THANK YOU Trinity College Dublin
By: Gloria Mpundu, Nursing ’22
Nursing Research in Dublin – Ireland
Before I came to Penn nursing, I was not aware of different career options such as policy making, research, and education that nurses can pursue to make an impact on the healthcare field. Inspired by the work of my professors, research sparked my interest the most and I realized that research was the career I wanted to pursue after all.
The more I learned about the work of some of my professors, the more I realized that research fits perfectly with how I have always envisioned my career. Growing up in a country that was hugely affected by infectious diseases and recently, non-communicable diseases, I always asked myself why people were dying from diseases that were preventable. I remember watching TV programs where they interviewed healthcare providers to talk about certain diseases and how to prevent them and I dreamed about being that person one day. When I learned that researchers also engage with communities they advocate for to reinforce behavioral changes or other practices that can better their health outcomes, I was motivated even more to pursue research as a career.
I started applying for research assistant positions and I was fortunate to get into a summer research program where I had my first research experience. I worked on two projects, one of them examining racial disparities among newborns with neonatal abstinence syndrome and the other exploring the role of telemedicine in long-term care facilities. I gained experience with literature search and reviews, statistics used in research, and learned about all the steps involved in writing a paper until it gets published. This program not only helped me satisfy my curiosity but also cemented my interest in research.
When I applied for GRIP, I not only wanted to have a global experience but also expand on my research skills. Prior to applying, I had taken a psychiatric and mental health nursing class and I was looking for opportunities to learn about mental health and wellbeing. Fortunately, I worked on a project exploring mental health and self-help strategies among adults with intellectual disabilities. The pandemic affected the mental health of many people across the globe so this project was especially important because people with intellectual disabilities already experience poorer mental health outcomes than those without intellectual disabilities. I had never worked with people with intellectual disabilities before or taken a class that addresses their unique healthcare needs so this was such an eye-opening experience. Most importantly, it was very fulfilling to witness how research can be used to advocate for vulnerable populations. This experience provided a glimpse of what my future career could look like and I cannot wait to live this future.
I am grateful for the learning experience, the amazing people I have met, and the exceptional mentorship that I received as an intern.
The Global Research and Internship Program (GRIP) provides outstanding undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to intern or conduct research abroad for 8 to 12 weeks over the summer. Participants gain career-enhancing experience and global exposure that is essential in a global workforce.