If you are travelling to Bogota for medical treatment, one of the most important things to arrange before you land is qualified, English-speaking nursing care at your accommodation. Here is what that involves, what it costs, and what to verify before you book anyone.
Why language
Why English matters clinically, not just socially
Colombia has become one of Latin America’s leading medical tourism destinations. Its hospitals are strong and its surgeons are internationally trained. But the working language of your surgical team is Spanish, and that gap stops being a minor inconvenience the moment something needs describing precisely.
Clinical English under stress is a different skill from conversational English. Describing the colour and volume of drain output, the character of pain, or how a wound has changed since yesterday is not something a translation app does adequately – and it is exactly the information that determines whether your surgeon wants to see you today.
Every nurse on our roster is verified for clear spoken and written English before joining, and coordinates with your surgeon in Spanish on your behalf.
Verify
What to check before you book anyone
- Is the person a licensed nurse, or a caregiver? The words get used loosely. A caregiver cannot manage drains, give injections or assess a wound. Ask for the licence.
- Who exactly is coming? Not “one of our nurses” – a named person with credentials you can see before you fly.
- What happens at 3am? Ask specifically who they call and whether they can reach your surgeon.
- Is the price fixed? Get the total in writing, in a currency you understand, including nights and weekends.
- What English do they actually speak? Ask for a call before you commit.
The care
What in-home nursing includes
- Vital signs monitoring at every visit
- Wound care and dressing changes
- Surgical drain management, with output recorded for your surgeon
- Medication management and administration, including prescribed injections
- Early complication detection
- Mobility and positioning assistance
- Surgeon coordination in Spanish and English
- Patient education in English
Care normally runs daily through the first week, tapering to every other day and then on-call as your surgeon clears you for less supervision. Patients travelling alone usually add overnight presence for the first few nights.
Practical
Arranging it before you land
Day visits are $60, an overnight registered nurse is $120 a night, and 24/7 live-in care is $180 a day, quoted in US dollars before you fly. See our published pricing for what each tier includes. Book before you fly, so the nurse is there when you are discharged rather than being arranged in a hurry afterwards. Message us on WhatsApp at +57 322 216 8138 with your procedure and dates, or read what in-home nursing costs in Bogota first if you are still budgeting.
This article is general information about how recovery is usually managed. Your surgeon’s discharge instructions always take precedence over anything written here.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Are your nurses actually registered nurses?
Yes – Colombian-licensed registered nurses, background-checked and verified for English fluency before joining the roster.
Can I speak to the nurse before I fly?
Ask us when you request your quote. Bios are shared before you travel.
Do you cover the whole city?
Yes, anywhere in Bogota – hotels, apartments, Airbnbs and recovery houses.