Costa Rica

Volunteer Nurse

Living with a Tica family in Heredia, Costa Rica deepened my medical mission experience in ways I never expected. Each morning began with the smell of fresh gallo pinto and warm bread my Mamá Tica would walk to the neighborhood panadería to pick up before the sun fully rose. Those quiet breakfasts grounded me before long days at the “Hogar de Ancianos”, where I served as a nurse aide and physical therapy assistant, caring for elderly residents with tenderness, patience, and respect. After work, I shared meals at local Sodas, where simple, home-cooked dishes carried generations of tradition and conversation. Immersed in daily rhythms of family, food, and service, I learned that healing exists not only in clinical spaces, but around the table, in shared language, and in the cultural humility that allows true connection. This experience transformed my understanding of medicine and ignited a lifelong passion for culturally integrated care.

Each day, I navigated Heredia by bus, learning the rhythm of the city from the worn seats and open windows that carried conversations, laughter, and the scent of rain. Riding public transportation pushed me beyond my comfort zone and into daily life alongside locals—students, workers, and elders beginning their mornings much like my own. To further immerse myself, I attended classes at the local university in downtown Heredia, where I practiced Spanish, learned alongside Costa Rican students, and gained a deeper understanding of the culture that shaped the community I was serving. By stepping fully into the culture, I grew not only in language fluency, but in cultural awareness, independence, and compassion, reinforcing my belief that meaningful healthcare begins with understanding the lives people live beyond the clinic walls.

Games at the Hogar
I organized and participated in group games to encourage social engagement, cognitive stimulation, and joy among residents. These activities fostered connection, laughter, and a sense of community within the Hogar.

Check-Ins on Each Unit (“Casita”)
I conducted regular therapy check-ins within each casita to assess mobility, comfort, and functional progress. These visits allowed me to adapt exercises and provide encouragement tailored to each resident’s needs. In addition to assessing our patients, I assisted with medication administration, ensuring accurate dosing and adherence to safety protocols. This role strengthened my attention to detail and understanding of patient-centered medication management.

Individual Goals and Care Plans
I collaborated with the care team to establish individualized goals and care plans based on each resident’s physical abilities and personal needs. This process emphasized the importance of dignity, autonomy, and culturally sensitive care in long-term health outcomes.

On weekends, my understanding of service expanded even further when I traveled to Guanacaste to support humanitarian efforts alongside a local church. Under the hot sun and open sky, I joined community members to help build a home for a local family, working side by side with people whose generosity and faith transformed labor into fellowship. Though our backgrounds differed, we were united by a shared purpose—to create safety, dignity, and hope through collective action. That weekend reminded me that healing is not limited to medicine alone; it is found in shelter, community, and the willingness to show up for others. Witnessing the power of collaboration and compassion beyond clinical care reinforced my commitment to serving communities holistically, meeting both physical and human needs with empathy and respect.

Looking back, my time in Heredia feels like a tapestry of moments—sharing morning gallo pinto with my Mamá Tica, navigating the city buses, learning at the local university, laughing with residents during games at the Hogar, and building a home for a family in Guanacaste under the sun. Each experience, whether small or challenging, taught me that medicine is more than procedures or prescriptions—it is listening, connecting, and showing up with compassion. Immersed in culture, language, and community, I discovered that true care honors the whole person, and it is this lesson that continues to inspire my journey in nursing and service.