Nursing Students Gain Valuable Insight from Study Abroad Programs

Nursing students who participate in study abroad programs gain a deeper understanding of other cultures, particularly for the clinical setting, which provides new insights into health care delivery—both in the United States and abroad.

Pitt Nursing students can use study abroad credits toward their program requirements, minor requirements and certificates such as the Global Health Certificate and the National Preparedness and Homeland Security Certificate. Here is a snapshot of some of the global experience programs for nursing students.

Students Study Abroad in Switzerland

Twenty-one Pitt nursing students participated in The Healthcare Delivery in Switzerland program. They visited Zurich, Basel and Geneva to study nursing and health care from a Swiss perspective. Highlights included a visit to the International Council of Nurses, a meeting with the chief nursing officer of the World Health Organization and a tour of the University Children’s Hospital Basel.

Students Study in the United Kingdom

Fourteen first-year Pitt Nursing and Pitt School of Education students participated in the Plus3 program in the United Kingdom. The students studied at Birmingham City University (BCU) and visited Birmingham Children’s Hospital and the Florence Nightingale Museum in London. After the program was over, students gave presentations about comparative nursing topics to faculty and students at BCU.

Jocelyn Boyd, a first-year nursing student who investigated the effects of socioeconomic status on children’s experiences in nursing and education systems in the United States and United Kingdom, said, “BCU students and faculty members were extremely welcoming and seemed genuinely interested in our presentations at the end. This program opened my eyes to how closely pediatrics is tied to women’s health.”

Summer Nursing Program Takes Students to Ireland

Twenty-six rising juniors and seniors embarked on an unforgettable journey to Ireland for the Nursing at Trinity College Dublin program. They immersed themselves in learning and gained invaluable insights into global health care practices. They also had the incredible opportunity to tour UPMC Aut Even Hospital in Kilkenny and engage in clinical observations at Tallaght University Hospital and St. James’s Hospital.

Argentina Plus3 Program Welcomes Students

Sixteen Pitt Nursing students and six Pitt College of Business Administration students recently participated in the Plus3 program in Argentina, where they studied health systems in Buenos Aires. Through a partnership with Austral University, the students met with the deputy minister of health of Buenos Aires and visited various public and private health care facilities.

Students Explore the Himalayas

Six Pitt Nursing students, alongside other Pitt health sciences students, studied at the Hanifl Centre in Mussoorie, India, as part of the Himalayan Health global experience program. The experience included a group trek into the Himalayas.

Jamie Gilligan, a junior in the nursing program, said, “The wilderness first responder class was a huge topic of interest for me. I work in an emergency room at school, and this class taught me how to use my skills in a wilderness setting with limited resources. As someone who loves the outdoors, I plan to carry these skills with me.”

This article appeared in the Fall 2025 edition of Pitt Nurse magazine.