Choosing to complete a nursing internship in a rural African setting is not just about earning hours—it’s about transforming your perspective on patient care, resourcefulness, and what it means to be a nurse in a global context. While urban placements offer access to advanced technology and larger hospitals, rural internships immerse you in frontline care, where adaptability and human connection are everything.
In this guide, we’ll explore what to expect from a rural nursing internship abroad, specifically in parts of Kenya and Tanzania. Whether you're a pre-nursing student, nursing major, or recent graduate, this is your chance to learn how to provide care in low-resource environments—and return with experience that sets you apart.
> Explore Go-Electives Rural Nursing Internships Abroad
Rural healthcare settings are often characterized by:
As a student intern, you’ll be placed in district hospitals or health centers, working alongside nurses, clinical officers, and public health workers. These facilities serve diverse populations—often including farming families, small towns, and pastoralist communities—with fewer diagnostic tools but a strong sense of local resilience.
Your day may begin with a walk or private van ride (included in your Go Elective program) to a district hospital in Tanzania or a health center in inland Kenya. After check-in with your supervising nurse, you might rotate through departments such as:
Expect to observe patient assessments, assist with non-invasive tasks under supervision, and learn how local nurses navigate heavy workloads with limited technology.
You’ll see how nurses think on their feet without electronic charting systems, IV pumps, or abundant supplies. You’ll learn to prioritize, communicate effectively, and improvise in safe, professional ways.
You’ll work with patients who speak Swahili and local dialects. Cultural beliefs may influence health-seeking behavior, birthing practices, or medication compliance. This will strengthen your communication skills and deepen your understanding of nursing in diverse settings.
Because staffing is often lean, rural nurses are generalists—handling everything from prenatal care to wound dressing to palliative support. This means you’ll get a broad overview of real-world nursing responsibilities.
You won’t just work within hospital walls. Many rural placements include time spent in outreach clinics, school health programs, or mobile immunization campaigns. You’ll see how nurses serve as both clinicians and educators.
Note: All Go Elective placements are supervised, and hands-on tasks are assigned based on your level of training, scope of practice, and hospital policy.
Go Elective ensures all interns are housed in safe, comfortable accommodation—even in remote settings. You’ll stay in vetted homestays or guesthouses with other students, with two daily meals and access to program staff 24/7.
Expect:
A rural placement is ideal for students who:
It’s particularly valuable if you're planning to apply for direct-entry BSN or accelerated MSN programs, where admissions committees often seek applicants with diverse clinical experiences.
As a Go Elective participant, you won’t face the challenges of rural nursing alone. We provide:
Our rural programs are intentionally designed to be safe, ethical, and educational, with student growth at the core.
A rural nursing internship in Africa is more than just shadowing. It’s a crash course in resilience, compassion, and global health systems. You’ll return home with a deeper understanding of nursing’s role in the world, and a toolkit of experiences that will set you apart from other applicants and future healthcare providers.
If you’re ready for an internship that challenges and inspires you, reach out to Go Elective and let’s plan a placement that makes a difference
Recent Articles , Pre-health, Nursing Internships,
Author: Go-Elective Abroad
Date Published: Jun 29, 2025
Go Elective offers immersive opportunities for medical students, pre-med undergraduates, residents, nursing practitioners, and PAs to gain guided invaluable experience in busy hospitals abroad. Discover the power of study, travel, and impact.