Vietnam experience gives students career perspective
A small contingent of CQUniversity nursing and physiotherapy students have recently returned from a trip of a lifetime to Vietnam with a fresh appreciation for their chosen careers and a renewed insight into the importance of quality health care.
Fourteen students comprising eight third-year physiotherapy students (from Bundaberg and Rockhampton) and six second-year nursing students (from Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and regional Western Australia) visited Hanoi and Mai Chau in Vietnam for a clinical placement experience partly funded by a New Colombo Plan (NCP) mobility grant.
The students enjoyed the local customs and hospitality of Mai Chau village whilst completing a two-week clinical placement, providing much-needed health checks and physiotherapy services to remote villages and schools in the region.
Under the supervision of nursing academics Trish Channell and Dr Lisa Wirihana, and physiotherapy academic Tanya Palmer, the students saw a total of 617 patients from seven clinics and a village.
Ms Palmer said this was the first time physiotherapy and nursing students had joined together for an overseas placement – and it was truly "unforgettable".
“Some days the group travelled more than an hour to get to remote mountain villages, enjoying the amazing scenery along the way,” she said.
“The group also taught school students from kindergarten age through to early high school about the importance of oral and hand hygiene and the importance of healthy eating, exercise and manual handling, particularly whilst supporting their farming families in the fields.”
After two weeks in the Mai Chau region the students returned to Hanoi, where the physiotherapy students continued with a further two-week placement at the Ministry of Health National Hospital of Acupuncture.
“Over the two weeks the students completed a course in acupuncture and acupressure theory and practice whilst providing much-needed physiotherapy services to patients on the neurological ward,” Ms Palmer said.
Nursing student Jen Murphy recommended all students consider doing an overseas placement.
“I would never have the level of clinical skills that I have now, if I hadn’t. Nothing bonds you like shared experiences of mystery foods, unrelenting humidity, hikes that never end and endless adventure. I cannot recommend it enough,” Ms Murphy said.
Physiotherapy student Erin Middlemiss said the experience was rewarding for both the students and the local communities.
“What was really rewarding about working in the acupuncture clinic was that even though there was a language barrier and a very different view on treatment, the patients were really receptive to us and embraced what we were doing with them.”
Another NCP-supported program comprising physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and exercise science students will head to Thailand for three weeks from the 2 February, 2024.
The overseas placements are part of CQUniversity’s CQUGlobal Learning Abroad programs which enable students to take advantage of international opportunities which can be credited towards their degree.
CQUGlobal Learning Abroad programs allow students to experience life and study from a choice of more than 30 countries across six continents.
To find out more about overseas placement opportunities at CQUniversity, visit www.cqu.edu.au and search CQUGlobal.
