ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥

Your web browser is outdated and may be insecure

The RCN recommends using an updated browser such as or

Getting on that long-haul flight alone, I felt a mixture of nervousness and excitement. But when I arrived in Phnom Penh and took my first tuk-tuk to my accommodation, I knew I’d done the right thing.  

This was my first time volunteering with Transform Healthcare Cambodia, so I was unsure of what to expect. But I immediately got to know the team I’d be working with.  

As part of our induction, I learnt about the brutal Pol Pot regime that ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. Millions of educated Cambodian people were tortured and executed.  

Visiting the killing fields as part of my introduction to the country, where more than 1.3 million people were killed and buried, was an emotional and sobering experience. Before going there, I had no real understanding of what had happened in this time. But here I was in the country where one of the worst mass genocides of the 20th century had taken place.   

Sharing knowledge  

At the start of my placement, I could immediately see that training for nursing staff was limited. My mission was clear. I was there to share knowledge with nursing teams for the benefit of patients.  

Part of my work was focused on teaching how we use the  (a tool developed to improve the detection and response to clinical deterioration in adult patients) as there’s no triggering system or measure of patients being critically unwell used there. I was grateful we had translators to help.   

I also delivered a lecture on sepsis observation management, which was well received. What an experience that was – at one hospital I had my photograph taken with every individual attending. That certainly gave my facial muscles some exercise!  

There’s no triggering system or measure of patients being critically unwell

I enjoyed the hand hygiene awareness training we presented as a team, too. For this session, we applied a special UV lotion to a person’s hand before they washed them. We then shone a UV light on peoples’ hands, so all the unwashed areas are highlighted. This showed the areas that are often missed – generally the fingernail area. This made everyone more aware and extra careful going forward.  

Visiting a primary school where a group of us taught children how to brush their teeth and wash their hands properly was another highlight. The children engaged keenly, and I got lots offers of hugs when I left. We also visited maternity wards where we distributed essential personal care items and handmade knitted baby clothes. 

Visas, work permits and qualifications for volunteering

Always check visa requirements when planning to undertake work abroad. It’s a complicated issue which varies from country to country. Get foreign travel advice at . 

Work permits are usually obtained by the employer from the immigration authorities of the host country. If work permits are required, you won’t be able to take up paid employment in that country if you can’t find an employer who can get a work permit for you.

The has information on the portability of qualifications overseas. 

The NMC's Registered Nurse: Adult nursing qualification is transferable to other countries. But not all countries have equivalents to the UK qualifications in mental health, learning disability, children’s nursing, health visiting and the enrolled nurse.

If there’s no equivalent to your nursing qualification in the country you’d like to visit, you won’t be able to work there as a registered nurse. 

There’s no formal mechanism for recognising UK post-registration qualifications, but employers may take them into account. 

Overseas employers and recruitment companies will be specific about the experience and qualifications required for a particular role (whether paid employment or voluntary work).  

The importance of gratitude  

Looking back on my time spent in Cambodia, I can’t help but think that the NHS is sometimes under-appreciated by some people in the UK. I saw first-hand that hospitals in Cambodia usually have fewer resources, but their staff are just as capable.   

In the places I’ve volunteered in (I’ve also been to Thailand and Vietnam), there appears to be more respect for people and the decisions they make. There’s little angst, anger or sense of entitlement. I wonder if it’s a cultural issue? In countries where Buddhism is practised, gratitude is a core practice. 

Embracing gratitude could benefit everyone

Whatever our religion or status, I feel embracing gratitude could benefit everyone. Instead of tearing the NHS apart, we need to look at all the resources we have and ask: “How can we make this even better?”. 

Bed in hospital in Cambodia

Above: a hospital bed in Cambodia

Now I’m back nursing in the UK, I’m also more mindful about resources and wastefulness. Nothing was wasted in Cambodia. Everything is reused where it can be. While we can’t always do that here, we need to think more about our actions and what we’re unnecessarily wasting.

My experiences have also given me a different perspective when I see staff and students from different countries working here. Having walked in their shoes, I understand how intimidating our culture and practices might feel to them.   

We need to think more about what we’re unnecessarily wasting

I’d encourage everyone to be more understanding of how our colleagues from other countries may be feeling. These individuals are dealing with so much that’s new and they make up a valued part of the nursing workforce.

I was welcomed to people’s houses to share food with them, but a kind word or gesture may be all it takes to make someone feel welcome. It costs nothing to be kind.  

Be brave

If you think you might be interested in volunteering in another country, be brave, prepared and don’t be afraid of challenges. Know what you want from the trip and why you’re going. It’s important to have a mature attitude and have your wits about you, but travel can develop that in you too – it helps you realise what you can do.   

There are practical considerations too. I’d love to see employers be more supportive. I had to resign from my previous post to go to Cambodia, even though I felt it would be a great development opportunity that could help me grow as a professional. I lined up a new role before I even travelled.  

Have a mature attitude and have your wits about you

Volunteering gave me an amazing opportunity to help me understand myself as a person and a nurse. I learnt so much about other people, how to deal with new situations, cultures and international considerations. It was an experience of a lifetime.

Greta is a registered adult nurse in Middlesbrough. 

Want to give it a go?

If you would like to undertake humanitarian work as a registered nurse, the RCN advises that you receive adequate post-graduate training and that you contact a reputable organisation that can support you at home and abroad.

Always check your employer’s special leave policy, as many employers accept limited time off paid or unpaid to undertake humanitarian work. 

Visit  and/ or the for information on tropical nursing and global health education.  

is an organisation that offers working and volunteering opportunities.

If you’d like advice on this type of work, contact the RCN International Academy and read the RCN advice guide on working overseas.  

Read next