Custom Nursing Faculty-Led Study Abroad Programs

Advance Your Students' Global Nursing Skills

Tailor-made international experiences for nursing students that offer immersive learning, healthcare system exposure, and cross-cultural healthcare insights.

Custom Nursing Faculty-Led Study

Abroad Programs – Advance Your Students' Global Nursing Skills

Tailor-made international experiences for nursing students that offer hands-on learning, clinical exposure, and multicultural healthcare challenges.

Why pursue a custom nursing faculty-led study abroad program?

A nursing faculty-led study abroad program offers students a unique opportunity to expand their clinical skills while immersing themselves in diverse healthcare environments.

These international experiences are designed to build cultural competence, improve understanding of global health systems, and foster adaptability in diverse healthcare environments. For nursing students, this program is essential in preparing for a healthcare career that is increasingly globalized and interconnected.

Sample Custom Nursing Study Abroad Itinerary: Immersive and Practical Experience

Please note that this itinerary is customizable to meet specific faculty objectives.

Arrival in San Juan – Orientation & Welcome

Arrive in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Transfer to residence and settle into accommodations. Meet with on-site program staff for an orientation session covering the program schedule, emergency procedures, and a brief overview of Puerto Rican culture. Enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant to kick off the experience.

Day 1

Clinical Shadowing & WHO

Begin the day with a group breakfast, followed by a transfer to a local rural community clinic. Shadow healthcare professionals during your first 4-hour clinical rotation (focused on public health or community-based healthcare). After lunch on your own, transfer to a local university for a lecture by the WHO Collaborating Centre on global health issues. Return to residence; dinner on your own.

Day 2

Internship & Community Health

Enjoy breakfast and then transfer to your internship site for another 4-hour clinical rotation. In the afternoon, engage in volunteer work at a local community garden where students will learn about sustainable health practices. Return to residence after participating in a group lunch at a local restaurant. Dinner on your own.

Day 3

Clinical Internship & Cultural Workshop –

After breakfast, transfer to the clinic to continue your internship practice for another 4 hours. In the afternoon, explore Puerto Rican culture through a salsa dance workshop. Gain insight into how cultural competence is integral to nursing practice. Return to the residence in the evening; dinner on your own.

Day 4

Final Day of Internship & Maternal Health

Start with breakfast, then head to the clinic for the final 4-hour clinical rotation. Focus on specialized observations, including maternal health practices in a rural setting. Spend your afternoon exploring independently. Return to residence; dinner on your own.

Day 5

Excursion to El Yunque

After breakfast, depart for a day trip to El Yunque National Rainforest. Take a guided walk through the forest, learning about local ecosystems and their relevance to public health. After lunch in the rainforest, spend a relaxed afternoon on Luquillo Beach. End the day with a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 6

Departure

Enjoy breakfast together, followed by a group reflection session. Head to the airport for departure, accompanied by staff.

Day 7

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Key Inclusions

ACADEMIC PROGRAM AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES:

On-site program orientation session with welcome packets
20 hours of shadowing experience in a rural community clinic
Afternoon of volunteer work in a community garden
Lecture by the WHO Collaborating Centre
Salsa workshop for cultural immersion
Day trip to El Yunque National Rainforest, including a walk through the forest
Free afternoon on Luquillo Beach

ACCOMMODATIONS AND MEALS:

TRANSPORTATION:

OTHER PROGRAM INCLUSIONS:

Worldwide Health Insurance through CISI for the duration of the program.
Full-time local Group Leader accompaniment for visits and activities listed in the itinerary.
24/7 emergency support from the on-site Program Coordinator.
Accompanied visits to clinics by staff upon request.
For two accompanying professors: all program inclusions, single-room lodging, and same included meals as students.
Tips for included restaurants and transportation.

