[Faculty of Global Nursing] International Nursing Practicum III held at Chiang Mai University in Thailand

For five days from February 12th to 16th, 2024, ten third-year students Faculty of Global Nursing participated in the International Nursing Practicum III at Chiang Mai University in Thailand.
Prior to participating in the internship, the students received guidance on crisis management and intercultural understanding, conducted advance study related to the internship, and thoroughly prepared for their trip, successfully completing the five-day internship.

[Contents of the 5-day training]
<Day 1>
There was an introduction to Chiang Mai University and the Faculty of Nursing, as well as an orientation for the entire training program, and students from our faculty also gave self-introductions in English and announced their learning goals. In the afternoon, they received a lecture on nursing education in Thailand and the working conditions of nurses.
<Day 2>
The participants learned the theory and practice of virtual education using VR for pediatric nursing and critically ill patients through exercises. In addition, they learned bedside care for critically ill patients with congenital diseases together with local students at the pediatric nursing ward of Chiang Mai University Hospital.
<Day 3>
In the morning, the participants received a lecture on the local medical system and activities in Chiang Mai. In the afternoon, they visited a community health center and a maternal and child care center that actually support elderly people with dementia who need long-term rehabilitation and their families, and learned about the medical cooperation system in action.
<Day 4>
At the massage school, I experienced Thai massage, a traditional Thai treatment that uses a hot bath.
<Day 5>
They visited a general hospital in Chiang Mai that accepts emergency patients, and gained a deeper understanding of the diversity of medical institutions. Each student gave a presentation summarizing their five-day training, stressing that medical care and nursing incorporate diverse cultural backgrounds, regional characteristics, and values, and that nursing that understands these is necessary.

[Comments from participants]
・Through this internship, I was able to come into contact with the cultures and historical backgrounds of Japan and Thailand, and I saw many differences. I believe that it is necessary to come into contact with various cultures in the future, respect differences, and take a broader perspective when it comes to medicine and nursing.
(Hirakawa and Fukumiya, third year students Faculty of Global Nursing)

・By participating in this internship, I was able to learn more about the differences in the medical systems and cultures between Thailand and Japan. I also experienced how differences arise from different ways of thinking and perception due to differences in religion and culture. I also learned that there are not only differences, but also many commonalities. Through interacting with local students, I learned that communication can be achieved not only through language, but also through all forms of expression, including gestures and facial expressions. I have improved my ability to understand English better than before the internship.
(3rd year students Faculty of Global Nursing Iwasaki, Umeda, Kimura, and Watanabe)

・This time, for the International Nursing Practicum III, I participated in a program at the Faculty of Nursing at Chiang Mai University in Thailand. During the practicum, I was able to deepen my understanding of the nursing system and diversity in Thailand by actually visiting the education of the Faculty of Nursing at Chiang Mai University, university hospitals, private hospitals, and local facilities. In addition, nursing students from Chiang Mai University took me to local markets and restaurants every day after school, allowing me to experience Thai culture and traditions, which was a very enjoyable experience. Kop Kun Ka!
(Izumi, Kanabata, Mino, and Sugita, 3rd year students Faculty of Global Nursing)

(Source: Faculty of Global Nursing)