University of Wisconsin–Madison

Malawi: Delaney Lokken (Final Reflections)

I am so thankful I was able to experience this program and have learned so much about community health, along with learning so much about myself. I have learned perseverance, strength and resilience throughout these two weeks. I am very proud of myself for coming here since it is my first time leaving the US, and doing the things I have done. I am leaving here with new knowledge I never would have had if I didn’t get to experience this program.

A blonde woman stands with her hands on her hips. She is wearing dark blue scrub bottoms and a white scrub top with a stethoscope and name badges. She is standing in front of a courtyard with native trees.
This was taken on our last day going to the main hospital in Malawi where we spent a lot of our clinical

For the last day on the clinical site, I chose to shadow labor and delivery as that has been my favorite ward this entire program. I have found a love for labor and delivery that I never would have discovered if I wasn’t on this program. I love providing support and comfort for mothers, and, of course, I love caring for the baby. I am so excited to start my journey in labor and delivery in America and use the knowledge I used in Malawi to guide me. I also have a new love for community health, specifically in women’s health. I was able to learn from such amazing and strong women patients in this program.

Overall this program has taught me so much in terms of medicine, treatments, how providing care differs culturally and what it’s like to be put in a new environment. I will be bringing back so much knowledge with me to the US and I am excited to adapt it to real life scenarios. I know my nursing skills would never have been able to mature and develop this much without this program.

A woman with blonde hair smiles at the camera wearing a white coat with a University of Wisconsin-Madison crest.

Delaney Lokken

Hometown: Deforest, Wisconsin

Major: Nursing

Program: UW Nursing in Malawi

I chose to participate on the UW Nursing in Malawi program because I think learning about the healthcare systems in another country is the opportunity of a life time, especially when we are able to utilize new skills, apply practical knowledge, and learn from those with a fresh mindset.  I am looking forward to meeting all kinds of healthcare workers and learning new clinical skills from them in a new environment.