Kitasato Exchange Program
Globalized healthcare is becoming a more prominent idea in the international and political landscape. Between increased migration, racial diversity, and the sheer number of patients, the demand for cultural competence is increasing. Exchanges of international scholarships allow nurses to learn advanced techniques used in other parts of the world as well as to practice their craft in a different ethnic setting.
Kitasato University is one of the largest and most professional medical universities in Japan (“International partner institutions,” n.d.). In this paper, I will describe my intentions, qualifications, and expectations for participating in the Kitasato exchange program.
My personal goals for participating in this academic program are to enhance my skills in nursing economics and management and to provide a medium for knowledge and information exchange between our university and Kitasato. I will be able to contrast and compare the educational practices used in my homeland to those of Japan in order to synthesize them and benefit from both worlds. As a result, I would become a more well-rounded nursing specialist with a special ability to treat patients of Japanese ancestry due to being immersed in their culture for the duration of the program.
This would be my first educational international experience of this kind, as I have never participated in a scholar exchange program. My stays in other countries have been brief and were mostly associated with various volunteering opportunities that I have participated in as part of my nursing agenda—because of these, I have an impressive global health activities portfolio. Between 2010 and 2018, in addition to my studies, I have volunteered in various countries around the world. In 2010, I conducted an educational seminar on diabetes and obesity in Turkey.
In 2017, I traveled to Australia to volunteer in the Emergency Department in a hospital in Sydney. I shadowed nurses during their practice and learned about the treatment of refugees and displaced individuals. My US-based experiences included volunteering at Care Harbor in Los Angeles and at the Rosemead Fitness and Health Fair. These activities revolve around educational interventions and nursing work in regard to diabetes and nutrition.
Leadership is paramount in modern nursing. Being capable of finding common ground with many different people, including other nurses and patients, is important in achieving long-term healthcare and economic benefits (Baernholdt & Cottingham, 2011). This global health experience will enhance my understanding of individuals of Japanese and Asian ancestry, enabling me to work with them and practice my existing leadership skills in a foreign environment. As I have a background in management and economics, as well as nursing, I will be able to contribute these skills to the group effort during the exchange program.
The trip will have numerous implications for my future nursing work. First, it will allow me to practice CNL and leadership skills in a foreign setting. Second, it will give me a greater insight into the Japanese educational and healthcare systems, providing me with important knowledge that can be used in advocacy and policy development. Third, I will learn from my companions as well as teachers and improve my understanding of leadership in order to become a professional nurse leader.
As it stands, I am fluent in only one language, which is English. However, I am willing to learn and practice Japanese to get to the basic level in order to be able to understand the world around me. My ethical standards revolve around the four pillars of nursing and patient-centered care. I am willing to play my role as part of the team as well as perform independently as a nurse and a leader. The ultimate purpose of this international experience for me is to be able to deliver a higher quality of care to my patients. Thank you for considering me for participation in this program!
References
Baernholdt, M, & Cottingham, S. (2011). The clinical nurse leader – New nursing role with global implications. International Nursing Review, 58(1), 74-78.
International Partner Institutions. (n.d.). Web.