Outreach and Immersion on a Global Scale
UW–Madison School of Nursing students gain hands-on nursing practice and research experience in global settings with diverse individuals, families, communities, and health systems. They explore social justice, planetary health, culturally congruent care, and ethics in a whole new way. Each program collaborates with on and off campus partners to help build students’ interprofessional practice skills both locally and internationally.
The School has a long-standing history of engaging in global health activities through education, research, service, and partnerships. The first students to gain global health experience went to Nicaragua for a six week immersive clinical experience in international
“This experience helped me expand my worldview in terms of medical care, nursing, and the importance of health care on a global scale. This whole experience illustrates the importance of interprofessional and global collaboration – not just what others can learn from you, but what you can learn from others.” — Dia (Malawi Immersion Program)
Global health initiatives have been an integral part of strategic planning in recent decades. By collaborating with various disciplines from all across campus, the School has bolstered its efforts, helping to promote global health activity statewide. In addition, the School has developed partnerships with nursing schools abroad and elevated exchange program experiences to help extend its efforts on an international scale.
While global health nursing has been an area of focus within the School of Nursing since its early years, the School began to take a heightened look at international immersion experiences in 1997 when students displayed an increased interest in global immersion programs. Initial immersion experiences included experiences in El Salvador, Honduras, and Cuba. These trips were coordinated with in-country partners to provide an overview of the health, political, environmental, and sociocultural contexts of the countries.
In 2000, then-Professor Linda Baumann, PhD, RN-C, FAAN, through a Kemper K. Knapp grant, developed a two-week study experience for nursing students with Cuba. The funding also led to an Expanding Access to Global Learning Opportunities grant from International Studies to develop public health nursing experiences in Cuba for two UW–Madison undergraduate nursing students.
“In Malawi, I was able to make connections with patients despite language and cultural barriers. I am forever grateful to the people of Malawi for reminding me of the importance of human connection in health care.” — Anna (Malawi Immersion Program)
Also in 2000, through a Fund for Improvement of Postsecondary Education grant with the University of Minnesota, UW–Madison schools of Nursing and Business collaborated to explore ways to improve the fit between overseas study and professional school programs.
In 2001, Baumann began collaborating with the UW System Institute for Global Studies. Faculty from five UW campuses collaborated to develop an online educational program entitled AIDS in Africa: Project in Distributed Learning. This online course addressed the medical, legal, ethical, and economic issues faced in addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and was used in classrooms across UW system campuses.
In 2002, supported by an Area and International Studies Innovation Fund grant entitled Global Health and Development in Africa, faculty from the Medical School (later called the School of School of Medicine and Public Health) and School of Nursing developed a partnership between UW–Madison and Makerere University in Uganda. The first interdisciplinary field course and preparatory course was offered in 2004, and nursing students and faculty participated in the partnership for many years.
The School of Nursing has continued to build upon these foundations in global health education by offering regular immersion courses in which students meet their community health nursing requirement in a global setting. Since 2000, courses have been offered in El Salvador, Mexico, Thailand, Tanzania, Malawi, rural Wisconsin, Uganda, Belize, and now Guatemala. Students participate in pre-trip courses that focus on public health, cultural issues, and nursing’s role. Some courses offer interdisciplinary opportunities, and in all courses students learn and apply global, community, and public health knowledge in diverse global and local settings.
In addition, undergraduate nursing students may take a three-week systematic investigation immersion course at the University College Dublin.
Both undergraduate and graduate students may also take an elective in Global Health Nursing, which meets requirements for the campus undergraduate and graduate level certificates in global health. This course integrates knowledge of global health with nursing concepts to better prepare nursing students for future positions in global health.
Current Global Health Immersion Programs
Malawi or Thailand Immersion
Each summer, students in the traditional BSN program can participate in a four-week global experiential course in Malawi or Thailand. Students partner with local preceptors to learn health promotion, disease prevention, environmental health, and population-centered nursing.
Guatemala Immersion
Students in the traditional BSN program who choose the Guatemala immersion program provide sustainable care responsive to the specific needs of the San Lucas Tolimán community. Students experience interdisciplinary collaboration with partners in medicine, pharmacy, and physical therapy.
Ireland Research Immersion
This study abroad experience takes place at the School of Nursing, Midwifery, and Health Systems at University College Dublin. Students learn about evidence-based practice, the nursing research process, and Irish society and culture.
Belize DNP Immersion
Each May the School of Nursing’s doctor of nursing practice (DNP) program partners with the School of Medicine and Public Health’s physician assistant (PA) program. Faculty and local healthcare providers precept with DNP and PA students to provide primary care to citizens in rural, underserved villages around Independence Belize.
Learn more about the School of Nursing’s global immersion programs, or explore additional summer international study abroad experiences through the UW–Madison Global Health Institute.