International Experience in Ireland: October 30-November 11, 2014
As part of an ongoing global initiative experience, fourteen students and two faculty
members traveled to Ireland on an overnight flight from Philadelphia International Airport.
Goals of this initiative experience included: 1) actively engage our nursing research students in
the research process; 2) learn about nursing education, clinical practice, nursing research and
service learning in Ireland; 3) begin data collection for a research project involving the student
experience abroad 4) have cultural experiences in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
In addition to learning about research and evidenced based practice, exposure to research
through attending an international interdisciplinary conference generated a broader career vision for
these students. This is critically important, as we have a significant faculty shortage which limits
enrollment while the need for nurses to replace an aging workforce exists.
This year, we doubled the number of students attending this international research and
cultural initiative to 14, and added visits to Belfast and Galway. In Belfast students learned about
the on-going struggles in Northern Ireland, based on deeply held distrust and hatred of two groups,
where in spite of the “Peace Wall” neighborhoods continue to be locked and individuals verbalize
the places that remain off-limits because of religious difference. At the National University of
Ireland In Galway (NUIG) service learning was identified through Case Western students who were
conducting prenatal care research with Irish “travelers” who are described as gypsies. A discussion
with undergraduate nursing chairs, to establish a formal research “service” leaning international
experience, is underway.
We arrived in Dublin on Saturday, October 31st and traveled by train to Belfast, Northern
Ireland. While in Belfast, students learned of the turbulent history and “troubles” of this area
during a “black taxi” tour that offered a firsthand account by the tour guides. Students were able
to see various murals during the tour which included a stop at the Freedom Wall where they were
able to sign their names. The site of the Titanic building/launching, a tour of the Crumlin Road
Jail and Queens University were also included in the cultural experience.
Students then traveled by train to Dublin and checked into the Abbey Court Hostel
located in the heart of Dublin city. On our first day in Dublin we met with a group of nurses and
a physician from the Children’s University Hospital on Temple Street. Founded in 1872, the
hospital has grown from 8 beds to 173 and serves over 145,000 of Ireland’s sickest children each
year. We were divided into two smaller groups and the nurse guided us through some of the units
in the hospital. Students were again fascinated to see the differences in this Children’s hospital
compared to the United States as many of them had completed clinical rotations at CHOP and St
Christopher’s in PA.
Over the next two days we participated in the 16th Healthcare Interdisciplinary
Research Conference and Student Colloquium. It was during the conference that students were
able to see nursing research presented and discussed and also to listen to some very interesting
keynote speakers. During the conference, presentations are divided into general nursing topics
and specialties including women’s health & midwifery, mental health, pediatrics and intellectual
disability. During the poster sessions, students were assigned to choose one of the posters and
dialogue with the nurse presenting the research as a means of learning of the challenges and
findings throughout the research process.
On Wednesday evening, we met at Trinity College and were treated to a private tour of
the University, and Library which was followed by a reception in the Long Room in the Library
at Trinity. Trinity’s Library began with the founding of the college in 1592, and is the largest
library in Ireland. It houses rare books, one of three surviving medieval Gaelic harps (Ireland’s
national symbol) and the Book of Kells. We were fortunate to hear a lecture on the Book of
Kells by the library docent as part of the research conference. The Book of Kells includes
illuminated gospel scripture in Latin and is believed to have been written in the year 800 AD.
On the last day of the conference, we met with Professor Paul Horan, our liaison at
Trinity College, to collect data from the students regarding their international experience and
research conference. A letter of determination was obtained prior to leaving the United States
and all students agreed to participate in the research project.
Included in the trip again this year was a 2-day bus ticket to various points of
interest, including Kilmainham prison, Dublin Castle, Guinness Storehouse, Jamison Distillery
and St Patrick’s Cathedral. We also enjoyed traditional Irish meals with traditional Celtic
dancing.
The students then traveled by train to Galway city. We boarded a tour bus at 7:30 am and
enjoyed a visit to the Cliffs of Moher, a drive beside the Wild Atlantic Way which included a
stop along the Atlantic Edge Ocean Walk. While in Galway, students attended a prepared
program at NUIG. Presenters included faculty from the general nursing program, midwifery and
mental health programs. Students also had the opportunity to meet with two students from Case
Western who presented their experience of the International Exchange program they were
completing at NUIG. Students then toured the nursing and midwifery areas of the campus.
Students arrived safely back in Philadelphia International Airport on Wednesday,
November 11th.
Below are phots of the students and faculty at: the NUIG presentation, Trinity College, Temple
Street Children’s Hospital and the Cliffs of Moher