As most of you already know I am a student nurse in my second year at Teesside Uni. My degree is in the learning disabilities field of nursing. As part of my course I have the option to take an international placement later this year and I have chosen to take this opportunity to visit a developing country, where I will be able to gain valuable experience by practising nursing in a low-resource hospital, very different to the systems we have here in the UK. The country I have chosen to visit is the Philippines.
My visit to Iloilo in the Philipines will enable me to work across the fields of nursing starting off with time in a mixed 10 bed psychiatric ward, followed by experience in the paediatric department. These settings provide care to many of the Philippines poor, many of whom are experiencing extreme poverty. Spending a placement in a developing country will enable me to get first-hand experience of a very different clinical setting to that at home. The placement will have a highly clinical focus meaning I will get a considerable amount of practical experience. I will learn how to treat all manner of illnesses with extremely limited resources. Dealing with illnesses such as rabies or working in the animal bites department will be a truly unique experience for me enabling me to develop an entirely new skillset. I am taking my trip which will begin on 9th November with Work the World, a reputable company who have been conducting healthcare trips to developing countries for over a decade.
As you can imagine the costs to cover this placement are quite substantial! I will need to pay for flights, accomodation, food, insurance and transport to and from my placement.
I have decided to do the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge on April 24th in order to hopefully raise sponsors towards this life changing placement. Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough form part of the Pennies. The route is 24 miles and includes 1585m of ascent. I'm terrified! Please donate to ease my pain!!