Volunteer Placement Profile Nursing Volunteer

San Jose Hospital Diriamba, Nicaragua

www.volunteerbasecamp.com San Jose Hospital Placement ID: 478 Country: Nicaragua Location: Diriamba Placement Category: Health Care Placement Type: Nursing Organization Type: Not Selected Minimum Duration: 8 weeks Language Skill: Intermediate Placement Fee: None Accommodation: BaseCamp OR Host Family Months Not Available: Available all year

www.volunteerbasecamp.com Quick Facts: Placement ID: IND-478 Location: Diriamba, Nicaragua Sector: Health Care Category: Min Duration: 8 weeks Lodging: Language: Intermediate Job Description

Volunteer Tasks Required

www.volunteerbasecamp.com Organization Details About the Organization

San Jose Hospital provides health care and medical attention to patients with various needs and illnesses. This hopsital has an emergency room that provides a variety of different treatments: from minor to major surgery, treatment of serious injuries, treatment of infectious diseases, pre- and post-natal care for both women and newborns, orthopedics, etc. The hospital operates on a 24-hour schedule. Doctors visit patients once in the morning and once in the afternoon, and there are at least two nurses in the wing at all times.

When the Organization was Founded

July 07, 1955

How the Organization is Funded

The San Jose Hospital is funded by the Nicaraguan government, private Chrisitan organizations and receives donations (mostly medical instruments) from abroad.

Role of Religion Within This Organization

Catholic

www.volunteerbasecamp.com Placement Location Information

The Carazo Department (state) of Nicaragua is located in the south-west of Nicaragua and is approximately 40km south of the capital city, Managua. This department has an approximate population of 177,000 people and encompasses the 8 cities of: Diriamaba, Dolores, El Rosario, Jinotepe, La Conquista, La Paz de Carazo, San Marcos and Santa Theresa. The cities in the Carazo department are much better known than the department itself. Though the Carazo department has 8 cities within its borders, Jinotepe, Diriamba and San Macos are the three main cities that attract people to the area. San Marcos is the closest to Managua, and Jinotepe is located right on the Pan-American Highway. The main roads to the beaches of La Boquita and Casares start at Diriamba, and Diriamba is also close to the eco-tourism centre La Maquina. Most of the Carazo department is located on a plateau at elevations up to 700 metres above sea level, however, the department extends all the way to the Pacific Ocean. The entire area is known for its rich and vibrant culture, historic architecture, eco-tourism and its beaches. Carazo is an important producer of coffee, sugarcane and sesame seeds, which are farmed by the people living in rural areas surrounding the cities. Many farmers from rural villages travel into the cities of San Marcos, Jinotepe and Diriamba every day to sell their crops at the markets and on the streets. Carazo has a diverse demographic that encompasses many different types of people ranging from rural indigenous farmers to university students studying at the Universidad Nacional (National University) or one of the private universities in Jinotepe. Carazo is well known for its friendly people and warm atmosphere. Carazo offers many different options for tourism and is easily accessible from the capital of Managua. It is a great location to visit while in Nicaragua! San Jose Hospital is located on the south end of Diriamba, a small city in the highlands not far from the Pacific Ocean. San Jose Hospital is a large green colonial building that contains an emergency room, a large maternity ward, a men's ward, a women's ward, a surgical room, a pharamacy and a lab. In addition, the hospital boasts a large courtyard where patients can go to visit with their families and eat lunch.

www.volunteerbasecamp.com City Description

The Carazo Department (state) of Nicaragua is located in the south-west of Nicaragua and is approximately 40km south of the capital city, Managua. This department has an approximate population of 177,000 people and encompasses the 8 cities of: Diriamaba, Dolores, El Rosario, Jinotepe, La Conquista, La Paz de Carazo, San Marcos and Santa Theresa. The cities in the Carazo department are much better known than the department itself. Though the Carazo department has 8 cities within its borders, Jinotepe, Diriamba and San Macos are the three main cities that attract people to the area. San Marcos is the closest to Managua, and Jinotepe is located right on the Pan-American Highway. The main roads to the beaches of La Boquita and Casares start at Diriamba, and Diriamba is also close to the eco-tourism centre, La Maquina. Most of the Carazo department is located on a plateau at elevations up to 700 metres above sea level, however, the department extends all the way to the Pacific Ocean. The entire area is known for its rich and vibrant culture, historic architecture, eco-tourism and its beaches. Carazo is an important producer of coffee, sugarcane and sesame seeds, which are farmed by the people living in rural areas surrounding the cities. Many farmers from rural villages travel into the cities of San Marcos, Jinotepe and Diriamba every day to sell their crops at the markets and on the streets. Carazo has a diverse demographic that encompasses many different types of people ranging from rural indigenous farmers to university students studying at the Universidad Nacional (National University) or one of the private universities in Jinotepe. Carazo is well known for its friendly people and warm atmosphere. Carazo offers many different options for tourism and is easily accessible from the capital of Managua. It is a great location to visit while in Nicaragua!

Points of Interest

Carazo has a rich history and was home to many indigenous people before the arrival of the Spanish. The city of Diriamba was home to an indigenous leader named Dirianger who was a great example of the spirit of native resistance against the Spanish. One legend has it that once Dirianger realized that colonization was inevitable, he sacrificed himself by

www.volunteerbasecamp.com walking into a cave full of tigers rather than negotiate with the Spanish. i Around the 17th century, a satirical play called El Gueguense was produced by an unknown author. The play was passed down in oral history until 1942 when it was finally written and made into a book. El Gueguense is a way that the indigenous people mocked the Spanish and the play is performed in January during the feast of San Sebastian in Diriamba.

Weather in the Area

Nicaragua is a tropical country that has two seasons: a wet season and a dry season. Temperatures in Nicaragua vary little with the season and it largely depends on the elevation. The wet season is between May and December and the dry season is between January and April. Rainfall varies throughout the country and the eastern area gets more rain than the west. In the east of Nicaragua, the rainy season can often last longer than the usual 6 months. There are three different climate zones in Nicaragua. The lowlands, which have an altitude of up to 750 metres above sea level and have temperatures that range from 22 degrees Celsius at night to 30 degrees Celsius during the day. The Central highlands at an elevation of 750 metres to 1,600 metres above sea level have temperatures that range between 15 degrees Celsius at night to 25 degrees Celsius during the day. The highlands, often referred to as the “tierra fria” (the cold land) have much lower temperatures than the other two climate zones and temperatures get to below 15 degrees Celsius at night and peak at around 22 degrees Celsius during the day.

Transportation From BaseCamp