Musings From Nicaragua: My Second Year and Counting

To authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6198.2010.00168.x Byline: Jean Christoffersen Keywords: Central America; health care in developing nations; international experiences; nursing students Abstract: PROBLEM. To create, organize, and implement an international experience for students in a baccalaureate nursing program. METHODS. Returning to Nicaragua after a year, I was confronted with the loss of a friend there who had exhausted treatment options for her breast cancer. Reflecting on this and other realities of healthcare delivery provided a poignant lesson for the author and students in the realities of health care in a developing nation. FINDINGS. International experiences are life changing for students preparing to be nurses and enrich their professors. CONCLUSIONS. International experiences stay with us well beyond the limited time we get to spend in another culture. They have the potential to inspire us to continue to work and serve in the global health community. Our experiences also solidified my commitment to return and to explore more opportunities to both teach and learn from Nicaragua's people with whom we have the privilege to work. Article note: jean.christoffersen@simmons.edu, with a copy to the Editor: nursingforum@gmail.com