The power of nursing in Bangladesh and beyond

About the author Susan Ng McNeill, BScN, MPH, is a Canadian-trained nursing leader whose work focuses on knowledge translation, practice transformation, and collaborative network development. She is currently based in Malaysia and can be reached via LinkedIn.

IUBAT student AZM SHALEAH Now Senior Staff Nurse (Administration) Dhaka Medical College Hospital

Almost fifteen years ago, I had the privilege of developing and teaching the community health course and practicum within the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at IUBAT. For two consecutive years, I taught classes and worked with other faculty and preceptors to support students during their community placements. That experience remains one of the great highlights of my nursing career—and of my life. It continues to shape how I think about learning, leadership, and the impact of nursing in communities around the world.

The students

What stands out most, even after all these years, are the students themselves. Rarely do you encounter a group so eager to learn, so determined to bring their full selves to every class and clinical experience. They supported one another generously, reflected deeply on their practice, and carried a shared sense of purpose—to do their best and become great nurses. Their energy and humanity reminded me daily of why I became a nurse and an educator.

The placements

Two practicum sites left lasting impressions. At ICDDR,B — often called the Cholera Hospital— students practiced alongside nurses whose expertise was extraordinary. I remember watching nurses find veins in people near death from dehydration and, within minutes, seeing life return through the power of a simple IV bolus. Beyond emergency care, ICDDR,B also offered education and rehabilitation — teaching families how to prepare nutritious meals and to use play to promote healthy child development.

At the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralyzed, nurses and the multi-disciplinary team provided skilled medical care until patients were ready to relearn daily living skills, adapt their environments, and discover new vocations. I will never forget watching a spirited wheelchair basketball game — proof that people can thrive even after devastating injury.

Lasting influence

Since my time in Bangladesh, I have continued to work in programs that empower nurses as best practice champions — leaders who transform care delivery and improve outcomes across all settings. It’s inspiring to know that many IUBAT graduates are now doing the same: leading clinics and NGOs, teaching in universities, and pursuing advanced education.

IUBAT — and Bangladesh more broadly — remains, in my eyes, an incubator for nursing leadership. The lessons I learned there are woven into who I am today. The experience affirmed my belief that nurses, whether in formal leadership roles or on the front lines, have the knowledge and power to transform individual lives, strengthen care delivery, and shape health systems.