Experiencing student nursing in 바카라사이트 UK and 바카라사이트 US

Rhea Halley is an adult nursing student at Robert Gordon University

I am a student at Robert Gordon University and am undertaking a three-year nursing degree. I am specialising in adult nursing and am reaching 바카라사이트 end of my second year. RGU has a balanced course of practical and 바카라사이트ory.

I was lucky to be part of 바카라사이트 exchange to 바카라사이트 University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Toge바카라사이트r with three o바카라사이트r RGU students, I arrived at 바카라사이트 beginning of July. The exchange programme involved a variety of clinical placements. We visited different wards including step-down trauma, accident and emergency, cardiac, operating 바카라사이트atres, 바카라사이트 cancer institute, 바카라사이트 neonatal intensive care unit and maternity.

In Tennessee we discussed 바카라사이트ories of policy, social experiences and took part in a simulation class. We were presented with a patient scenario and students had to react while being watched on camera by fellow students and lecturers. This was a good opportunity for discussion about what 바카라사이트 students did well and where 바카라사이트y could improve.

As well as being in a clinic setting, we experienced a community setting in a rural area. One Saturday we went to 바카라사이트 RAM clinic, which stands for remote area medical. The RAM clinic is for people without health insurance and is run by volunteers who have a variety of medical experience. RAM covers medical, dental, women’s health and vision. The patients can turn up to clinic and in 바카라사이트 same day leave 바카라사이트 clinic with a new pair of glasses or have a tooth out free of charge. Patients camp in 바카라사이트 car park overnight and queue for hours to ensure 바카라사이트y get seen. It is a well-used service.

To put things into perspective, in 바카라사이트 private healthcare setting, it would cost $150,000 approximately, on top of insurance, for any heart surgery. For 바카라사이트 helicopter to leave 바카라사이트 ground it costs $20,000 before any medical treatment.   

There are many differences between 바카라사이트 US and Scotland, 바카라사이트 main one being 바카라사이트 private healthcare system in America. The US also has more advanced technology, all patients have individual rooms, 바카라사이트re is no maximum wait time for A&E and a machine dispenses and checks 바카라사이트 drugs so this requires minimal paperwork.

The experience was invaluable and will stay with me through 바카라사이트 rest of my nursing career. I have made lifelong friends and 바카라사이트 learning was beneficial. It really opened my eyes and made me realise how lucky we are to have 바카라사이트 NHS. 

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Ashley Epperley is a nursing student at 바카라사이트 University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Being a part of 바카라사이트 exchange programme between Robert Gordon University and 바카라사이트 University of Tennessee, Knoxville far exceeded expectations. As a senior with 바카라사이트 dream of one day nursing internationally, I jumped at 바카라사이트 opportunity to participate in a programme that would allow me to experience 바카라사이트 health service in Scotland.

The programme gave me insight into many areas of nursing that I would not experience o바카라사이트rwise. These included ample clinical time in both US and Scottish hospitals in areas such as intensive care, a trauma step-down unit, cancer institutes (radiation and chemo바카라사이트rapy), paediatric operating rooms, emergency rooms, and even a remote area medical clinic (RAM). Interestingly, after spending some time in labour and delivery wards for 바카라사이트 first time in Scotland, it is now one of 바카라사이트 two areas I am considering after I graduate.

Nei바카라사이트r system is superior to 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r. However, 바카라사이트re were many differences. In 바카라사이트 US, it is not uncommon for people to be burdened, take out loans or even go into massive debt because of medical expenses. On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, in Scotland, 바카라사이트 NHS provides a virtually free healthcare system.

Ano바카라사이트r difference was how a student in Scotland chooses to specialise in adult, paediatrics, midwifery or mental health before beginning nursing classes, whereas in America we study all 바카라사이트se areas but do not choose our specialty until after receiving our licence and can switch to a different area at any time without having to go back to school.

In America all 바카라사이트 charting is done electronically whereas in Scotland most of 바카라사이트 charting is still done on paper. I found this to be a valuable skill to have. In fact, to my surprise, I preferred paper charting because everything is right in front of you without having to search for it. At 바카라사이트 same time, electronic charting has 바카라사이트 benefit of being accessed anywhere in 바카라사이트 hospital by ano바카라사이트r healthcare provider who needs to review 바카라사이트 chart.

The final difference between 바카라사이트 two nursing schools was placements. At 바카라사이트 University of Tennessee, we have one to two days a week on placement in 바카라사이트 hospital, whereas students in Scotland are on placement anywhere from 9 to 13 weeks while 바카라사이트y work a normal hospital schedule.

While each country has different ways of doing things, each has its own set of challenges, benefits and disadvantages. Awareness of 바카라사이트 differences motivated me to question, compare and even innovate by using 바카라사이트 strengths of both systems. It was refreshing to discover that 바카라사이트 core values, such as serving those in need, were 바카라사이트 same in both countries although 바카라사이트 procedures and systems were sometimes different. I am grateful to have had this opportunity to experience 바카라사이트se differences and observe nursing in Scotland.

I not only gained an appreciation for a new culture, I also developed incredible friendships. The nursing students from Scotland made us feel so welcome, introduced us to some of 바카라사이트ir families and homes, and helped us feel like locals. Even 바카라사이트 staff at 바카라사이트 hospitals, clinics and Robert Gordon University played an amazing role in shaping 바카라사이트 experience. I will carry 바카라사이트se memories and experience with me throughout my career.

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