Using technology to promote cross-cultural professional growth

Groups of BSN students from IUBAT and Vancouver’s Langara College participated in a web discussion during Fall 2008 and Summer 2009. This spring Pat Woods, a Langara College faculty member, presented the results of this project to the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing. The purpose of the student activity was to promote professional growth and to increase cross cultural understanding of nursing and health care in another country.  Students discussed professional development topics such as nurses’ roles, working conditions and social status. Langara students with family connections in China, India or the Philippines reflected on the attitudes of their relatives towards nursing. One IUBAT student stated, “…when I got to know the reality in other developed country on improvement of nursing gradually,  I also feel I can do something to change the status of nursing in my country – Nepal.” A Canadian student commented, “This will make me more culturally aware of my patients, as they may view my role as a nurse differently than someone [born] in Canada would.”

Festivities at IUBAT

Bangladeshis have a reputation for hospitality. Visiting faculty volunteers always enjoy their farewell recognition events, as well as the cultural performances and special events around national holidays. These are opportunities for everyone to dress up and display their non-academic talents. In this picture, IUBAT College of Nursing Chair Karen Lund and Visiting Professor Rycki Maltby share a social moment at the farewell reception for the U Vermont 2011 visit.  Yes, Karen is sporting a woolen shawl, it’s not always hot in Dhaka!

Students promote nursing

In Bangladesh, nursing is not a widely respected profession. That’s why it is so important to teach our students how to present a positive image of nurses’ contribution to population health and health care. Each spring, students, parents and educators from the community tour IUBAT as they consider options for their university education. Each faculty of IUBAT prepares an orientation event to introduce their program. This is a great opportunity to raise awareness about nursing. In this photo, IUBAT nursing students are staffing the College of Nursing stall, which includes several anatomical models. The torso was recently donated by the U Vermont Chapter of the Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society.