Medical & Nursing Internships Abroad

“These past three months have been nothing short of amazing, the city, culture and work has far exceeded my expectations. Although I was originally a bit nervous about speaking a new language every day, everyone here is so kind and understanding and appreciative of my efforts. Certainly my plans for the next few years will involve learning more Spanish until I’m near fluent, as my love for the language has only grown since I’ve been here. As for the work, I have gained a lot of experience in a scientific field that I was originally quite unfamiliar with, but now I understand a lot of new concepts and ideas. Working in an environment that doesn’t speak English was also a rewarding challenge, and will certainly look good for my resume. Finally I just wanted to say thanks to [the internship coordinator] for all the help in organizing everything since January. I know there were some difficulties but [she was] always helpful and supportive, and I am very grateful for everything.”

This experience has truly been a life-changing moment for me. There was definitely a culture shock when I first arrived as far as the language barrier goes, but as time went on I feel that I have improved in my spanish speaking abilities as well as the desire to continue to study the language as I return home. I have been able to learn so much between my classes, attending my internship at my Clinica, meeting people from all over, and exploring all of the beauty and culture Spain has to offer. I can confidently say that this entire experience has allowed me to grow so much as an individual.
My [medical] internship has been a big part of my journey. I feel that this experience has allowed me to gain more independence and help build confidence. I was able to work alongside and learn from so many incredible healthcare professionals who have inspired me in many different ways. The staff continually stressed the importance of education and implementing hands-on practice in order to build self-confidence within the healthcare field. Not only was I able to utilize and practice many skills that I have learned in my own nursing practice in the States, but I was also able to gain a new perspective within the healthcare system in Spain. It has been so interesting to see the many similarities and differences between healthcare practice in Spain versus nursing practice in the States.
Thank you for all your guidance and support during my time abroad! I am so grateful to Adelante for giving me the opportunity to experience something that was very much out of my comfort zone, but in turn, gave me a whole new outlook on the world and allowed me to build lifelong friendships that I will forever cherish.

I absolutely loved my experience living in Sevilla through the Adelante Abroad program. I loved the structure of the Adelante program because it enabled me to really immerse myself in the city like a local rather than only learning about the surface-level/touristy aspects of Sevilla. The only Americans that I interacted with in my 3 months were my roommates and of the friends I made were from all around the world. I don’t know of another program where I would have had the opportunity to completely make my own experience. The simplicity of the program (in which they find you housing and internship placement and then allow you to be independent) is also what makes this one of the most affordable abroad experiences. My university has a 5-week program in Sevilla that was 3 times the cost of Adelante and not half as immersive. This was the perfect program and if I could go back in time I would have done the exact same program over again.

I spent 2 months in Madrid working in a LGBT public health office. My experience living in this beautiful city was phenomenal being that I was immersed in Spanish culture. The nightlife is amazing, as you’d imagine, and I made great friends both inside and outside the program. We loved visiting other Spanish cities as well as Portugal whenever we got the chance. I really enjoyed my time at the Spanish school as everyone was extremely supportive and I learned a lot in a short period of time. All my coworkers were also lovely and helped me improve my Spanish skills throughout my time there. I do feel that it is important to mention though that you should take the Spanish language skill required by Adelante seriously. Some internships do require a higher level of speaking and if you are dishonest with Adelante about your ability there isn’t much they can do to help if your boss becomes dissatisfied. Adelante provided me with the opportunity to live and work in Madrid which was most definitely one of the best experiences of my life. I feel as if the internship placement could have been better, but being the most affordable program I found, I’m far from dissatisfied.

The months leading up to my high school graduation were very difficult because I felt like I couldn’t really decide where I wanted to go to school. I had always thought about taking a gap year and traveling. But the question was, how I could find a company that could fit my needs. I felt as though Adelante was a very fitting program for me. I was able to do an internship at a hospital. This gave me time to learn more about the medical field, learn Spanish, and get real-world experience. Being interactive with patients and being able to enjoy work, I was able to learn more about nursing and be apart of the practice before diving straight into college after high school. They also set you up with housing. I would absolutely recommend it.

I shadowed a doctor in Madrid for four months, and it was the most amazing time of my life. Adelante made the setup process extremely easy, and it was very affordable as well. They were very flexible and accommodating in setting up the perfect internship for me. My doctor was also amazing, and I learned much about respiratory and cardiovascular health while there. I also got a unique look into Medicine in a different culture than my own. The first two weeks of Spanish classes that Adelante provides were very helpful in getting me started. Overall, it was a great experience thanks to Adelante, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a different experience than just taking classes abroad.

I did the medical internship in Viña del Mar, Chile. First of all, it is a beautiful city to live in, with lots to do and with Valparaiso just a 20 minute metro/bus ride away. The location of the house is perfect and in a safe place, just a few blocks from the beach and about a 30 second walk from a supermarket. I lived with other Adelante candidates and got along with all of them exceptionally well. The staff at the language school are welcoming, and my classes really helped me get accustomed to living in my new city. I learned about the unique spanish spoken in Chile, and my professor also took me out of the classroom to explore Viña as well as Valparaíso and learn about their history and culture. In order to meet new people, I recommend going to language exchanges in Viña or Valparaíso – these can be found through MeetUp online, and it’s a great way to meet natives and practice spanish! Living in a new city with no familiar faces and a language barrier can be daunting, so these really helped me at first! When I started my internship at a local physical therapy (kinesiology) office, it was challenging of course due to the new environment and the language. Within a few weeks, however, I was effectively communicating with patients, leading several patient sessions, and carrying out physiotherapy. My spanish improved dramatically and I also learned technical vocabulary that will help me in my future career. The employees were great teachers and always made sure I understood what was happening, the patient’s affliction, and what techniques they were using and why. The last month of my stay, there was political unrest in Chile but Adelante staff made sure we stayed safe, and maintained communication with us. I would not change anything about my experience in Chile, as it helped me grow as a person and greatly increased my skills and confidence in Spanish. The people in Chile are very welcoming and kind, even though Chilean spanish can be hard to understand at first! I’ve come to love Chile so much and I will definitely be coming back! I could’t recommend this Adelante program more.

I had the opportunity to help out at [Hospital Perrier Rossell] to help tend to newborns that do not have parents to go home to. Before Friday, I had never even held a baby before. Quite honestly, I was slightly uncomfortable the entire time due to my lack of experience with newborns. Though pediatrics might not be my specialty of choice, I do believe that it is still necessary to feel comfortable in any specialty. All the nurses were there to answer my questions or concerns that I had. I felt very welcome and everyone was very ready to teach.