Custom Features to Fit Your Nursing Department's Specific Focus Areas

Customized Clinical Rotations

Not only will students engage in clinical experiences tailored to mental health, critical care, or pediatrics, but they will also tackle region-specific healthcare challenges. This customization allows students to meet curriculum goals while gaining exposure to conditions and treatment methods they may not encounter at home.

International Partners

Develop active partnerships with hospitals in rural and urban settings worldwide. These collaborations ensure students gain a comprehensive understanding of both resource-limited environments and cutting-edge healthcare systems, helping them adapt to complex scenarios.

Hands-On Engagement

Immersive learning experiences in cross-cultural healthcare settings help nursing students strengthen their healthcare systems literacy and enhance their ability to communicate across cultural contexts.

Global Nursing Leadership Workshops

Leadership workshops immerse students in global health policy, crisis management, and public health decision-making practices, preparing them to take on leadership roles in diverse healthcare settings. These sessions equip students with skills that extend beyond clinical care into strategic healthcare management.

Interdisciplinary Learning

Students work across disciplines with international healthcare professionals, including doctors, social workers, and community health advocates. This exposure promotes a holistic understanding of healthcare delivery.

Post-Program Career Benefits

Completing a faculty-led international healthcare program will stand out on resumes, signaling to employers that students have unparalleled global exposure and adaptability, often translating to a competitive edge in job placement.

Diverse Learning Formats

Beyond on-the-ground clinical practice, students engage in simulation labs, debriefs, and reflective seminars, integrating theoretical learning with hands-on care, further deepening their ability to implement best practices in any setting.

Experience Global Healthcare Systems in Top Destinations

Our nursing study abroad programs offer both short-term (1-4 weeks) and semester-long options, giving students the flexibility to choose based on their academic and clinical needs. With diverse locations such as Barcelona, Alicante, Seville, Puerto Rico, and Panama, students have the chance to immerse themselves in unique healthcare systems, ranging from urban hospitals to rural clinics. All programs include hands-on learning, healthcare system overviews, and community health projects, within dynamic cultural environments.

Seville, Spain

Immersion in a well-developed, urban healthcare system.
Shadow professionals in maternal health, emergency, and critical care departments.
Short-term programs: Focus on clinical rotations and exposure to both public and private healthcare systems.
Semester-long programs: Extended clinical placements and deeper cultural integration.

Barcelona, Spain

Exposure to cutting-edge healthcare practices in one of Europe's leading medical hubs.
Shadow top healthcare providers in urban hospitals across multiple specialties.
Short-term programs: Targeted clinical rotations and in-depth hospital tours.
Semester-long programs: Comprehensive exposure to the Spanish healthcare system.

Alicante, Spain

Puerto Rico

Engage with urban healthcare settings in San Juan and rural clinics in remote areas.
Shadow medical teams specializing in primary care and tropical diseases.
Short-term programs: Focus on community health, disaster recovery, and rural healthcare exposure.
Semester-long programs: Continuous clinical rotations and public health projects.

Panama

Exposure to both urban hospitals and rural healthcare environments.
Shadow care providers addressing tropical medicine and emerging health challenges.
Short-term programs: Emphasis on community outreach and rural health initiatives.
Semester-long programs: Broader involvement in public health strategy and clinical practice.

We Handle the Logistics – All You Need to Do is Lead

Planning a study abroad experience can be overwhelming, but we take care of the logistics so you can focus on what matters most: leading and educating. From travel arrangements and accommodations to safety protocols and budgeting, we ensure a seamless experience, allowing you to concentrate on delivering impactful lessons and clinical leadership. Our dedicated team works closely with your nursing department to align every aspect of the trip to your goals, giving you the peace of mind that every detail is handled with precision. This means less time worrying about administration and more time engaging with your students in meaningful ways.

Comprehensive booking services that cover transportation and comfortable,safe lodgings catered to your group’s size and needs, whether in a rural or urban setting.

Comprehensive booking services that cover transportation and comfortable, safe lodgings catered to your group’s size and needs, whether in a rural or urban setting.

