IUBAT Graduates and their Career Progress

Recently, six IUBAT graduates living in or near Dhaka, told us about their current jobs and plans for further education. Tutul is working as an instructor for the BRAC Midwifery Program, as are four other graduates who could not attend the meeting. Shahed is an instructor in the College of Nursing at IUBAT. He teaches various subjects to general university students, supervises the Nursing Practice Lab and promotes Nursing for the IUBAT student recruitment program. Rakib has worked at Ayesha Memorial Hospital since graduation. Initially at the bedside, he worked for a while in an administrative role, then returned to clinical work, now mostly in the ICU. Imran has focused on bedside nursing since graduation. He has been promoted to the High Dependency Unit at Apollo Hospital. His goal is to develop his clinical skills for eventual emigration. Nausheen works for an international NGO, where she organizes medical care for sponsored children. Her tasks are often very challenging as many of the children have special needs. Prashanta has had varied experience since registration, working as a research nurse, staff nurse in a large private hospital and on a Red Crescent team sent to support a seriously under-staffed rural hospital.

All the graduates are actively planning for further education, mostly in Master’s programs in Bangladesh or overseas. We wish them well and look forward to hearing of their career success in future.

IUBAT Alumna Writes about Success Overseas

Shrijana Dhakal, an IUBAT BSN alumna, recently wrote to the faculty about her initial struggles and her eventual success in America. 

Shrijana writes: “I came to the United States on March 11th, 2013, and at that time I did not yet have my RN license. Despite my predicament, however, I persisted in seeking a position in different states. Although I received disapproving responses from many states, I finally obtained a positive response from the Texas Board of Nursing. From that starting point, I sought the services of the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS), who requested the necessary documents directly from IUBAT.  After getting my Credentials Evaluation Service (CES) report from CGFNS, I was eligible to write the NCLEX exam, which is the official examination for the licensing of nurses in the United States. I wrote and passed the exam in 75 questions on June 21, 2014!  I was able to succeed in this process only due to support and help from Dr. Karen Lund, Rabiul, and my family and friends.”

Thanks for sharing your update from America, Shrijana, and congratulations on your great news!

International Nurses Day 2014 at IUBAT

Every year, nursing is celebrated across the world on May 12th, International Nurses Day, and Bangladesh was no exception. To commemorate this annual day of recognition, the IUBAT nursing students organized a memorable event and celebration. Sara J., volunteer faculty for summer 2014, writes:

“The ceremony began with a traditional Bangladeshi dancer. Heather Cruden, the Canadian Ambassador to Bangladesh, gave the opening speech. The stage was decorated with floral arrangements, bouquets, and garlands of jasmine, roses and tuberose. I had the honour of lighting the symbolic Nightingale lantern with one of the students. One of the senior Nepalese nursing students spoke of his feelings on becoming a well-trained professional nurse, worthy of respect. Afterwards, the students ran a health screening clinic for IUBAT faculty, support staff, and students, checking vital signs, BMI, blood sugar and vision. The turnout was good, including a newborn baby with his proud mother and grandmother. The celebration concluded with tea, cake and fresh coconut juice. This was one very special day.”

For more pictures, please visit our Flickr page.