Medical Internship in Romania
Gain hands-on medical experience in Romania, join a mobile care team and support patients across Brașov while exploring this historic city
Take part in a highly rated medical internship that gives you varied medical experience working on a mobile medical unit and within a children’s hospital. Work in a variety of medical settings and with a mixture of cases, shadowing doctors and nurses and actively contributing to the care of the patients.
Duration: 1 – 4 weeks
Dates: Click here for availability calendar
Dates: Throughout the year except over Christmas and New Year
Arrival day: Saturday
Return day: Saturday
Eligibility: Minimum requirement of a first aid certificate
Age: 17+
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Highlights
- Meeting local people in their homes, and helping them to get better
- Travelling around Brasov county with a nurse, physio or doctor
- Work in very real medical situations, gaining both medical awareness and experience with people
- Living minutes from Brasov’s main square – one of the prettiest places you could encounter in Eastern Europe
- Taking in Transylvania’s highlights – prepare for Dracula!
Put your medical aspirations into practice on our diverse medical internship in Romania. Become part of a mobile medical unit travelling around Brasov county treating basic medical conditions in the home.
This medical internship is a fantastic opportunity for those seeking medical work experience, people taking a gap year before studying medicine or individuals keen to put their experience into practice. This project will give you a fascinating insight into practicing medicine in Romania, and you will come away with a good understanding of the complexities of medical care in Romania.
Join a team of nurses and therapists travelling around Romanian homes to administer medical care and support to families. The unit cares for about 100 patients across Brasov county, mainly the elderly, those with mobility issues or recent hospital discharges that require ongoing care and monitoring.
In order to complete this programme, the minimum requirement is a first aid qualification. Those who are already studying medicine can get involved in a much greater range of practices.
Volunteers with just a first aid qualification will be trained to:
- Take blood pressure and temperature
- Dress a wound
- Basic physiotherapy
- Shadow more complex procedures
- Diuresis and stool sample measuring
Those who are studying medicine already can expect to help with the above, as well as tasks such as:
- Oral medicine administration
- Passive alimentation and medicine administration for patients with swallowing disorders
- Stoma care
- Live in the medieval city of Brasov, just minutes walk away from the beautiful city centre
- Most volunteers will be based in a comfortable, central apartment that Oyster rents for you and your fellow volunteers
- At times, depending on capacity, we will accommodate some volunteers in local hotels
- WiFi included
- You should expect to share a room with at least one other volunteer
- The volunteer flat has a well-equipped kitchen, two bedrooms, two toilets and a shower
- Food is not included – volunteers either cook in the flat or enjoy some of the many amazing restaurants located on your doorstep
Travel arrangements
Airport: Brasov airport (GHV) or Bucharest airport (OTP) – see transfer package options
Arrival day: Saturday. Most volunteers choose to be collected from either airport.
Departure day: Saturday. You can opt to be dropped off to the airport in time for your flight.
Supporting You
A perfect English speaker and probably the most dynamic person you will ever meet, Razvan has run our Romania programmes since the very beginning in 2006. A veteran rep – he has dealt with over 1000 volunteers so far – he always goes way beyond his Oyster job description.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a short or long-term volunteer, you still get full support from Razvan, who aims to ensure that you have a happy and productive time in Romania.
Included
- Access to your own personal ‘My Oyster’ account – our online portal where you can find out much more about the program and manage your booking
- Dedicated contact time with an experienced destination manager to discuss the project, answer any of your questions and for us to find out more about you
- Help and advice from our UK office before arrival and whilst you are away
- Pre-departure information covering medical, safety and project advice
- Gold level, 24/7 Pharos crisis management and incident support cover
- Financial protection: ATOL (if we book your flights).
- Thorough orientation on arrival
- In-country support
- Accommodation (see the ‘accommodation’ section above for details)
- Advice on visa requirements
- Oyster plants a tree in Africa with TreeAid to help reduce the impact of global carbon emissions
- Airport transfers are arranged for those paying for the transfer package on arrival and departure day from Bucharest, 95 miles each way (Friday). Brasov airport pick up included.
- Gloves, masks and tunic will be provided on the mobile medical unit
- 24hour representative from Oyster with perfect English and knowledge – there isn’t a problem Razvan cannot fix!
