Program Abroad:
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Semester Abroad (SA): University of Queensland, Nursing, Australia
Ask me about...
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Going abroad for the first time
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Making the transition from Penn to a university abroad
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The ups and downs of going to a completely unfamiliar place and making it more like home
My Experience Abroad:
My time abroad helped me become more confident in applying coursework and knowledge gained from my studies into nursing practice. When I return to Penn, and the USA in general, I know that I am going to be more equipped having had the need to adapt to a new environment all the way across the world. With knowing the new information I know now, I now have a new perspective on healthcare on various levels, including international vs domestic and system-wide vs nursing care.
Other Highlights:
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In my nursing exchange program, my clinical experience was definitely a highlight. I was put onto a general surgery floor and cared for with pre/post-operative patients, and this experience, although very challenging at first due to my lack of knowledge regarding my role as a nursing student, made me better equipped for my future as a nurse and healthcare professional.
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I joined a group called QUEST (Queensland University Exchange Student Society), and through this group, I was able to explore the city of Brisbane (where I stayed during my semester abroad), meet new people, and actually, experience the place that I was to call home for almost 6 months. Being abroad isn't just about traveling with the people you came with, it's about integrating yourself into a new life because that is the one opportunity you will ever have.
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Although traveling isn't the most important part of being abroad, it's a big perk of doing so, and I highly encourage all people who are thinking about or going to study abroad to consider traveling. I traveled to many places throughout the country of Australia and I even got to New Zealand as well. I mostly traveled, however, to the coast about an hour outside of Brisbane, and there I was able to see the life of an authentic Australian (for lack of a better phrase).
