Heathen medical missions
September 26, 2014 9:35 AM Subscribe
I am an atheist, and a nurse, and I would like to possibly participate in a medical mission, but all my options seem to be religious in nature.
Not much else to add here. I just think it would be a little disingenuous of me to participate in a religion-based medical mission, but I would really like to do the work, if I can. I know there must be some organizations out there that are secular, but every time I find a seemingly viable candidate, somewhere buried in the fine print is a religious mandate. Help?
Not much else to add here. I just think it would be a little disingenuous of me to participate in a religion-based medical mission, but I would really like to do the work, if I can. I know there must be some organizations out there that are secular, but every time I find a seemingly viable candidate, somewhere buried in the fine print is a religious mandate. Help?
Or more specific to nurses, Nurses Without Borders!
posted by zizzle at 9:46 AM on September 26, 2014 [8 favorites]
posted by zizzle at 9:46 AM on September 26, 2014 [8 favorites]
Seconding Doctors Without Borders.
Also, I'm not a fan of organized religion, and wouldn't like to align myself with one. That said, I'm not a fan of most other organizations either, and one or another will get a bad name for some reason at some point... a point you can't predict and likely also won't want on your record.
So what about the greater good? If you are willing to help with a medical mission (and don't have to make a declaration of faith), would it be more hurtful or more helpful in sum?
Tolerance goes both ways, as I see it. So if you can help people, the beliefs of those that make that possible are not your concern (again, unless you need to sign or say something that goes against your own beliefs).
Is there a certain religion that really bothers you? If so, don't do mission work for that type, but be aware that you could be of help if you could be tolerant of the beliefs of the founders/organizers.
posted by whoiam at 9:56 AM on September 26, 2014 [2 favorites]
Also, I'm not a fan of organized religion, and wouldn't like to align myself with one. That said, I'm not a fan of most other organizations either, and one or another will get a bad name for some reason at some point... a point you can't predict and likely also won't want on your record.
So what about the greater good? If you are willing to help with a medical mission (and don't have to make a declaration of faith), would it be more hurtful or more helpful in sum?
Tolerance goes both ways, as I see it. So if you can help people, the beliefs of those that make that possible are not your concern (again, unless you need to sign or say something that goes against your own beliefs).
Is there a certain religion that really bothers you? If so, don't do mission work for that type, but be aware that you could be of help if you could be tolerant of the beliefs of the founders/organizers.
posted by whoiam at 9:56 AM on September 26, 2014 [2 favorites]
I created an account just for this question. Yes, I think Doctors Without Borders or Operation Smile are your best choices.
I live in a country that receives many many missionaries (medical, construction, proselytizing etc.) and I would really discourage anyone from participating in one. I know they think they're doing good and they're probably not doing too much harm, but the money they spend on plane tickets, hotels, transportation would be much better used had they just sent it to a local organization, hospital, orphanage. I know they want to help, but even in this very poor, developing country, we have excellent doctors, nurses, construction people, teachers, etc. and the "help" these missionaries bring isn't sustainable at all.
Organizations such as Doctors Without Borders and Operation Smile are more stringent as to what kind of volunteers they accept and send them to place where they are actually needed.
posted by Lingasol at 10:56 AM on September 26, 2014 [9 favorites]
I live in a country that receives many many missionaries (medical, construction, proselytizing etc.) and I would really discourage anyone from participating in one. I know they think they're doing good and they're probably not doing too much harm, but the money they spend on plane tickets, hotels, transportation would be much better used had they just sent it to a local organization, hospital, orphanage. I know they want to help, but even in this very poor, developing country, we have excellent doctors, nurses, construction people, teachers, etc. and the "help" these missionaries bring isn't sustainable at all.
Organizations such as Doctors Without Borders and Operation Smile are more stringent as to what kind of volunteers they accept and send them to place where they are actually needed.
posted by Lingasol at 10:56 AM on September 26, 2014 [9 favorites]
I'm not a nurse (yet) but I will be next spring, and I'm also very interested in this. I have been compiling a list of organizations that take volunteers or employees overseas. I haven't vetted any of these and some I am not sure if they take US volunteers but you could check. Some might have a religious basis but I try to stay away from that as well.
- http://www.internationalmedicalcorps.org.uk/
- http://www.nationalnursesunited.org/
- http://www.pih.org/
- http://www.worktheworld.com/tanzania-dar-es-salaam/nursing-internships
- VSO also takes healthcare volunteers abroad and I know they do take US citizens (http://www.vso.org.uk/volunteer/opportunities/health/nurses)
I don't know if you are looking exclusively for volunteer work, but Peace Corps and the state department also hire nurses/nurse practitioners to work overseas caring for the people they place abroad.
posted by queens86 at 10:57 AM on September 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
- http://www.internationalmedicalcorps.org.uk/
- http://www.nationalnursesunited.org/
- http://www.pih.org/
- http://www.worktheworld.com/tanzania-dar-es-salaam/nursing-internships
- VSO also takes healthcare volunteers abroad and I know they do take US citizens (http://www.vso.org.uk/volunteer/opportunities/health/nurses)
I don't know if you are looking exclusively for volunteer work, but Peace Corps and the state department also hire nurses/nurse practitioners to work overseas caring for the people they place abroad.
posted by queens86 at 10:57 AM on September 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
Wasn't there some scandal about a Operation Smile recently? Maybe someone can elaborate on this, but I recall an FPP about making people cook meals during the interview to get a job or something slimy like that.
posted by oceanjesse at 11:46 AM on September 26, 2014
posted by oceanjesse at 11:46 AM on September 26, 2014
Seconding Peace Corps! Health officer link.
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 12:12 PM on September 26, 2014
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 12:12 PM on September 26, 2014
I"ve known two people who worked with Concern America and I have a very favorable impression. They do long term work in the communities they serve in, building up local infrastructure and training while also meeting immediate health needs. One of the main critiques of MSF is they sort of fly in and act like superheros and then leave. Concern has a very different model that is about long-term community engagement and health infratructure building. Their budgets are way smaller thean PHI (which is also great) and MSF, but on the other hand, you might have more programatic influence in a smaller program.
posted by latkes at 3:20 PM on September 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by latkes at 3:20 PM on September 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
One of my friends works for MSF (anaesthetist) - she had an amazing time working in some fantastic places (Palestine, S America and I think Indonesia or somewhere like that) and as a secular muslim woman she would absolutely have mentioned any negative religious slant. There were lots of different nationalities and religions working in her teams.
posted by tinkletown at 3:31 PM on September 26, 2014
posted by tinkletown at 3:31 PM on September 26, 2014
Beyond the aforementioned ideas, there are almost certainly opportunities in your vicinity. When I lived in Minnesota, there were at least 2 medical groups I knew of that went to Peru and another country, 2-4 times a years. They were both affiliated with a religious mission (most are), but unless you're going with a church Youth Group, people really don't care. The 2 of I knew of were Minnesota Doctors for the Poor (based out of Mankato), and Llama (an acronym for something). Both were for about 1-2 week trips, and performed exactly as you describe. Honestly, I'd just ask people you know locally if they've heard of any such thing.
posted by jmd82 at 6:20 PM on September 26, 2014
posted by jmd82 at 6:20 PM on September 26, 2014
Curamericas, if you'd like to work with women.
posted by chainsofreedom at 4:45 AM on September 27, 2014
posted by chainsofreedom at 4:45 AM on September 27, 2014
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by vacapinta at 9:39 AM on September 26, 2014 [8 favorites]