Cultural Difference is huge in nursing

I have included some of my favorite pictures!! Take a look! It is only a small view of the amazing week I spent in the country of Belize!!! Thinking back over the week spent in Belize, it is really hard to put in to words the experiences gained from the trip. First things first, the over all trip completely exceeded my expectations! It was so great to see us come together and share laughs and get work done!
This week we were asked to compare our observations and experiences to our personal majors and career aspirations. At first I was struggling with this, as we did service and such but really nothing to do with nursing. After pondering on the topic for awhile, I realized that, yes our trip dealt with a business aspect, but it had a component of nursing in it.
My total compassion for others is what lead me to nursing. Helping people become better and live a better life. This is exactly what we did in Belize. I would consider it a community nursing atmosphere. As a group we were able to help a family in need, prepare a better life and expand a business. It also helped in many ways to communicate to someone who does not speak the same language as my self. I am going to encounter so many different cultures while being a nurse that it is always good getting experience, and become more comfortable in this situation. Going on to my career aspirations, I want to be the kind of nurse that is competent in every aspect of my nursing degree, to deliver kind, compassionate care to every single person I come in contact with and to always deliver my care with a smile and a warm heart.
There are numerous things each of us can learn by immersing into a different culture. And even though I only received a small sample of the Belizean way of life, it was enough to embrace the culture at hand and take the experience in to my practice as a nurse after I graduate. I am very grateful for the opportunity to broaden my horizons!! :-)