Nursing Week 2009 still a hit

In summer 2009, Vancouver nurse Lynn Buhler taught Community Health Nursing at IUBAT. Early during her stay, the IUBAT Nursing Student Society organized a boisterous celebration of Florence Nightingale’s birthday. Lynn writes, “Ever since my wonderful trip to IUBAT & Bangladesh – I have not experienced Nursing Week without thinking of the fantastic students and staff and volunteers that manage to make the School of Nursing a reality. In honour of Nursing Week I would like to get back to donating to the school and in particular providing support to individual nursing students that need a little bit of financial help.” Thank you Lynn for your commitment and support.

Our teaching partners, CWCH and U of Vermont

Each year, a group of BS (nursing) students studying under Dr. Hendrika Maltby  at U of Vermont visit Bangladesh and IUBAT as part of their community  health field experience. In January 2012, their fieldwork included observation and practice at one of our teaching hospital partner sites, CWCH – the Centre for Woman and Child Health in Savar. Photos show students working with CWCH Nursing Director, Sister Margaret Sarkar. At the request of the CWCH medical director, Dr. Khurshid Talukder, Dr. Maltby provided some feedback, noting that the students were very impressed with how much can happen with the resources at hand.  “It was powerful to see how the millennium development goals are being put into action at CWCH.”

“This experience helps me to realize that patient care can be provided without the use of fancy equipment.  It is about how compassionate you are and how much you are willing to give.”

Overall, praise for CWCH is high and students appreciated the opportunity to spend time there.

BSN grad earns Norway scholarship

IUBAT graduate Bimala Rai (BSN 2009) has earned a full scholarship to attend the University of Oslo International Summer School. From late June to early August, she will enrol in a Masters level course in International Community Health. According to the UiO website, the course focuses on global health issues such as human rights, equity, and the social dimensions of health, with a focus on child health, sexual reproductive health and rights, communicable diseases, and chronic conditions. Bimala will study with students from a wide variety of backgrounds: different countries, professional training, academic training, work experience, and cultures. We know she will be a strong representative for South Asian nurses and will bring new skills home with her.