Category: Caribbean

Submitted by Emili Rutkowski on the 2022 winter session program in the British Virgin Islands sponsored by the School of Nursing…

This final week is bittersweet. I am so excited to experience this wonderful place for another week, but so sad it is coming to an end. I have learned so much here about both their healthcare system and their culture. This has truly been the experience of a lifetime and I am so fortunate to have had this opportunity! We have touched on what it means to be a healthcare in a place with limited resources and have been able to see first hand how fortunate we are back in the States.

Submitted by Kaitlyn Meagher on the 2022 winter session program in the British Virgin Islands sponsored by the School of Nursing…

I can’t believe my third week here in the British Virgin Islands is over. I learn and see new things everyday here, especially in clinical settings. This opportunity to learn from different nurses and doctors has been amazing. As a future healthcare worker, I believe it is very important to learn how different cultures operate in a clinical setting. Some of the procedures are different here compared to the United States, as the hospital is very understaffed and lacks resources. Over the last two weeks, I have been able to bond and get to know a few of the nurses, who made an effort to help us learn and observe new experiences!

Submitted by Heather O’Connor on the 2022 winter session program in the British Virgin Islands sponsored by the School of Nursing…

During my third week abroad, I had the opportunity to really absorb the British Virgin Island culture, particularly in healthcare. As a nursing student, I think it is vitally important to be exposed to as many different cultures as possible in order to be fully prepared and ready to understand my patients and advocate for my patients. What I found in the hospital was that units were understaffed and under-resourced. In fact, I found nurses were forced to improvise because they did not have enough supplies for dressing changes and other medical therapies. I think this is something we strongly take for granted in the United States. In fact, the hospital does not even have a blood bank. I was fortunate enough to donate blood to one of my patients in need, as I am a universal donor. You can see that in action in the photo! Though the BVI has always struggled with resources, it has only gotten worse during the pandemic. I truly hope to spread the word and ensure everyone has access to the care they need.

Submitted by Sonya LeFors on the 2022 winter session program in the British Virgin Islands sponsored by the School of Nursing…

Going into my second week I didn’t think The British Virgin Islands could be anymore beautiful, but each day I stand happily corrected. This week, we explored other islands including Jost Van Dyke, Norman, Virgin Gorda, and even a half acre sand bar called Sandy Spit. Each island had its own atmosphere and culture. We also started our clinical experience at the hospital. I was assigned the ICU and it has been an amazing opportunity. I have learned so much from my nurse preceptors about health care and the practices in the British Virgin Islands. I see how our practices compare and differ, and how I can take what I’ve learned from this hospital and apply it to the hospitals in the States.

Submitted by Emili Rutkowski on the 2022 winter session program in the British Virgin Islands sponsored by the School of Nursing…

This second week has been even better than the first! I finally got to experience the clinical setting here in the British Virgin Islands! It is so different from back home that it has definitely been a process to get used to. I am so thankful for this experience and I love being able to help out where I can!

Submitted by Renee Rush on the 2022 winter session program in the British Virgin Islands sponsored by the School of Nursing…

This week, we started our clinical experience which I was super excited for! I am assigned to the maternity unit at the hospital which is exciting because it has allowed me to have a whole different set of experiences since I haven’t yet taken the maternity class and also because maternity has always been an interest of mine. On my first day on the unit, I got to watch and help out with my first live birth! Being in a hospital here has also allowed me to compare their healthcare system with ours in the United States. Some of the procedures are done differently and things are not as fast paced as they are in the United States. However, they still follow CDC guidelines like we do. The doctors and nurses at the hospital are all very kind and open to questions from students which I really appreciate. I am excited to continue to learn more about something that I’m passionate about!

Submitted by Kaitlyn Meagher on the 2022 winter session program in the British Virgin Islands sponsored by the School of Nursing…

My second week in the British Virgin Islands just concluded, and I am still in awe about how beautiful this place is. This week we started clinical at the local hospital in Tortola, BVI. In just three days there, I learned so much from a variety of individuals with different backgrounds and multiple personalities. I am looking forward to the next few weeks to gain new experiences and to learn more. This week, we also took an all-day sail to the island, Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands. This island was absolutely gorgeous. The captain and his crew member talked about the history of the island and the background of its beauty and name. To get to the island, we needed to jump off the boat and swim. It was very funny to see everyone holding their personal belongings in the air as they swam to the island. It was a very fun day, and I can’t wait for more excursion days like this one.

Submitted by Henna Castle on the 2022 winter session program in the British Virgin Islands sponsored by the School of Nursing…

This week we started our clinical rotation at a local public hospital in Tortola, British Virgin Islands. In order to work on the units, we were required to get a nasal swab COVID test. Getting tested in a different country was much easier than I expected it to be! The local staff was very helpful and accommodating with our large group. The fourteen of us are all located on various units throughout the hospital (Maternity, MedSurge, ICU, Pediatrics, NICU, Community), which can make things challenging as staff are not allowed to go between units without testing for COVID first. So far, we have all been very fortunate, but we will continue to wear the appropriate PPE, practice social distancing, and proper hygiene techniques!

Submitted by Heather O’Connor on the 2022 winter session program in the British Virgin Islands sponsored by the School of Nursing…

During my second week in the British Virgin Islands, I truly felt more immersed in the culture. The people are extremely polite, always making sure to greet hello, good morning, etc.. I found that they are very particular — if it is not past noon and you say “good afternoon,” some people will laugh at you and look at you funny. Additionally, I learned that people honk their car horns as a way to greet people or warn people that they’re coming around the corner. Since the island is very hilly and has lots of winding streets, the drivers will sometimes honk to let other cars know they’re coming. This is very different compared to how I’ve seen car horns used. In the United States, honking is often used in an aggressive manner, for example if someone cuts their car in front of you.

Besides this, I am basking in the absolute beauty of these islands. The other day, we visited the Baths in Virgin Gorda. It is a system of winding and tight caves with beautifully clear and blue water, as you can see in the picture below. It was an incredible culture- and nature-oriented day trip, one that I will never forget!

 

Submitted by Renee Rush on the 2022 winter session program in the British Virgin Islands sponsored by the School of Nursing…

The first week in the British Virgin Islands just concluded and I am having such an amazing time here. I have never been out of the United States before, so I was very excited to go. We are staying on the Island of Tortola and I have gotten to learn so much about the people and their culture which has truly been an eye-opening experience. Earlier this week, we went to a national park on another British Virgin Island called Virgin Gorda. This national park is called The Baths. The park had incredibly large rocks that we had to climb through and had multiple different hiking trails that we could take. While the park was gorgeous, my instructor made sure that we were aware of the history of the park. We learned that The Baths was the place where the slaves were taken after they got off the ship, where they were bathed before being taken to whatever plantation they were being sent to. I thought that it was very interesting that such a stunning place could have such a dark history, but I also thought that it was important to remember the history that came along with the beauty. I cannot wait to go on more excursions with everyone on the program!