‘Unique Opportunity’: UNK pre-nursing students gain hands-on experience in the Czech Republic

UNK pre-nursing students pose for a photo at Palacky University in the Czech Republic.

By TYLER ELLYSON
UNK Communications

KEARNEY – Fourteen pre-nursing students from the University of Nebraska at Kearney had the experience of a lifetime during winter break.

The group traveled to the Czech Republic and Austria for a two-week study abroad program that immersed them in international health care and introduced them to new cultures.

UNK freshman Ali Chipps called it a “unique opportunity” to gain hands-on experience while exploring the wider world.

“I met so many new people and learned so much at both hospitals, and I can definitely see this experience benefitting my future as a nurse in a lot of ways,” she said.

REAL-WORLD TRAINING

A partnership with Palacky University in the Czech Republic, the annual trip is designed specifically for pre-nursing students who have completed the required training to work as certified nursing assistants. This allows them to actually assist with certain aspects of patient care.

The UNK students were assigned to a specific unit within a university-affiliated hospital – similar to the relationship between the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Nebraska Medicine – where they shadowed and worked alongside health care professionals.

“In many instances, they got to see and do things that they haven’t experienced before, which is a valuable opportunity for the students,” said Tom Knott, a pre-nursing adviser and academic outreach specialist with UNK Health Sciences. “They got to see what was happening in that department each day and even had a chance to assist with patient care when it was appropriate.”

A Hastings native, Chipps works as a CNA and medication aide at Homestead Assisted Living in her hometown. At the hospital in Olomouc, she and four other UNK students joined the intensive care unit team.

“That was really interesting for me because I have never worked in a hospital before,” Chipps said. “I actually learned that I don’t like the ICU because I prefer a setting where I can really interact with patients.”

Fellow UNK freshman Lexi Anderson also noticed a big difference between the hospital and her job as a CNA at St. Luke’s nursing home in Kearney. She was assigned to the cardiac intensive care unit, where people with severe heart conditions are treated.

“In a nursing home, the environment is a lot more stable,” the La Vista native said. “There aren’t different patients there every time I get to work. At the hospital, they see so many different patients and do a variety of things. It’s a lot more fast-paced environment.”

In addition to their training in Olomouc, the UNK students spent a day at a hospital in nearby Šumperk, where they toured the facility, interacted with health care professionals, learned about specialized equipment and practiced medical techniques such as CPR and casting.

“It was a wonderful look into health care around the world,” said Knott, who led the trip for the first time. “As Americans, I think we have a tendency to put blinders on sometimes. Health care is health care, and we don’t think much beyond that. This is just one example of a different system in another country. There are a lot of similarities, and it’s also starkly different, so that was cool to see.”

UNK pre-nursing students pose for a photo in Prague.

CULTURAL EXPLORATION

Offered by UNK Health Sciences each of the past three years, the study abroad trip also includes an important cultural component.

With assistance from their “Czech buddies” – Palacky University students who served as tour guides – the UNK group explored the region’s rich history, stunning architecture and delicious cuisine.

“We got to learn a lot about their culture, language and food,” Anderson said. “The buddies who traveled with us to different towns really helped us out. We had group dinners together and they took us on sightseeing tours through Olomouc and Prague.”

Among the many interesting stops, they visited Prague Castle, the official residence of the president of the Czech Republic, and Charles Bridge, a centuries-old landmark spanning the Vltava River. Since it was still the holiday season, they had a chance to check out a Christmas market, too.

“That was awesome – the food, the vendors, the decorations,” Knott said. “Both evenings when we were in Prague, we spent a good chunk of our time down there.”

The UNK group also visited Vienna, the capital city of Austria, before returning home in mid-January.

For Chipps, it was her first time traveling outside the U.S. or even flying on an airplane.

“I think studying abroad can tell you a lot about not only the world but also yourself,” she said. “I was pretty scared to go outside the country, but studying abroad makes that experience so much less scary. It makes it really fun and rewarding.”

Anderson agrees.

“It really helps you get out of your comfort zone, meet new people and see the world in a different way,” she said.

Both UNK students plan to attend nursing school at UNMC in Kearney before starting their professional careers. Knott believes this trip is a great way to prepare for those next steps.

“It slows things down for the students and they get a little bit more comfortable being uncomfortable, which is a valuable trait for adults in general but especially for future health care professionals,” he said. “You’re going to have some uncomfortable situations and being able to operate in that environment in a positive way is a necessity.”

UNK pre-nursing students are pictured during a group dinner.