Program: UW Nursing in Malawi, Summer
Kennidy’s Major: Nursing
What was the most memorable experience from your program?
On our first day doing activities for the program, we had the opportunity to go on home visits with the health center we went to that day. We visited three patients and it was my first time seeing what the homes looked like for different individuals living in Malawi, as well as my first experience with the Malawian healthcare system. Everyone we met was so kind and welcoming, allowing us into their communities and their homes. I enjoyed seeing how everyone worked together to support their family and neighbors and could appreciate living life so simply. I was amazed by the work that healthcare professionals were doing with the limited resources they had. I thought this first experience really emphasized “meeting patients where they’re at,” and showed how important and valuable patient care is outside of healthcare facilities.
Throughout my program, there were things that I was afraid of or nervous to do; I was honestly nervous to go on the trip in general, but I am so grateful that I had this opportunity and was able to see so many things and meet so many different people.
What is the moment you are most proud of?
During our time in Malawi, we spent multiple days at the local hospital, and I was able to spend time in the labor and delivery ward. I had never seen a birth or even been in this specialty before, so I had no idea what to expect. We had a patient who had been struggling in labor for hours, and throughout this time, a small group of students and myself comforted and supported her during this difficult time. There is usually only one family member/guardian allowed to be with the patient during labor, so we were able to gain her trust and be a part of her support system while she brought her child into the world. The labor was painful for her, especially because women don’t receive pain medications during a natural labor, and seeing how much we were able to help her showed me just how much of an impact small things can have on a patient’s life. We may have only spent a few short hours with her, but we made a lasting impact during a very important moment in her life.
What challenges or barriers did you face as you prepared to go abroad and/or during your time abroad?
One of the biggest challenges I faced was the language barrier, especially when in the clinical setting. Being in a hospital or seeking medical attention can often be a very scary thing, and it can probably be much scarier when a person on your care team, one that you’ve never even seen before, doesn’t speak your language. I wanted to make sure that I remained respectful of my patient and their family and didn’t want to overstep any boundaries when working with them. To do this, I always tried to have someone there who could translate and worked slowly and gently so I didn’t surprise them with anything. I also always showed the patient my stethoscope or other supplies before using them, to make sure they were familiar with the equipment. While many patients have had their vitals taken in the past, I still wanted to do all I could to make them comfortable and show them I could be trusted. I feel that open communication, even when there are difficulties such as language barriers, is very important to help keep the patient informed and allow them to be a part of their care.
How will your experience benefit you in the future?
This program allowed me to experience the culture and healthcare of another country. I was able to meet so many new people and see a wide variety of places that I wouldn’t have seen otherwise. I learned a lot about working with different populations and caring for people from many backgrounds. I will use skills I learned from this trip throughout the rest of my nursing career and life. We were able to help patients celebrate their successes as well as comfort them during difficult times. This experience emphasized just how important it is to involve patients in their care and to meet them where they’re at, because no two patients are the same. I believe that I’ll be a better nurse because I was able to see an entirely different side to nursing as well as just how passionate many people are about being a nurse.
What is your advice for someone considering this program?
Don’t be afraid to say yes and try new things. Throughout my program, there were things that I was afraid of or nervous to do; I was honestly nervous to go on the trip in general, but I am so grateful that I had this opportunity and was able to see so many things and meet so many different people. While it may be scary, it is so worth the challenges and going outside of your comfort zone. I was glad that I had the opportunity to try things that I would probably never do or see in the US, and I learned more about what I did and didn’t like in different nursing specialties. I will carry what I learned on this trip for the rest of my life and I know that it will help me to be a better nurse in the future.