For nursing students, experiential learning is usually done in a lab or clinical setting, but students in the Global and International Health Care course took their learning a little further outside the classroom to England during a week-long study abroad trip.

The Global and International Health Care course examines worldwide health, history, health care delivery systems, health care practice and professional health education as compared to the United States. Students discuss how providers, nurses and ancillary health team members are utilized in delivering health care. The course offers the optional study abroad experience to provide students with a global perspective of health care delivery.

“Students met and learned from a National Health Service (NHS) nurse practitioner about British health care and nursing within that culture,” said Dr. Vikky Carlson-Oehlers, School of Nursing professor and program director. “Students were able to compare and contrast how British health care was similar and different from U.S. health care.”   

In addition to meeting with the nurse practitioner, the group enjoyed visiting the National Gallery, Tower of London, Florence Nightingale Museum and local restaurants, vendors, cafes and markets. They also did a bus tour that took them to iconic landmarks including the London Eye and London Bridge. On their free day, they visited Chinatown in the Soho area, which is Europe’s largest Chinatown.

“My favorite part was visiting historical landmarks like the Tower of London. That’s where they keep the Crown Jewels, which were really pretty!” said Holly Schwanebeck, nursing student.

The group also learned about epidemiology while eating at the John Snow Pub, named after the London doctor who discovered cholera was a water-borne disease. The pub was located in the exact spot of the water pump that started the cholera epidemic in 1854.

“It was cool being able to tie in things we learned in nursing class to historical events,” said Schwanebeck.

The group included nursing students Edwin Chen, Rebecca Katsnelson, Moira Reardon, Andrea Schwalbach, Schwanebeck and Sarah Vorwerk, as well as chaperones Carlson-Oehlers and Leo Schauer, assistant director of multicultural affairs.

“As an international educator, I was happy to guide and support these aspiring health care professionals in London,” said Schauer. “It was truly rewarding to witness the students’ growth and enthusiasm during this journey. I look forward to helping more B´ÎÔª students become better global citizens and future leaders through B´ÎÔª’s Office of Multicultural Affairs.”