Pittsburgh State Nursing Students Work at Hospital de la Familia

Location:
Friday, March 20th, 2009

Details:

For the last 10 years, Barbara McClaskey, Phd, MN, RNC, professor of nursing at Pittsburg State University School of Nursing, has been bringing fourth year nursing students to work at FEMAP's Hospital de la Familia. The idea for the exchange was simple; provide the nursing students with an experience in medical care that they otherwise would not be exposed to. "But it has gone beyond such an idea," says Dr. McClaskey, "We have learned much from the hospital and its nurses. They do so much and take care of so many patients with very few resources. Our students learn how to make tourniquets out of gloves and have seen home-made incubators built out of supplies they have on hand," she adds.

At first, Dr. McClaskey had difficulty convincing students, school administrators and parents of the importance of these visits. But her persistence has paid off. "There has been an increased interest in this work, especially when our students return to school talking about their experience and growth as professionals."

Recently, there has been an added reason for the trips to Cd. Juarez, Kansas has seen an increase in immigrants from Latin America and many of these nurses will soon be providing medical care in clinics and hospitals. "Because of the growing immigrant population in Kansas, it will pay off to learn to provide culturally respectful care," says Dr. McClaskey. One of the instructors, Judy Coltharp, agrees. "All this knowledge will go a long way toward bridging the cultural and linguistic gaps between them and their future Spanish-speaking patients."