Sri Lanka – Nursing Internship for Students and Graduates

The internship is based near Galle, a vibrant coastal region known for its beaches, historic sites, and relaxed atmosphere. Hospitals and community centers are located 30–40 minutes from the volunteer houses, offering an accessible and consistent placement setting. Unawatuna Beach provides an ideal place to unwind after shifts, with cafés, restaurants, and local markets nearby. Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a popular spot for exploring cafés, boutiques, and scenic viewpoints. The area is safe, friendly, and easy to navigate. Interns can enjoy coastal towns such as Mirissa and Hikkaduwa during weekends, all well connected by local transport. The combination of meaningful clinical exposure and cultural experiences makes this region an excellent location for nursing students.

About the Organization/Program

This internship partners with a major public hospital, maternity centers, and community organizations throughout the Galle area. Sri Lanka’s free public healthcare system offers high patient volume and diverse case exposure, creating an ideal setting for observational learning. Interns shadow nurses, observe daily responsibilities, and gain insight into local nursing practices. The on-site coordinator provides ongoing support and guidance.

About the Internship Work

Nursing interns rotate through various wards based on availability, interest, and academic requirements. Most activities are observational, allowing interns to learn how nurses deliver patient care, manage wards, and collaborate with the wider healthcare team. Depending on the performance and comfort level of the hospital staff, some interns may be offered more involved tasks within approved boundaries. Community-based weeks are also available, offering hands-on experiences in public health, first-aid education, hygiene awareness, disability care, and elderly support. A special Ayurveda session introduces interns to traditional Sri Lankan nursing practices.

Example of Volunteer Tasks

• Join ward rounds with consultants and medical staff
• Observe vital sign monitoring, wound dressing, and bedside care
• Join nursing and medical ward rounds
• Study patient histories with staff guidance
• Shadow nurses in maternity, pediatric, surgical, or medical wards
• Observe pre-operative and post-operative care routines
• Support physiotherapy and rehabilitation sessions
• Participate in community health campaigns
• Teach first aid and hygiene practices in local schools
• Assist with activities in disability and elderly care programs

A Typical Day

After breakfast, interns travel to the hospital for a 4–5 hour shift beginning around 8:00 AM. Afternoon and evening time is free for rest, cultural activities, or beach visits. Weekends are open for optional tours, social events, or independent travel.

Examples of Wards and Specialty Units for Nursing Interns: 

• Maternity Care Division (Female interns only)
  • Antenatal & Postnatal Unit: Observe CTG monitoring, vital checks, wound dressing, and fetal monitoring.
  • Labor Room: Observe normal births, episiotomies, and newborn care.
  • Obstetrics Theatre: Observe c-sections, emergency procedures, and gynecological surgeries.
• Emergency Trauma Care (ETC) / Surgical Casualty Ward
  Bedside teaching, patient management discussions, ward rounds, and wound-dressing observation.
• Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Unit
  Support physiotherapy and occupational therapy exercises, and assist with mental wellbeing activities.
• General Pediatric Ward
  Study patient histories, join rounds, and assist with activities for children (with parental consent).
• General Medical Ward
  Participate in bedside teaching, observe ward rounds with consultants, and attend informal lectures.
• General Surgical Wards
  Observe wound dressing, vital sign monitoring, and pre/post-operative care. Exposure includes surgeries such as cholecystectomy, appendectomy, hernia repair, and thyroidectomy.
• Oncology Surgical Ward
  Observe patient history review, wound care, and pre/post-operative routines within oncology.
• Special Units (On Request): Psychiatry, Rheumatology, Orthopedics, ICU.
  • Ayurvedic Medicine: Introduction to traditional holistic nursing practices.
  • Community-Based Activities: Disability care, hygiene and first-aid education, elderly care, and health awareness campaigns.

 Internet: Up to 20 GB of WiFi is provided; additional data can be purchased locally

 Laundry: Laundry services are available for an additional fee in the local neighborhood

Accommodations: Participants stay in the Beachside Volunteer House located just across the road from Unawatuna Beach and 100 meters from the second house, this property includes 12 bedrooms (3–6 people per room), each with a small en-suite bathroom. Facilities include a dining area, garden, lounge, and terrace. Volunteers staying here also have access to the swimming pool at another house a few metres away. AC rooms are available for an extra fee.

• • Private Room Upgrades: Private rooms are available for an additional fee, based on availability. These rooms are located in separate houses 50–100 meters from the main house and include AC and private bathroom in the upgrade cost. Volunteers with private rooms still have full access to all main house facilities.
  • Important Note: All applicants are welcome to upgrade based on availability. All applicants aged 40 and above will be required to upgrade to a private room for an additional fee.
  • Photos: The main volunteer house photos are shown on the project page above. Private room photos represent the general quality standards across the three separate houses. Detailed photos of your assigned house will be provided after trip confirmation.

Food: Three meals per day will be prepared by house chefs, using local, fresh ingredients. Tropical fruit is available during every meal and there is a salad bar set up during most lunches and dinners. Vegan, nut-free, gluten-free and lactose-free diets can be accommodated with advance notice. Tea, coffee and filtered water are available throughout the day. For cases where hospital hours may coincide with mealtimes (which can happen with lunch occasionally), volunteers are responsible for covering their own meals at the hospital cafeteria, which is very affordable.

• Enrollment in or recent completion of a recognized nursing degree
• Conversational English
• National Police Clearance / Police Background Check
• List of required documents  – Submitted latest 5 weeks before the start date
  • University reference letter confirming medical studies
  • Updated CV or resume
  • Motivation letter to join the internship
  • Copy of passport
  • Passport-sized photo
  • Any clinical/university documents requiring hospital attestation
  • Hospital forms: Completed Elective Information Sheet & Observership Trainee Assessment form
• Must be culturally respectful, flexible, and open to local medical practices
  • Professional attire required: medical scrubs with long trousers
  • Tattoos must be covered; piercings and accessories must be removed
  • Smoking on hospital premises is prohibited

Interns can explore Sri Lanka’s southern coast during their free time, with easy access to beaches, wildlife, and cultural sites. Galle Fort, Unawatuna, and nearby coastal towns offer plenty of weekend activities and day trips. You can enjoy weekly evening yoga sessions on the rooftop, weekly movie nights, and monthly bike tours and barbecues at the volunteer villa. Additional travel experiences are available for an extra fee, and a few popular options are listed below:

Adventure Tour (Highly Recommended):
Extend your stay in Sri Lanka with a seven-day Adventure Tour that includes a game drive, waterfall visits, a scenic long-distance train ride, an overnight stay at a riverside eco lodge, temple visits, a village walk, a spice grove tour, a visit to Lion Rock, time at the local market, and a stop at Negombo Beach.

Additional Recommendations:

• Elephant safari
• Rainforest hike
• Surfing lessons on nearby beaches
• Whale watching (in season)
• Cooking class
• Visit to Galle Fort