Students complete global health course in Scotland

USF Nursing students spent an intense two-weeks in Stirling, Scotland to complete their summer 2015 global community health experience.

USF Nursing’s Rita D’Aoust, PhD, ACNP, ANP-BC, CNE, FAANP, FNAP, associate professor and associate dean for academic affairs and interprofessional initiatives, and Stephen Mcghee, MSc, Bsc, PGCE, RNT, RN, VR, instructor, led the students in this trip.

During this experience, USF Nursing worked together with University of Stirling School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health (SNMH), to give students the opportunity to learn about community health in a variety of settings including midwifery, mental health, and heart failure. Students visiting areas included Stirling, Inverness and Edinburgh.

Student began their trip by shadowing community health nurses into multiple National Health Service (NHS) nursing facilities including Forth Valley to listen to various lectures on how NHS provides community resources and manages mental health issues, addiction counseling and dementia. The also took a tour of the mental health facilities to learn about differences and similarities between systems in the United State and Scotland.

During their trip, students presented their service learning projects and attended lectures to learn about resources for women, infants and children within the community.

“They have so many resources available for patients that they often go to their door to provide care services,” one student was surprised to learn. “They provide insulin injections, IV fluids, PICC line cleanings, wound care, maternal/infant screenings and education to ensure patients are getting the proper care they need.”

Students did not just learn, they also spread USF love at a local hospital in Inverness. They delivered USF Nursing teddy bears to mothers and their babies at Raigmore Hospital.

Before the end of the trip, students received special certificates and souvenirs from SNMH – making it an even more memorable experience for them all.

This international experience is part of a partnership agreement between USF College of Nursing and SNMH established in May 2013. This is USF Nursing’s second global health experience in Scotland.

The global community health experience fulfills students’ six-credit requirement for their community health didactic and clinical courses, an initiative developed through the College’s POWER with Nursing: Partnership Opportunities for Wellness, Education and Research. 

To read more about the students’ experience and see photos visit their blog: https://usfnurseinscotland2015.wordpress.com/.

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