[Faculty of Global Nursing] International Nursing Practicum III held at the Philippine General Hospital

For five days from January 6th to January 10th, 2025, 13 third-year students Faculty of Global Nursing participated in International Nursing Internship III at the Philippine General Hospital in Manila, Philippines.
On the first day, an orientation was held for the entire training program. The participants learned that the Philippine General Hospital serves as a charity hospital that responds to all those seeking medical care, that it also provides paid medical care to meet the needs of local residents, and that it provides efficient medical care and nursing services with a limited number of nurses. They also learned about the Philippine culture, which places great importance on family relationships, and deepened their understanding that caring for family members is also important in nursing.
On the second day, the students were divided into three groups and undertook practical training in the outpatient departments of obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, and surgery in the free medical ward. The students were deeply impressed by the way the nurses, who were always smiling, handled the patients, even though they were overwhelmed by the number of patients, which was far beyond their imagination compared to Japanese hospitals.
On the third and fourth days, the students practiced basic bedside care together with their instructors and faculty members at our university during their ward training in the oncology ward, obstetrics and gynecology ward, ophthalmology, acute surgery, and other ward settings.
The students learned that while the basic nursing techniques are the same in different countries, there are also care measures that are tailored to each country's culture and values. They said that rather than just gaining knowledge, they "understood the meaning of nursing that is in line with culture."
On the final day, each student gave a presentation in English about what they had learned during the week and the practical training. They also said that their instructors had given them so much guidance that it had given them confidence.

In preparation for their internship, the students received guidance in advance on crisis management and intercultural understanding, and made thorough preparations for their trip, successfully completing the one-week internship.

Below are some comments from participants of the training.

・I learned that when I look at the differences between Japan and the Philippines, I don't judge them as good or bad, but rather think about how I can improve what I take for granted, and realize that it is not something I take for granted. I also wanted to cherish the natural benefits and goodness of life for humans, rather than being limited by chemistry. I learned that it is not enough to simply see and understand reality; it is necessary to consider the background and meaning of the current situation and accept it, and that it is necessary to look at other values and ideas from a broad perspective and think about what is best.
(Matsushita, 3rd year student Faculty of Global Nursing)

・Through the International Nursing Practicum III, I learned that even in countries where the facilities and environment are less developed than in Japan, it is possible to deliver the necessary medical care to those who need it by using various ingenuity, such as the high aspirations of nurses, involvement in the care of patients' families, and a medical system that is suited to the country.
I learned that each country has its own culture and values, and that they have established medical systems that are adapted to their culture in line with the fundamentals of nursing.
(Rosenfeld, 3rd year student Faculty of Global Nursing)

・Through the International Nursing Practice III, I learned that each country has its own way of providing better nursing care. There are many differences between Japan and the Philippines, such as the number of patients that nurses have and the way they work together with their families to provide care.
I was able to think about the reasons and ingenuity behind nursing methods that are suited to each country's culture and environment, and I was able to think about what nursing really is from a very basic perspective.
(Ms. Nakanishi, 3rd year student Faculty of Global Nursing)

(Source: Faculty of Global Nursing)