Nursing Internships in Africa | OB/GYN, ER & Pediatric Experience Abroad

For nursing students and aspiring nurses, clinical internships in Africa offer a powerful opportunity to combine skill-building, cultural immersion, and service. Whether you're a pre-nursing student seeking early exposure or a current nursing student preparing for licensure, interning in a hospital abroad allows you to experience nursing across diverse departments — from maternity units and pediatric wards to emergency departments and surgical theatres.

In this guide, we’ll explore what nursing internships in Africa actually involve, what you can expect in each department, and how Go Elective’s programs are designed to give nursing interns both structure and flexibility.

> Explore Go-Electives Pre-Nursing and Nursing Internships in Africa

Why intern in Africa as a nursing student?

Nursing internships abroad provide far more than travel or resume lines. In African public hospitals, interns experience:

• High patient volumes and diverse conditions
• Resource-limited care, which sharpens clinical judgment and adaptability
• Team-based healthcare delivery alongside nurses, midwives, and clinical officers
• Exposure to conditions rarely seen in developed countries, such as severe malaria, TB, and obstetric complications
• Cultural competence, empathy, and communication across language and social differences

Nursing students often return from Africa more confident, independent, and prepared for advanced practice — and more competitive for jobs and graduate programs.

Who is this for?

Go Elective’s nursing internships are open to:

• Pre-nursing students (looking to explore the field before applying to nursing school)
• Current nursing students (in diploma, ADN, BSN, or RN programs)
• Gap-year graduates or international nursing students
• Public health or global health students with a focus on patient care

Programs are tailored based on your level of experience and interests — and you'll always be placed in a supervised, ethical clinical setting.

What you’ll actually do: Department by department

OB/GYN and Maternity Ward

Maternity care in African hospitals is high-volume and high-impact. As a nursing intern, you may:

• Assist midwives with antenatal checkups
• Observe spontaneous vaginal deliveries and C-sections
• Support postnatal education on breastfeeding and neonatal care
• Learn how maternal health is delivered in low-resource settings
• Understand complications such as eclampsia, obstructed labor, and postpartum hemorrhage

Many interns cite maternity as the most transformative department — especially when interning at high-volume hospitals like Coast General Hospital in Mombasa.

Pediatrics and Neonatal Care

Children in sub-Saharan Africa often present late or with severe illnesses. You may:

• Shadow pediatric nurses during ward rounds
• Observe care for conditions like malaria, pneumonia, dehydration, and congenital anomalies
• Learn about neonatal resuscitation and common NICU practices
• Assist in feeding, hygiene, or comfort for young patients under nurse supervision
• Gain insight into immunization programs and child health education
  
  

Emergency Department

The ER is fast-paced and often under-resourced — perfect for learning triage, communication, and resilience. You might:

• Observe triage nurses managing trauma, road traffic accidents, burns, and acute medical cases
• Shadow emergency care for patients with respiratory distress, seizures, or obstetric emergencies
• Learn basic wound care, stabilization techniques, and emergency documentation
• Understand how limited resources affect real-time decision-making
  
  

Medical-Surgical Wards

These general inpatient wards allow you to follow patients from admission to discharge. Interns may:

• Assist with documentation, vitals, and patient rounds
• Learn about infectious disease protocols (especially HIV, TB, and sepsis)
• Shadow pre- and post-op care in surgical recovery
• Understand nurse-patient-family dynamics in Kenyan and Tanzanian contexts
  
  

Outpatient and Community Health

In outpatient clinics and outreach events, interns may:

• Assist with health education (nutrition, HIV prevention, maternal wellness)
• Observe nurse-led triage and primary care
• Join vaccination drives or school-based health programs
• Learn about public health interventions and government care protocols

Sample weekly schedule (Mombasa placement)

Go Elective provides a flexible framework, allowing interns to request departmental rotations and even extend time in areas they’re passionate about.

What’s included in a Go Elective nursing internship?

• Guaranteed hospital placement in Kenya or Tanzania
• Daily clinical shadowing with licensed nurses and midwives
• Safe housing, airport pickup, and local transportation
• Cultural immersion: Swahili lessons, cooking classes, excursions
• Weekend safari options and optional excursions
• Pre-departure support, including visa guidance, packing lists, and safety briefings
• Local coordinator support and reflection sessions

Explore placements in:

• Mombasa, Kenya (Coast General Hospital)
• Naivasha, Kenya (Naivasha County Referral Hospital)
• Kisumu, Kenya (Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching & Referral Hospital)

What past nursing interns say

“I had never seen a delivery before, and on my second day I watched three. It was intense, but it confirmed why I want to become a midwife.”
— Katie R., BSN Student, UK

“The nurses were incredible mentors. Even with limited resources, they delivered excellent care. I learned more in two weeks than in a full semester.”
— Samantha C., Pre-Nursing Student, U.S.

“It wasn’t just about clinical skills. It was about compassion, community, and seeing healthcare through a global lens.”
— Zach T., Canada

Final thoughts

From OB/GYN wards filled with new life to high-stakes emergency rooms, nursing internships in Africa offer raw, real, and enriching clinical learning. You’ll gain much more than hours — you’ll gain perspective, purpose, and preparation.

Whether you’re charting your path to nursing school or preparing to take your NCLEX, a placement with Go Elective will shape your future with unforgettable lessons in medicine, culture, and humanity.

> Apply here for Go-Elective Nursing Internships or Inquire via hello@goelective.com

Article Details

Categories

Recent Articles , Pre-health, Nursing Internships,

Author: Go-Elective Abroad

Date Published: Jul 2, 2025