FAQs: International Synthesis Practicum Edition

Why are you going to the Philippines?

A major part of the reason I decided to go to Hopkins Nursing was because of the opportunity to do my nursing practicum internationally. I know I want to work in global health, and I don’t know if I might ever have the opportunity to work in a clinical setting in another country – what better way to learn about the health system and regional context than by living and working in it?

The fact that the country I am going to is the Philippines was totally by chance, as that was the only international site that was ready to accept a student this semester. And yes, I do think it’s ironic that this placement is in pretty much the only region (other than Eastern Europe, I suppose) that I haven’t yet had any experience. I’m from Miami and spoke pretty good Spanish when I was living there, but Peace Corps sent me to Tanzania. When I got back and started working at USAID, I thought I would be involved in an East African country team and instead worked on the teams for Yemen and Egypt. Now, in my final semester of nursing school, I thought I might go to any of the three regions in which I already have some experience. Instead, I’ve been given the opportunity to explore a new region entirely.

Wow! That’s so awesome that the school pays for that experience for you!

Ha, I wish. I was given a couple of generous scholarships from the school which will be very helpful in covering some costs (i.e.: my airfare and a few weeks of housing), but the rest is up to me. I figure that I’m already in so much debt with grad school and this is such an incredible experience that another couple thousand dollars isn’t going to make much difference in the long run.

If you do feel so inclined to help with expenses, I have created a YouCaring fundraiser to help you do just that! https://www.youcaring.com/jennaoien-1009978

So what exactly are you going to be doing in the Philippines?

I will be spending the next ten weeks living and working in Manila, the capital of the Philippines. Through the WHO Collaborating Center at the University of the Philippines School of Nursing, I will be paired with preceptors in each of a handful of units: peds and adult ED, trauma ward, pay ward, labor and delivery, outpatient center, and the Manila Health Department. I will essentially be working as a nurse, just under the supervision of another nurse. That means doing things like assessing patients, administering medications, performing wound care, and educating patients. I will also be working with a group of students who are stateside on our synthesis practicum evidence-based practice project – topic TBD.

Where will you be staying?

The housing recommended by the hospital was incredibly expensive, so I got myself an AirBnB not too far from the hospital in the business district. It has WiFi, a pool, a fitness center, multiple yoga studios within walking distance, as well as a Starbucks and PinkBerry within walking distance. Yeah, I’m pretty excited about all that too.

Aren’t you nervous about being away from friends and family during such a stressful time?

Yes, of course. I have an incredible support system and very loving fiancé who would love nothing more than for me to stay home and do my practicum at the hospital down the street from where we live. But at the same time, I have learned that I have a knack for staying calm under incredible amounts of pressure. At a younger age, this trait got me into (and subsequently through) some tough spots in my life; at my current age, I have learned this is a gift that can come in handy and put to good use in situations where some folks might freeze up or otherwise not be able to see past a challenge. I’m a solution-focused gal and I am pretty resourceful with whatever I have available to me to overcome an obstacle – just ask my mom. I feel called to working internationally and creating partnerships between folks who have a lot to learn from each other, and this is just one more step on that path. I’m very lucky to have the support back home that I do in order to continue on this journey. 

Are you worried about being able to find a job when you get back since your practicum was not at an American hospital?

I'm pretty fortunate in that I have a work commitment at a hospital in Montgomery County when I graduate, which means that I will definitely have a job I just don't know where yet. I believe my experience will put me in a great position to work in the emergency room there - which is what I want - and I think the majority of positioning yourself for any job is how you present the experience you have as it relates to the job you want. If a potential employer faults me for pursuing the path that I have, I'm not sure that's an employer I would want to have anyway. Is this the best option for everybody? Absolutely not. But it seems like a great opportunity for where I believe my journey is leading, and I’ll just choose to follow that path wherever it takes me.