Nursing in the tropics of Costa Rica
Marcus Como
Issue date: 5/13/09 Section: News
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June 1 is the deadline for students to register for the special topics course in Global health. The estimated cost for the two week excursion to Costa Rica is approximately $2,300-$2,700. The costs includes transportation, lodging; all meals in Boca Tapada and all Peninsula College tuition and fees. Students will need expense money for miscellaneous expenses and meals in San Jose.
Activities include interaction with local population, teaching cancer screening and instructional first aid. Students will be learning about environmental issues and that relationship to community health and meet with nursing faculty and students at the University of Costa Rica.
The summer of 2008 is when the idea for the first trip became a reality for PC's nursing students. "We are part of a global society and exposure to other cultures is a key educational experience," Nursing Director Marca Davies said. The first contact for her students was with Kurt Schmack of Laguna Del Lagarto Lodge in Boca Tapada. Previous housing provisions consisted of an eco lodge with shared rooms and three meals a day. In San Jose they stayed at the Institution of National Biodiversity lodge with similar accommodations.
The nursing students returned home with vivid experiences of playing soccer with kids, teaching community health, and learning to cook from local women. They also improved their skills in Spanish, community nursing, environmental health, and emergency childbirth care.
The global awareness program started in the summer of 2007 with the help of Biology Professor Brian Hague, Vice President of Instruction Bill Eaton, nursing director Marca Davies, nursing faculty Bonnie Rathod and PC President Dr. Thomas Keegan. Hague and PC students have visited Costa Rica in years prior, to study special topics in tropical biology and noticed a local health need.
"Students are selected on a first come first serve basis with priority given to the nursing students," Rathod said, "Then other health departments and bilingual Spanish students are invited to participate." There were 12 students and two faculty in the summer of 2008; similar involvement is likely for the upcoming year, Rathod says. For additional information contact Marca Davies at 360 417-6455 for details.
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