Using these logistical services, you can focus entirely on delivering an engaging, transformative educational experience while leaving the operational complexities in expert hands.

Frequently Asked Questions

We understand that planning a faculty-led study abroad program comes with a lot of questions. Below, we’ve highlighted some of the most common inquiries. If you don’t find your answer here, feel free to reach out!

How is student safety ensured?

In every program, student safety is our top priority. We provide comprehensive health and safety protocols, including worldwide health insurance coverage through CISI. Additionally, our local partners are available 24/7 to assist in any emergency. We also arrange orientation sessions to familiarize students with local environments and safety practices.

How flexible is the itinerary?

We believe flexibility is essential to ensure the best learning experience. While we have set academic and cultural elements, there is room for adjustments to better fit your department’s objectives. We’ll work closely with you before and during the program to adapt activities if needed, respecting the cultural context and logistical limitations.

Can we customize the program?

Absolutely! Our programs are designed to be flexible and customized to your department’s specific needs, whether that’s focusing on particular aspects like mental health, public health, or pediatric nursing. Collaborate with our team to design tailored rotations, excursions, and academic focus areas.

How are healthcare systems abroad different from the U.S.?

Healthcare systems abroad can vary widely from what you are familiar with in the U.S. In some countries, students may encounter single-payer public systems, while in others, fragmented private healthcare dominates. These differences provide rich learning opportunities about global healthcare disparities, systems efficiency, patient access, and cross-cultural care practices.

What are the housing and meal arrangements?

Student and faculty accommodations are typically in safe and comfortable group settings, such as hostels or student dormitories, located close to the study sites. Daily breakfast is included, as well as select group meals, such as welcome and farewell dinners. Students can explore local cuisine during unstructured meal times.

Custom & Faculty-Led Study Abroad Program:
Case Studies & Articles

"The hotels chosen, city guides and tours, visits to museums, choice of restaurants, and other cultural activities have all represented meaningful, oftentimes life-changing experiences for all, giving our students direct exposure to some of the realities and cultural richness Spain has been famous for."

"Traveling overseas is stressful. Particularly if you are leading a group of young students who are full of expectations. Without the efficiency and knowledgeable tour guides provided by Spanish Studies Abroad, my experience as a program leader would not have been as memorable as it was. I cherished every minute."

"I could not speak more highly of their professionalism and excellent customer service. They are problem solvers and pay attention to every detail on our schedule so our students can have the best cultural and academic experience possible, besides being available 24/7. Every year every participant on the program raves about the well-rounded and knowledgeable tour guides, the overnight trip accommodations and the excellent transit to the sites visited. Because of their highly-organized programs and travel offerings, other UMD departments have started to partner with Spanish Studies Abroad. "

Having taken students to Costa Rica and Spain for 30 years, I'm an extremely demanding trip planner looking for perfection. It has been a pleasure to work with the owners of Spanish Studies Abroad. They certainly do and will do whatever it takes to please customers and for a very good and reasonable price. I will continue using this company for all my educational and personal excursions and I highly recommend it.

"I have worked with Spanish Studies Abroad for over 10 years and I can attest to the quality of the programs that this organization has put together for the groups that I have led during this time period. Time and time again, the staff at Spanish Studies Abroad designed high quality programs that were executed with consummate professionalism. Words simply cannot express just how much I appreciate Spanish Studies Abroad for being such a trustworthy organization and for its uncompromising commitment to excellence. It goes without saying that I look forward to working with Spanish Studies Abroad for many more years!"

“The staff at the US office and on-site were excellent. They were always happy to respond to our requests and helped organize a number of extracurricular experiences for me and for my students.”

“Spanish Studies Abroad was very accommodating in making sure we were able to see and do everything we proposed.”

“Members of the Spanish Studies Abroad staff are true experts in organizing and orchestrating every aspect of the program. They are savvy and responsive planners who prepare for every eventuality and keep faculty and resident directors in the loop at every turn.”

duke university in alicante, summer 2019

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