- EU VAT at 17.5% on UK cost elements
- Tour of Brasov
- Transport for a half-day trip to (included in the transfer package): 1) Dracula’s Castle 2) Peles Castle. People staying 1 week will go on 1 trip only (to be decided upon arrival)
On your return:
- Welcome home pack
- Certificate of Recognition (on request)
- References (on request)
Not Included
- Flights – as an ATOL bonded company, Oyster can book flights for you
- You need a valid passport that meets the requirements of the country you will be travelling to
- Insurance (covering your time with Oyster and any planned independent travel)
- Any costs associated with changing your return flight date if you need to
- Independent travel costs
- Home country travel costs
- Spending money for additional trips, food and entertainment
- Costs for medical test before departure (expect to pay a fee to your doctor)
- First aid qualification to take part in the mobile medical unit
FAQ's
One week volunteers
Saturday – Arrival day. volunteers arrived throughout the day, and share a lovely welcome dinner with our host Razvan that night
Sunday – An exclusive tour and visit to the wonderful Libearty bear sanctuary
Monday to Thursday – Volunteering*
Friday – Volunteering, or day trip to Bran castle
Saturday – Departure day
Two week volunteers
Saturday – Arrival day. volunteers arrived throughout the day, and share a lovely welcome dinner with our host Razvan that night
Sunday – An exclusive tour and visit to the wonderful Libearty bear sanctuary
Monday to Friday- Volunteering*
Saturday – Volunteering, or day trip to Bran castle
Sunday – Relaxation day in Brasov
Monday to Thursday – Volunteering*
Friday – Volunteering, or day trip to Peles castle
Saturday – Departure day
*Volunteering days start at about 8 or 9am, depending on the time of year. Lunchtime is flexible, depending on when you have completed your morning tasks. You will need to take your lunch with you to the sanctuary. At the end of your volunteering day, you will be taken back to Brasov for about 4pm or 5pm (sometimes later in summer months).
Whilst late-availability is possible, we would advise booking as soon as you can to guarantee your ideal dates. Our projects are very popular and spaces can fill up several months in advance, especially for the months of June to September.
- You will be working with a Romanian organisation that provides medical and social home care in several counties in Romania
- Their activity began in 2008 and has been increasing ever since
- The staff includes doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, social workers and administrative personnel
- Their goal is to offer patients a wide range of services with qualified staff who can supervise the progress of the people being treated. This includes both education and support for patients
- The facility looks after about 100 patients all across Brasov county, usually within a 50km radius of the city
- The minimum age is 17
- Many participants are keen to get medical experience whilst volunteering abroad as students, gap year students or career breakers
- This is a fantastic way to prepare for university studies during your gap year or as part of summer volunteering
Medical internships in Europe require that participants have a full interest in medicine and at least a bit of experience to be able to get involved fully. Depending on your level of experience you can get involved with different tasks.
You need to be police checked, with a health screening test and either a first aid training qualification or at least one semester of study/ experience.
You must wear smart and comfortable clothing. Gloves, mask and a white coat will be provided.
Please be aware that work in the medical field does not always involve pleasant jobs. Patients could smell of infection, have unclean wounds or not have been able to go the toilet.
There are four distinct seasons in Romania:
Spring: March – May. Temperatures range from 10 – 20 degrees celsius during the day time, but can get quite cold at night time. Average 30 – 80mm of precipitation each month.
Summer: June – September. Temperatures range from 20 – 30 degrees celsius. Average 80 – 100mm of rain each month.
Autumn: September – November. Temperatures range from 10 – 20 degrees celsius during the day time, but can get quite cold at night time. Average 30 – 50mm of precipitation each month.
Winter: November – March. Temperatures range from 10 – 20 degrees celsius during the day time, but can get quite cold at night time. Average 30mm of precipitation each month.
We would recommend taking £40 – £60 per week for food, drinks and treats. You should budget separately for any outings or meals out that you might like to have.
There is easy access to cash machines in Brasov so you don’t need to take all of your cash for you. You can use bank cards everywhere.
Typically you don’t need a visa to volunteer in Romania. You should make sure your passport is valid for the duration of your stay.
