A WHIRLWIND TRIP ACROSS THE POND OFFERS INSIGHT TO DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE STUDENTS

Wednesday, Apr 06, 2022

Fourteen Doctor of Nursing Practice students and six DNP faculty in the College of Nursing and Health Innovation recently returned from their study abroad program to London, England. The students visited the city for a week to immerse themselves in the culture, evaluate the social and cultural determinants of health care, as well as the delivery of care in England’s health system.

“Our students are already working as professionals in a health care system and are learning how to translate evidence to improve health care outcomes. They work in a practice, the insurance industry, hospitals, academic settings, and more,” said Donna Hamby, clinical associate professor. “This study abroad opportunity will add a lot of value to their experience as practitioners and administrators.”

The aim of this program was to immerse students in another county to evaluate policy issues and trends in the country's population health to improve health care outcomes. The United Kingdom has a National Healthcare System that serves approximately 9 million people in England. Each student compared the UK and US across their population and practice in class prior to the trip.

“The London study abroad opportunity brought much of what I've been learning in the DNP program into a real-world experience. It reinforced how important health care system concepts, such as social determinants of health, are impactful to the entire system and patient care outcomes,” shared Sueanne Baddour, a nurse practitioner in the program working with adults and elderly patients in the primary care, hospice, and community palliative care settings.

The students also had the opportunity to compare the UK's social and economic determinants of health and their solutions to the US. They experienced a transportation system that was very effective, as well as discussed the various roles of the health care providers, especially the roles that nurses perform. 

Just some of the many stops on their packed trip included the Royal College of Physicians, London's renowned medical district, University College Hospital, the General Medical Council, and the London foot hospital.

“The ability to meet and converse with a nurse and physician and find out how the National Healthcare System works from a provider and patient viewpoint offered information that could not be obtained from readings,” said Hamby. “The history of medicine was explored and offered insights to current trends in health issues and treatments today.” 

They also had the opportunity for some informative sightseeing, including visiting the Florence Nightingale Museum, where they explored the nursing school she founded, Nightingale's relics, and learned more about Nightingale and her lasting impact on modern nursing.

On their last day in the city, the students explored London and finished the night with a classic fish and chips dinner.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at UTA builds on the foundation of the master's degree in nursing and prepares students for leadership, problem recognition, and resolution with an innovative research approach. The DNP is a year-round program and offers prospective students the opportunity to complete the 36-hour degree in as little as two years.

U.S. News & World Report's 2022 "Best Graduate Schools" list ranks the College of Nursing and Health Innovation's Doctor of Nursing Practice program No. 100 in the nation.

– Written by Gilbert Rios, College of Nursing and Health Innovation