This blog will document the thoughts and experiences of the six nursing students before, during, and after their experience in Nepal. Over the last year and a half, the The Global Nursing Committee at North Island College has diligently worked towards creating a vision for nursing students within an international landscape.
Several relationships with international partners are already being developed. The goal of these partnerships is to create relationships according to the guiding principles of the Global Nursing Committee. Thus far the Global Nursing Committee has joined in partnership with great local organizations such as Word Community Development Education Society and Africa Community Technical Services (ACTS). For 2009, the NIC Global Nursing Committee has arranged for two global practice placements for local nursing students. The first will be in January, 2009 in collaboration with ACTS. In this placement two students will work in conjunction with ACTS in Uganda focusing on health promotion and community development. In April, 2009 NIC and the Global Nursing Committee have arranged for a further six students to travel to Kathmandu, Nepal, where they will be working in a variety of health care settings including a hospice center, an orphanage, and an opportunity to work with a leprosy clinic. Currently students are engaged in pre-departure workshops aimed at raising awareness and cultural sensitivity. Gains will be made on three fronts; individually, locally, and globally. Individually, global placements will provide students with insight into cultural diversity, global health, and cultural safety. On a local level students will return with new knowledge, resources, and insight that will be used and shared to serve the communities they are a part of. Globally, students will be better prepared to focus on the large scale concerns that global health presents. In short, the growth of the individual contributes to the growth of the communities that they are part of.
This blog will document the thoughts and experiences of the six nursing students before, during, and after their experience in Nepal.
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