Nursing Service Trip to Jamaica

The School of Nursing at Salem State University graduated the first BSN students in 1974 and MSN students in 1984.  This will be the second year for Short-Term Study Abroad lead by Nursing Faculty to support Cultural Immersion and Service Learning:  SSU Nursing in Jamaica and will head to Jamaica March 4-11, 2018!  Our partners include multidisciplinary health care at the Tropical Medicine Research Institute Sickle Cell Unit and Clinic and the School of Nursing at the UWI, Mona Campus, Jamaica.

This trip supports students cultural immersion and through service learning assesses health disparities affecting disadvantaged communities around the world and creates sustainable interventions to alleviate these disparities.

OUR PROJECT

For our trip to Kingston, this March we have planned 3 Service Learning Projects in collaboration with the team from the sickle cell clinic:

1. The 5th annual Sweater Drive supported by our Student Nurses Association

2. The 3rd annual Ace Bandage and Wound Care Kit Drive led by senior BSN nursing students and  MSN students

3. The 2nd annual gently used children’s books drive

Our main objectives involve exchange of healthcare information with the students, faculty health care teams and communities through this cultural exchange by:

• Visiting with health teams at clinical and community sites
• Health Information Exchange at the School of Nursing:  Our students and faculty and UWI faculty will be sharing their research projects and expertise with open time for discussions and planning for future exchanges, projects, and sustainability of this program
• Social and Networking time will be planned with our UWI and greater community health colleagues for further immersion into the Jamaican identity and culture.
• Our end goal is to provide our students from the MSN Programs in Leadership and Education;  the BSN program courses in Public Health and Senior Capstone; and Occupational Therapy … with this enriched experience to meet 48 clinical hours.