise programs and arts and crafts projects
Fully licensed medical professionals and students in their third year of study or above may be placed in hospitals, clinics, and assisted living facilities, where they can expect to perform tasks as:
- Shadowing doctors and nurses
- Assisting with checkups
- Taking vitals
- Triaging patients
- Preparing medical equipment
Why do Healthcare volunteering in San Jose
When you volunteer on the Healthcare project in San José you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:
- Improving access to healthcare in San José
- Helping patients with daily tasks
- Practicing your Spanish
- Developing your communication skills
- Gaining healthcare experience
- Immersing yourself fully in the Costa Rican culture
- Exploring the buzzing capital of San José
Volunteer requirements
- Volunteers need to be 18 years or over to participate in this program. If you are under the age of 18, IVHQ offers alternative volunteer opportunities for teens.
- All volunteers are required to speak fluent English, have adequate volunteer travel insurance and provide a criminal background check to us before departure.
Exploring Costa Rica during the weeken
In San José you may have the chance to volunteer in the following healthcare areas:
- Behavioral therapy
- Dietitians
- Disability support
- Family medicine
- Family planning
- First Response
- General medicine
- Geriatrics
- Immunizations
- Medical interpreters
- Physical therapy
- Public health
Please be sure to note your area of speciality, relevant qualifications and experience in your application.
Academic course credit
Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing a volunteer abroad program with International Volunteer HQ
Location
San José is Costa Rica’s modern, metropolitan, cultural hub. The capital city has been hailed as one of the most visited destinations in Central America and is the central point for tourists arriving in Costa Rica. It’s got excellent eateries, an interesting variety of museums, markets, shops, parks and nightlife and is only a short trip to any of the numerous natural attractions and adventures in the region.
Arrival and orientation
After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San José on the Sunday before your start date.
When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and taken to the volunteer accommodation in San José. This is included in your Program Fee.
We recommend that volunteers under the age of 18 travel internationally with a notarized letter from their parents to support their documentation. If you are traveling in Costa Rica prior to your program, the local team will pick you up at your San José accommodation the day before your orientation.
Your check out is at 11am on the last Saturday of your program.
The compulsory program orientation is hosted by our Costa Rica team at their offices in San José on Sunday or Monday.
Orientation covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Costa Rica – an introduction to Costa Rica, its customs, language training details, rules and expectations, safety, travel opportunities in Costa Rica, and an introduction to your project and placement. The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socializing.
Volunteer schedule example
First day
You will be escorted to your placement by a local coordinator and introduced to the placement staff you will be working with.
Weekdays
During the week, you will have a morning or afternoon shift, which will last around 3 to 5 hours. Your volunteer work and hours are dependent on the location and type of project you are participating in but a typical morning schedule is as follows:
| 8:00 AM | Breakfast with your host family. |
| 9:00 AM | Leave home and travel to your placement. You will join the local staff and will receive a duty roster and plan for work. |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch at a local restaurant. |
| 1:00 – 6:00 PM | Work at the placement usually ends. You are free to travel back to your accommodation, go sightseeing or take Spanish lessons. |
| 7:00 PM | Dinner with the host family. |
Weekends
Whether you want to explore or relax on your weekends in San José , there’s plenty of opportunity to do both. Stroll down the bustling Central Avenue in downtown San José and take in a museum, listen to street performers or do some shopping. Then check out the stunning architecture of the National Theater of Costa Rica, taste-test the city’s fabulous coffee or sample a brew from San José ’s blossoming craft-beer industry.
It’s worth noting that Sunday is a religious day of rest and many stores and restaurants will be closed. Costa Ricans tend to devote Sundays to spending time with their family. If you wish, you can accompany your host family to their local church, as a Latin American church service is a unique and special experience for many volunteers.
On long weekends you may choose to travel around the rest of Costa Rica and the many cities, volcanoes, jungles, coffee plantations and beaches which are more than worth a visit. Many of these are only a short trip from San José .
Most IVHQ volunteers choose to take advantage of our Costa Rica – Travel and tour add-ons in their free time. Please note that volunteers on more remote projects such as Turtle Conservation and Eco-Agriculture Conservation will only be able to join these activities before or after their program.
Accommodation and WiFi
In San Jose volunteers are accommodated in homestays with local families – it’s an immersive experience that connects you with an authentic insight into the Costa Rican way of life. You will find living conditions are comfortable and you can expect your accomodation to have electricity, drinkable running water and western bathrooms. Low pressure showers are common and the water is not always heated. Bedrooms have single and bunk beds with bedding provided. You can expect to share a room with up to six other volunteers of the same gender in most homestays.
Single occupancy private rooms are available upon request for an additional cost, offering you the ultimate comfort and privacy during your stay.
If you are traveling as a family, the local team will place you in a separate homestay to ensure all family members are accommodated together.
Please note, volunteers under the age of 18 who are traveling solo will be accommodated separately from those over the age of 18. If there are other volunteers under the age of 18 participating at the same time, the local team will do their best to ensure they are accommodated together.
WiFi is available at the homestays, and you will also have access to computers and WiFi at the local team’s office in San José.
Meals
Volunteers are provided with breakfast and dinner at their accommodation. Breakfast typically consists of toast, fruit, eggs, rice and beans accompanied with tea or coffee. Dinner usually includes: meat (typically chicken), starches and vegetables. Costa Rica’s national dish, Gallo Pinto, is made of rice and beans and served with nearly every meal. Lunches are not provided to San José -based volunteers, as they are typically away from their accommodation at midday. Budget between $5 and $10 per day to buy lunch.