NOTE:  This course is only open to senior Nursing students.  It satisfies NURS 495 as well as the major-specific ELI requirement, and the QuEST cross-cultural requirement.
 
This course is an Alternative Senior Nursing Practicum (NURS 495 LUN) to Macha Mission Hospital in Zambia. It is also the designated Experiential Learning Initiative (ELI) for the major, so incorporates ELI requirements. For NURS 495 LUN, the clinical experience is set at Macha Mission Hospital, Choma, Zambia.  The course focuses on the care of patient groups in a rural African community.  Students will spend approximately 80 hours (days, evenings or nights) in the clinical laboratory setting of Macha Hospital, Zambia, assessing, planning and implementing nursing care, and evaluating the outcomes of nursing care in an international setting. 

For the cross-cultural and ELI components, students examine the history, geography, political environment, and culture of Zambia through readings, formal and informal conversations, guest speakers, visits to cultural and historical sites, as well as a safari.
Estimated Course Fee: $4,500
 

Faculty Biography:

Wanda Thuma-McDermond is a Professor of Nursing with a specialty interest in Community/Public Health Nursing. She was born and raised at Macha so she always welcomes the opportunity to share her “home village” with others. Wanda has led multiple J-term Alternate Senior Practicums with nursing students (and others) to Macha, and also more traditional cross-cultural courses in May-June 2012, 2014, 2016, & 2018.  She recently purchased a slingshot for better student protection from baboons – and has been practicing from her back deck!