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Transcultural Nursing: The Mexican Experience
Course Description
This course focuses on transcultural nursing of the Mexican community within a Christian service learning framework. The emphasis is on family, pediatric and women's healthcare in a rural underserved population. The course includes assessment, planning, intervention and evaluation of individuals and families utilizing a multidisciplinary team approach.
This is an online course culminating in a four day medical mission trip to Mexico. Students prepare for the trip by participating in online discussion groups, course projects, an off-campus full team orientation meeting and an on-campus class meeting before and after the trip.
Credit Hours
- Nursing Elective: NURS 499-OL: 2 credits
- Nursing Elective: NURS 699-OL: 3 credits
Ohio Health and the West Conference of the United Methodist Church Volunteers in Mission (VIM) co-sponsor 2-day medical clinics in Nuevo Progresso, Mexico. Clinics are held each month in a small rural church. Volunteer teams of physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, translators, and general helpers staff the clinic. Basic screening, medical care, and referrals are provided by the team.
Otterbein College nursing faculty, nursing skill laboratory staff, and nursing students join a team each fall in October. Student course activities are closely supervised. Click here for pictures from previous trips.
Undergraduate nursing students are placed in the triage area, and are responsible for conducting intake interviews (with an interpreter), measuring vital signs, and performing basic diagnostic tests (fingersticks, urine dipsticks). Some students may design and implement special care stations, such as diabetic foot care and children's health issues.
Graduate nursing students function at two levels. Those enrolled in Nurse Practitioner majors serve as providers, providing physical examinations and determining appropriate interventions. Those in the Adult Health Care or Administrative majors function as RN partners and transcribers to the providers.
Cost
Cost of the course is tuition plus costs for the trip.
- Students fly from Columbus, Ohio to McAllen, Texas on commercial flights along with other VIM team members.
- The team is housed at a local church with shower facilities.
- Individuals bring bedding, and a mattress pad is supplied.
- Meals are prepared at the church; lunches and drinks for clinic days are packed.
- The team travels into Mexico daily via vans.
- Passports or birth certificates are mandatory for border security checks.
Special Considerations
The online portion of this course is self-directed and fast-paced to prepare team members adequately for this cultural immersion experience. Students must be computer literate; computer requirements are available here.
The mission trip portion of this course is physically challenging. Students must be in excellent physical condition, able to participate in conditions that include extensive walking and standing, heat and humidity, and rustic living conditions. Up-to-date immunizations are mandatory; Hepatitis B and Hepatitis A immunizations are recommended but not required. Liability release forms are mandatory; trip insurance is available through VIM.
Application Process
Enrollment is by permission of instructor only. The deadline is April 1. Decisions will be made by April 15.
Submit a brief, handwritten application to Dr. Marjorie Vogt, Nursing Office, with the following information:
- Name, address, phone number(s), email address
- Status in nursing program (undergraduate or graduate) and current Otterbein GPA
- Past Spanish language education
- Why you are interested in participating in this course
- What strengths you would bring to the team
- Any previous Christian mission experience
If more candidates apply than space permits, applicants will be selected by course instructors to create the strongest team.
Faculty Team Leader
Dr. Marjorie Vogt
614-823-1426
1-888-749-8550 toll-free
mvogt@otterbein.edu
