|
NEWS
Hispanic Cultural Competence Class
Summer 2006
Journey to Mexico Builds Insight for WKCTC Nursing Students
Paducah,
KY (September 6, 2005) – With a steadily growing Hispanic
population in western Kentucky, future nurses from West Kentucky
Community and Technical College will be able to better relate
and care for a diverse public, thanks to a two week course taught
in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Students
from a special topics "Hispanic Cultural Competence"
class traveled to the University Autonoma Guadalajara in Mexico
as part of a continuing education program. The class was established
by nursing division chairperson, Dr. Tena Payne and developed
by nursing professors Sherry Barnhill and Marilyn Knoth who
accompanied the students and served as collaborative faculty.
Payne
and WKCTC President Barbara Veazey, first traveled to Guadalajara
in 2003 to give a presentation on nursing practices and leadership
to more than 50 Mexican nurses from hospitals and clinics in
the Guadalajara area.
“The
overall goal for the class is to deliver culturally competent
care for all clients,” said Nursing Professor, Sherry Barnhill.
Even though most of the students and faculty who made the trek
to Mexico experienced a strong bout of culture shock, they say
going on the trip has helped them both as students and individuals.
“You
don’t realize how blessed you are until you see other people
and the way they live,” said Jennifer Delancey, second
semester nursing student from Murray. “You have a whole
new perspective on things when you came back.”
One
important observation was the way the Hispanic nurses treated
their patients. “They took care of the whole patient. It
just wasn't their physical pain, it was their emotional pain
and spiritual pain as well,” said Delancey.
Because
of the growing Hispanic population in the United States, the
nursing students agreed that they benefited from going to Mexico.
“It’s going to help us deal with the Hispanic culture
because there are so many Hispanic communities, we will understand
how to treat them,” said Delancey.
 WhIle
in Guadalajara, the students toured hospitals, clinics, pain
management centers, and residential care homes. They also took
part in classroom instruction and discussion on Spanish, cultural
competence, Hispanic cultural competence, health professions
and the health care delivery system in Mexico, as well as Mexican
history.
Some
of the health care facilities allowed the students to observe
in the surgery area while others assisted with such skills as
checking vital signs, conducting assessments, and electrocardiograms
(EKG) in the medical-surgical areas and the nursery. Students
also had fun taking tours of tequila plants, shopping in different
towns, and eating a lot of Mexican food.
Marilyn
Knoth, Professor of Nursing, said that she could see a change
in the way her students reacted and responded as they came to
the end of their stay. “The students became more caring,
concerned and creative people. I feel that even though they
only learned one new language and visited one culture, their
understanding will cross all diversity barriers and it will
benefit their work with clients of all religions and cultural
backgrounds,” said Knoth.
Before
the students went to Mexico, they learned basic Spanish and
studied their cultural competence by discussing and observing
the behaviors, beliefs, nursing and health care practice of
the Hispanic population.
Laura
Tilley, 22, from Paducah is a second semester nursing student
who wants to go back to Guadalajara. “It was such an eye
opening experience. It’s an amazing culture and the people
are very friendly. It was very well worth it.”
Taking
more Spanish classes is a top priority for most of the students
now that they are back. They agree that they now realize how
important it is to be able to communicate with everyone, including
patients who may not speak English.
 Each
student paid their way, which included tuition, the flight,
housing, transportation, meals and any other expenses. Dr. Payne
said that students were already asking the first day of school,
when they could sign up for the trip for next summer. “We
hope that it will grow,” said Payne. The course is going
to be offered again in May 2006, with plans to travel back to
Guadalajara.
Photo
1: WKCTC student, Diane Hesley assists a nurse with putting
leads on a patient for an EKG, while the attending physician
oversees and explains the process.
Photo
2: Students stopped in to visit residents and tour Lo Otono
Doredo, a residentail care facility in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Left to right: Misty Kruger, Leslie Howell, Katie Smith, Diane
Hesley, Joyce Ray, Silvia Sanchez and Darla Clark. The two ladies
in the wheelchairs are residents.
|