Most of our volunteers are independent travellers and you will become part of a group of people from around the world here. It is fine to travel with friends or as part of a small group too however- more the merrier!
You should visit your doctor or travel nurse to find out what vaccinations you will need. Your routine vaccinations will need to be up to date, it is likely that you will need Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B. Rabies is a possibility. You should follow your doctors advice.
See below for where the closest hospital to the project is – your doctor may ask to know this so that they can provide information on rabies.
For any information related to Covid-19, please see the Fit for Travel website or the UK government’s travel advice page for Romania.
Brasov has many excellent medical facilities, varying from pharmacies to local doctors to hospitals. These can all be accessed within 20 minutes and are of good quality.
Brasov is a beautiful and small medieval city, located at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains. It is a very warm and welcoming place, and has become very used to tourists. This makes it a very safe destination however it is important to always be sensible and responsible.
Brasov is a relatively safe place with very little crime, although pickpockets target tourists so take care of your belongings. If you want to walk or trek ask for information on the wild bears! Going more off the beaten track you will receive a few more stares as these areas may not be quite so used to tourists.You will be given information on buses and the local area however so you will be well prepared for this. We give you full health and safety information before departure, as well as upon arrival.
There are a few stray dogs and cats in the streets, but they are largely harmless. We would recommend avoiding them however as they have not been domesticated and are not used to humans necessarily.
Wifi is available for free in the flat, however you will need a device to connect to it. There are also plenty of WiFi hotspots in town. Some of these are free, while others charge about £1 per hour.
There is good phone reception here.
Romania is in Eastern European Time which is 2 hours ahead of GMT (GMT +2)
Romania has European two-pin plugs.
We arrange two half day trips, covering the cost of transportation, if you stay for 2 weeks or more. If you are staying for one week, you will only be able to do one half day trip.
Which trip you do will be decided when you are in Romania. The two options are:
- A trip to Bran castle (Dracula’s castle). Entrance fee: approx £5
- Trip to Sinaia, a nearby town with the beautiful Peles castle. Entrance fee: approx £5
There are plenty of places to visit in Brasov and the surrounding area. Situated in the heart of Romania, Brasov is a charming medieval town with an ancient history and plenty of interesting monuments. It has great transport links to other wonderful cities in Romania, and even further afield.
Days will vary but generally you will have evenings free and 2 days off per week.
Supervision will be fairly intensive during the first few days, when you will receive a thorough induction and work-related training. Once you are comfortable with things, you might not always have a supervisor working alongside you, but there will always be staff and other volunteers around to help, and you will always be accompanied for any high risk activities.
Staff at Oyster’s head office and in-country will be responsible for your safety and welfare while you are at the project. This will start from the moment you are picked up from the airport until the time you are dropped back there. Before and after these times, you will be outside Oyster’s responsibility and should make sure that you act safely and avoid risk. This is also true if you choose to leave the project during your time off. We will give you plenty of guidance and advice about this.
Project Reviews
“My trip has been going really well and I am loving being with the nurses and physical therapists. It is a very organized program that is always willing to help with any questions or concerns. I loved getting to meet all the patients and be welcomed as I got to see the nurses and physical therapists do their work....
“My trip has been going really well and I am loving being with the nurses and physical therapists. It is a very organized program that is always willing to help with any questions or concerns. I loved getting to meet all the patients and be welcomed as I got to see the nurses and physical therapists do their work. Thanks for checking in! ”
“I am a podiatric medical school student in the USA with a strong interest in global health. I had initially researched many medical programs abroad and the oyster worldwide program ended up being the best. The directors were always professional and replied to my emails in a timely manner. As I began volunteering in Braşov, the medical staff I worked with were very kind and helpful. Also, many patients were happy to see us which is a great sign. Inclusively, I had learned a little bit of Romanian which allowed me to communicate with patients. I enriched my medical experience as I was simultaneously welcomed by the Romanian hospitality: a unique experience that this program offers.”
“I would like to thank you for arranging my medical internship in Romania. I learnt a lot from the experience, and have a deeper understanding about the medical profession in another country, and whether I am suitable for it.”
