Two undergraduate students spent a week at the Keio University Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care in Tokyo, Japan, participating in the “Tackling the Challenges of Aging Societies as a Global Health Issue and the Role of the Nursing Profession” program. BSN students Eileen Zhang, Abby Soskil, and Pitt Nursing faculty member Dr. Sheila Alexander traveled to Japan from February 4 to 9.
“This experience was a really cool way to learn more about nursing care in a different country and meet nursing students from around the world,” said Eileen Zhang. “We observed nursing care at Keio's University Hospital and went on field trips to various elderly care facilities. The experience was really interactive and immersed us in many different sectors of nursing care in Japan. The program also had a good mixture of lectures, shadowing opportunities, and student-led activities to learn more about Japanese culture.”
The program provides educational opportunities for nursing students from six countries to learn about and discuss challenges associated with aging societies as a global health issue and the role of nurses in tackling them. It also allows students to gain a global perspective and empathy for and acceptance of diversity and different cultures through exercises in advanced medical care at Keio University Hospital, health care for elderly people in Japan’s aging society, and through lectures, group work, and discussions.
“I absolutely loved the Aging Societies Experience in Japan,” said Abby Soskil. “The program was a cross-cultural collaboration looking at how to overcome the healthcare issues that result from the increasing population of aging adults around the globe. We met students and faculty from countries around the world, including South Korea, China, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and Japan. Exploring the hospital and long-term care facilities and shadowing the nurses at Keio University Hospital was an eye-opening experience that I will definitely incorporate into my clinical practice!”
Zhang said one of her favorite experiences involved a Japanese cultural exchange led by Keio University students, where they got to wear traditional Japanese yukata, make origami, and test their Kendama skills, a traditional Japanese game. She said she learned the most about international nursing care by talking to fellow international students.
“We learned a lot about how Japan manages its increasing elderly population and different facets of its care, such as insurance, environment, etc,” she said. “I gained a lot of insight into aspects of care that are better in other countries while also recognizing certain strengths in the United States.”
“Pitt Nursing appreciates Keio University Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care for inviting our students and faculty to participate in this engaging and informative program,” said Lucinda Morgan, Director for International Affairs at Pitt Nursing. “We know the experiences and interactions during this week in Tokyo will have lasting impacts on the involved participants and their patients and colleagues in the future.”
“I would definitely recommend this opportunity to anyone interested in gerontological nursing, global health, and learning more about different cultures,” said Zhang. “Be open to new and unfamiliar experiences because you can learn a lot from them!”
“Thanks to the amazing students in the program, Eileen and I got to explore Tokyo and immerse ourselves in Japanese culture,” said Soskil. “I would definitely recommend this program to future students who are interested in taking care of the geriatric population and meeting fellow nursing students around the globe!”
For more information about Pitt's other Global Experience programs, click here.
Thank you to Pitt's Asian Studies Center, the Japan Iron & Steel Federation endowment at the University of Pittsburgh, the Global Studies Center, and the Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs for contributing towards funding for the experience.