Ying Vang, a nursing student at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee reflects on her time interning abroad at Mae Tamarn Clinic in Chiang Mai.
While interning, I used the CIS Abroad micro-credential to help me get the most experience possible. Each week, there are different modules for me to follow and optimize my experience in Thai culture. Each module encouraged me to reflect on what I learned and observed for the week and see the difference between countries. Not only that but also see the difference in work ethics among cultures and adapt to a different work environment. The micro-credential helped me blend into the culture and language easier. Doing this, I can fit in more and learn from the locals.
Living in a homestay in Thailand allowed me to experience the daily life of the locals such as the food, culture, language, and work ethic. During the two months in a rural area, I discovered that the nurse does everything from assessment, medications, diagnosing, and educating the patient. It was an eye-opening experience because in the US, we have specialized nurses for different kinds of care such as wound care nurses, trauma nurses, med-surg nurses, home care nurses, etc. Also, the pace of the workload is more laid-back compared to the US where nurses are always on their feet. This is something I want to adopt into my future nursing because I want to enjoy talking and connecting with my patients instead of rushing through the process. Setting a comfortable environment for the patient improves the patient's outcome. This experience showcases something that the US can adapt to or take from Thailand.
Be involved and participate in activities that the host country has. While participating, you get to learn about the root of the culture and language. You’ll be able to adapt more easily and create new friendships.
This sign is the clinic entrance I was placed at for two months. At this clinic, I learned about wound care, chronic illness, vaccinations, etc. While there, I visited the main hospital in Mae Taeng district. I had a tour around the hospital and saw the different departments. One thing that stood out to me was traditional medicine because it’s a mix of modern medicine with traditional medicine. There is a culture where post-partum mothers go to the traditional medicine department to get post-partum care from the nurses and doctors. This is a good thing for the mother to recover after birth. Not only that but in every ambulance, there is a nurse and doctor in the ambulance because there could be an emergency where the doctor and nurse is needed. Also, they do not have paramedics. This is something different from the U.S.
These two pictures are chronic illness medication day and flu vaccine day. On chronic illness day, the patient comes in and gets a checkup such as an EKG, blood pressure, and head to toe assessment. The nurse or medical assistant will perform the EKG. After the checkup, the patient will come to the medicine table and get their daily medication. I hand out the medication based on the paper that the patient gives me. Then, on the flu vaccine day, the clinic has an estimate of how many people is coming in for the flu shot. I was given the chance to give a shot to one of the staff. It was a great experience because he told me that I have very light hands, and it did not hurt. The statement gave me confidence to perform better next time.
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