“I am really glad I did this experience. Razvan was very nice with me, so as the other volunteers! I felt as home. Everything has been well organized. The people there made me feel safe all the time and I learned a lot! Mostly I worked at the hospital from 9:15 – 12:30, and on the mobile medical unit from 12:30 – 16:00 or 16:00 – 19:30. Highlights included going to a Roma village to help with medical visits, doing an ECG and taking blood pressure.”
“I had a fantastic time, all of the people (patients and staff!)were especially lovely and supportive! The language barrier was much less of a problem than I expected which was fantastic. Razvan (oyster representative in Romania) was hugely supportive and quickly dealt with any tiny queries I had! I felt independent but looked after and safe at all times which was great. Could not have asked for anything more.”
“I was very happy to contribute in order to help out whilst learning and gaining work experience. I actually managed to bond with the children I was working with, as well as the nurses and other staff. There was one child that stood out to me, a girl who was epileptic and often got frustrated very easily. When I was spending time with her, she seemed to have acted calmer and also seemed very happy. This made me feel quite special and motivated to keep participating and put in my maximal effort.”
“The medical unit staff and patients have been very friendly. The local Oyster staff has also been wonderful. Razvan has been very accommodating.”
“I absolutely loved my time overseas and can’t wait to schedule another trip to Romania! Răzvan went above and beyond in making sure Shabana and I were comfortable, and we loved every day we spent there. I would like to thank you again for all of your guidance! You and the rest of Oyster staff have been so incredible (especially to a new traveler like me). Hopefully, in the near future, I’ll be able to join the program again!”
“The trip was amazing. The patients were wonderful to work with. The application process was painless and we felt prepared for this adventure. I probably will miss having the satisfaction of providing direct relief to patients as I do not always get the same satisfaction as an aide in my clinic. In America, I am not allowed to massage patients or provide mobilization as I did while under supervision of the therapist. Being hands-on with the patients made me realize I can’t wait to start my career!”
“This far exceeded my expectations. I have learned to dress patient’s wounds and it was a great experience for me. It was great to learn about the Romania care service. If you choose this programme, you will not regret your choice!”
“I had the chance to help the nurse with her daily duties in the morning, which included going to patient’s homes, changing wound dressings, checking blood pressure and heart rate. In the afternoon, I would shadow the physiotherapist in people’s homes, watching different types of treatments like massages to keep the blood flowing in immobilised patients and electrotherapy which helps the muscles relax.”
“Life is great here in Brasov. My roommates are fantastic and we have been having good fun! The apartment is great and Razvan is always helpful and great to be around. I had my first day yesterday on the mobile team. I am enjoying getting out into people’s homes and experiencing the culture.”
“It’s great for those looking for experience in certain lines of work, e.g. social work. This project is also great for those who really enjoy spending time with children. I really liked that I had the opportunity to work on the different units of the hospital. It offered a good variety and change of scenery. I really liked being able to spend time with children of all age ranges.”
“Everything is going very well over here! My first week was nice. At the children’s hospital it is not always easy to communicate with the children but it’s going well 🙂 In the afternoon it’s really great!! The nurses of the medical mobile vehicle explain everything to me and speak very good English so I learn and enjoy a lot! And Razvan also looks after us very well 🙂 I enjoy it a lot!!”
“The nurses here were really nice and easygoing, even with our language barrier, we pretty much always managed to understand each other and I finally managed to give a face to many diseases I’ve only seen in books, which is pretty nice. Razvan was absolutely amazing in every instance but I’m sure I’m not telling you anything new. All in all I can only compliment you for how well managed the project is.”
“The first week has flown by and the second week is too! Both placements have been amazing and I have had the chance to see the real Romania rather than what the tourists see. It has definitely been an eye opener and a brilliant experience! Razvan has been incredibly kind throughout the trip, always making sure that we are ok wherever we are, especially when organising the weekend trips. Cannot fault anything!”
“I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Romania. I am definitely missing the lovely people I have met on the trip including the kids at the hospital, everyone from the mobile medical unit, the staff at the hospital, the other volunteers (the list goes on and on!) and of course the warm Romanian sun.”Would you like to chat to Georgie, who manages this programme? Just call +44 (0) 1892 771 977 or email: – [email protected].
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