What Is the Hardest Part of a Medical Internship Abroad?

Participating in a medical internship abroad is an incredibly exciting opportunity to gain international work experience, immerse yourself in a new culture, and expand your professional network. However, just like many significant endeavours in life, medical internships can come with certain challenges. 

Knowing these potential hurdles and coming up with ways to overcome them can make your experience much more enjoyable, easier and rewarding. Today, we’ll explore common challenges that interns may find hard while on the job. 

Common Challenges of Medical Internships Abroad

Everyone is different, so there’s no one specific part of medical internships that people find the hardest. Some interns may find it most difficult to adjust to a new environment, while others will struggle with language barriers or keeping up with a unique healthcare system. 

Below are some of the most common challenges of medical internships abroad: 

1. Cultural Adjustment

No matter where you decide to complete your internship, it can be overwhelming to adapt to a new culture. This is especially true if the customs, traditions and social norms are different, and you’re placed in a high-pressure environment like a hospital. 

This culture shock can lead to feelings of isolation and frustration, which many interns find hard to come to terms with. 

How can you face this challenge head-on?

• Research the host country’s culture: Before arriving, read up on the country’s customs and traditions to help mitigate the shock.
• Engage with locals and cultural events: Spending time with the community during your downtime can help immerse yourself in the culture. 
• Choose a program that offers cultural orientation: Reputable organizations, such as Med Trips, offer orientation sessions to help integrate you into the culture of your chosen country and bridge the gap between you and locals. 

2. Work-Life Balance

When completing your internship abroad, you might find the demands of your internship more challenging to balance than you originally thought. Many interns want to explore their new surroundings just as much as work, and finding a healthy balance between work and play can be hard. 

You might find yourself overworking to meet expectations, or conversely, focusing too much on sightseeing rather than your professional development.

How can you face this challenge head-on?

• Plan your time carefully: Know when you’re needed for your internship and when you’re able to stray away from the hospital or clinic.
• Set work times: Establish clear boundaries for when you’re working. Don’t stay too long after your planned hometime to avoid cutting into your exploration time. 
• Choose an organization that supports its interns: Med Trips provides 24/7 in-country support for interns and sets out clear expectations to make sure everyone is on the same page. 

3. Professional Expectations

Work culture often varies significantly around the world, so what may be considered normal at home might not be the same where you’re completing your internship. Your managers might see your professional experience as ineffective or inappropriate, and ask you to follow their practices instead. 

Misunderstandings in the professional workplace can cause errors, which can be dangerous in a medical setting. This may also lead to stress and conflicts, which can be really hard on interns who feel like they have no one on their side. 

How can you face this challenge head-on?

• Learn the professional norms in your host country: Before starting your internship, research the hospital or clinic you’ll be working in to ensure you know what to expect.
• Seek clarification from advisors: If you find yourself unsure, ask a manager to help ensure you’re doing each task safely and properly. 
• Ask about professional development opportunities: Some internships include workshops or mentorship opportunities to help prepare you for the work culture of your host country. 

4. Legal and Logistical Issues

Some people find the legal side of internships to be the most difficult to wrap their heads around. Navigating the visa process, ensuring you have the correct travel insurance, and understanding local laws can be a stressful and confusing experience. 

How can you face this challenge head-on?

• Research the legalities of your host country: Look into the logistical requirements of your chosen country before travelling to ensure you’re secure in your knowledge. 
• Ask for help: Med Trips will help with visa applications and travel insurance queries, so don’t be afraid to ask for help. 
• Look for in-country support: There’s only so much support people can give from another country. Med Trips has teams of managers in each host country to provide support, day or night. 

5. Language Barriers

Communication issues are common for medical interns, especially if you don’t speak the language fluently. You’ll be expected to work with native professionals and patients who might not speak English. 

This can make it harder for you to perform tasks, build relationships and fully immerse yourself in the experience. 

How can you face this challenge head-on?

• Learn the language: Basic proficiency can go a long way during your internship, so enroll in classes or learn basic phrases through apps like Duolingo. 
• Utilize organised language training: Certain organizations may offer language training sessions to help orientation run smoothly.
• Keep an open mind: You’ll pick up on language cues and common phrases as you go, so keep your ears open while you’re working to lower the language barrier and improve communication. 

6. Financial Management

Budgeting can be difficult in an unknown country, especially if you’re working on a tight allowance to begin with. The added challenge of different currencies, taxes, cost of living and unforeseen expenses can make managing finances difficult for many interns. 

This added challenge can add unnecessary stress to your experience, especially on days when your internship has you frazzled and tired already. 

How can you face this challenge head-on?

• Create a detailed budget: Write down all your possible expenses and your daily allowance to cover them. Keep this on your phone so you can refer back to it and stick to your plan. 
• Choose an organization with included amenities: Med Trips includes accommodation, meals, transport, orientation and support in our program fees, so you don’t have to worry about paying for these throughout your trip. 
• Top up your budget: Before starting your internship, top up your budget by crowdfunding and fundraising. 

7. Feeling Homesick or Lonely

The idea of planning a medical internship abroad is incredibly exciting and fun, but many people don’t realise how difficult it can be to spend so much time away from friends, family and familiar surroundings. 

Internships abroad can bring feelings of homesickness and loneliness, especially in the first few weeks abroad. 

How can you face this challenge head-on?

• Stay connected with loved ones: Maintain daily or weekly calls and messages back home to keep in touch and avoid feeling completely detached. 
• Build a support network in-country: Lean on your fellow interns and create meaningful connections where you can travel and work together. 
• Don’t put too much pressure on yourself: Remember that your internship will be over before you know it, so try and have fun without putting too much pressure on your ability to make new connections. 

How to Reframe Challenges as Learning Opportunities

Challenges don’t have to ruin your internship experience. They can actually provide an opportunity to develop resilience and empathy, especially in a medical setting. This can be difficult for interns, especially while they’re so busy with work responsibilities and adjusting to a new environment. 

However, reframing your mindset around challenges is so incredibly important. To do this, consider the following tips instead of letting the difficulties overwhelm you: 

• Practice self-reflection

Actively consider situations and challenges as they arise. Ask yourself specific questions to focus on growth rather than blame. For example: 

Instead of. “Why is this happening?”, ask: “What is this teaching me?” or “How can I grow from this?”.

Instead of "I made a mistake," say: "Errors happen. Here's how I'll fix it, and here's what I'll do differently next time".

Be aware of your emotional reactions, such as anxiety or frustration, and use that awareness to identify areas for personal improvement. Examples could include the need for better boundaries or time management.  

• Seek feedback from your superiors

View feedback as a constructive tool for growth, not a personal attack. Asking for regular feedback from supervisors and other interns can help you find objective perspectives on your performance and areas that may need improvement. 

• Prioritize self-care

Acknowledge that you are human and not ‘unflappable’. Managing stress through self-care and setting boundaries can prevent burnout and ensure you maintain empathy and professionalism. 

• Engage in experiential learning

Actively participate in real-life cases, even emotionally challenging ones, to gain experience and confidence from your internship experience. Learning by doing, reflecting on the experience, and integrating lessons into daily behavior creates lasting knowledge.

Ready to Plan Your Medical Internship? 

Medical internships can be quite challenging at times, but that shouldn’t detract from the incredibly worthwhile experience. Reframing challenges into learning experiences can make it much more manageable and even more rewarding. 

Check out our medical electives abroad to find one that genuinely excites you and can further your professional development. Click ‘Apply Now’ and get the ball rolling on your most exciting adventure yet!