Offshore program - a passage to India and Nepal: A School of Nursing initiative

Author and presenter

• Ann-Marie Brown, School of Nursing, CoHM

Abstract

The opportunity for undergraduate nursing students to explore nursing and health care settings is vital for nursing students: to see the way other countries provide care which will influence the way students view their own practices.

An Offshore Program was developed and implemented for second year students in the School of Nursing to undertake their clinical placements in India and Nepal. Twenty-five (25) second year students spent 3 weeks (120 hours) completing their placements overseas. The areas of placement included primary, secondary and tertiary hospitals: including working in remote villages and nursing schools. The students completed health assessments and initiated primary health care programs in India and Nepal which will be of great benefit for students pursuing their future nursing careers with a greater understanding of person-centred care.

The placement was partially funded under the New Colombo program. The New Colombo Plan is a signature initiative of the Australian Government which aims to lift knowledge of the Indo-Pacific in Australia by supporting Australian undergraduates to study in the region. Its intent is to be transformational: deepening Australia's relationships in the region, both at the individual level and through expanding university, business and other links.

This placement has been approved by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) and contributes to the total hours of clinical placement towards the Bachelor of Nursing.

Throughout this Lightning presentation, the evaluation and experiences of the offshore program will be discussed.