Cassandra Ma was a senior nursing student in Canada when she went to IUBAT last year. In addition to helping junior students in the nursing labs, Cassandra used her long experience with St. John Ambulance to teach first-aid to nursing students, IUBAT security guards and faculty. About her experience at IUBAT, Cassandra says, “Increasingly, I find that what I learned in Bangladesh is transferable to my practice in Canada and even to how I carry myself as a person. Although initially I felt ‘out of my element’, I gained confidence in my knowledge base. Now I am more vocal about my strengths, more assertive in contributing my knowledge to other healthcare professionals. For example, in my first preceptorship, I had the confidence to advocate for my patients with other team members. That’s not all: I also gained first-hand knowledge about the value of cultural acceptance. And I had no idea of the struggles nurses face in Bangladesh – these encounters have been invaluable in my own development.”
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- Sep 20, 2011
People interested in volunteering with our project are sensibly concerned about their health and safety in Dhaka. IUBAT is very experienced at keeping its many international visitors secure and comfortable. The university is located in the north of the city, far from occasional political demonstrations downtown. On the daily walk to work, neighbours greet us as members of the community. Our guest house is run by housekeepers who have been trained in food safety. Preparations before you leave are available from the USA Centre for Disease Control http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/bangladesh.htm#notices You can also read more about all these matters in our Volunteer Guide.
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- Aug 17, 2011
A Canadian RN working in a busy emergency department, Danielle LeMoine, volunteered at IUBAT during spring 2011. This photo shows her (back row, right) with Monique de Groot and medical-surgical students at United Hospital. “Teaching at IUBAT was an incredible experience …. I learned what it’s like living in a developing country, and saw first-hand the impact of social determinants of health like income, education and access to services. It is important for me to involve myself with projects that help create sustainable change… educating nurses is an excellent way to do this. Nurses can be leaders for change; we have all seen this in action. Sharing our knowledge and experiences, while helping build their confidence, practical and critical thinking-skills can help shape the future of nurses and health care delivery in Bangladesh.”
Thank you, Danielle, for your passion and effort.
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