This seven day program in Belize for nurses in training engages in a sequence of clinical experiences that deliver health services to resource-limited communities in rural settings in Belize. Students will
- engage with doctors, pharmacists, and patients
- explore details of region-specific diseases and health issues impacting individual and community health,
- understand pharmacological practices and the application of traditional medicines,
- learn how to conduct monitoring and evaluations in the context of a community clinic,
- develop and deliver educational services to patients, and
- work to develop intercultural competencies throughout the program.
Nursing/Clinical Program Learning Objectives
Students that successfully complete the Nursing/Clinical Program will be able to:
- Explain how the social determinants of health impact the lives of people in rural communities in a developing country.
- Understand the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of common diseases identified in community clinics that utilize telemedical equipment.
- Explain to the patient the proper use of medications, adverse drug reactions, and drug interactions of medications prescribed.
- Educate patients and families on prevention of infectious and chronic diseases.
- Analyze data to monitor health trends and identify health risk factors unique to a single rural community in a developing country.
This program includes Asynchronous and In-Person Sessions. Modules 1-7 are Asynchronous and are to be completed before the trip to Belize. Module 8 is a live Zoom session (scheduled to be coordinated with the faculty member and students), and is also to be completed before the trip to Belize. Modules 9-21 are In-Person in Belize.
MODULES 1-7 – ASYNCHRONOUS SESSIONS (to be completed before the trip to Belize)
Module 1 – Self-paced Activities: Reflection and Action Activities; Global Brigades Overview
- Watch the Reflection and Action videos that reviews how to bring about change, intercultural competencies, relational and community meetings, and the Public Narrative.
- Students complete the Public Narrative assignments as outlined in the video.
- Watch the Global Brigades Foundations video that reviews the Holistic Model and the community development approach and activities of the NGO.
- Students take a Quiz on the Global Brigades Foundations video.
- Note any questions that arise in anticipation of the in-person discussion in Belize.
Module 2 – Self-paced Activities: Introduction to Belize; Medical and Healthcare Systems in Belize
- Watch the introductory video on Belize.
- Watch the healthcare system in Belize video.
- Students write responses to the following questions:
- What is the difference between the training of medical doctors in Belize and doctors in your country?
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Belize healthcare system? Compare and contrast with the healthcare system of your own country.
- Students draft at least 2 questions for use in a discussion with a medical doctor during the in-person session in Belize.
Module 3 – Self-paced Activities: Social Determinants of Health; Community Selection Process
- Watch the Social Determinants of Health video.
- Students write responses to the questions at the end of the Social Determinants of Health video.
- Watch the Community Selection Process video to become familiarized with the process our teams use to identify new partner communities and how the Rapid Needs Assessment (RNA) data is collected.
- Students take a Quiz on the Community Selection Process video.
- Students analyze Rapid Needs Assessment data from three different Central American communities and complete the assignment.
Module 4 – Self-paced Activities: Infectious Diseases and Chronic Diseases
- Watch the Infectious Disease video.
- Students identify one infectious disease from the video with which they are not familiar and complete the brief research assignment.
- Watch the Chronic Diseases video.
- Students identify one chronic disease from the video with which they are not familiar and complete the brief research assignment.
Module 5 – Self-paced Activities: Pharmacology and Traditional Medicine
- Watch the Commonly Prescribed Medications video.
- Students identify one commonly prescribed medication from the video with which they are not familiar and complete the brief research assignment.
- Watch the Traditional Medicine video.
- Students identify one traditional medicine from the video with which they are not familiar and complete the brief research assignment.
Module 6 – Self-paced Activities: Monitoring and Evaluation
- Watch the two Monitoring and Evaluation videos to learn how to monitor health trends and identify health risk factors unique to a rural community in preparation for Day 1 activities in-country.
Module 7 – Self-paced follow-up activities: Getting to Know Your Community in Panama
- Students review the Community Profile.
- Review information from Module 6, as needed.
- Students will need to understand the living conditions in the community to help them better prepare responses and materials to the community’s healthcare challenges. Students prepare a list of questions for community members on Day 1, based upon the assignment.
MODULE 8 – LIVE ZOOM SESSION (to be completed at least 1 week before the trip to Belize )
Module 8 – Live Zoom Session (scheduling to be coordinated with the faculty member and students)
- Meet the In-Person Program coordinator.
- Review the In-Person Itinerary, goals and objectives for the program, and Safety and Security Regulations.
- The topic that students will develop as an educational activity for children and adults who are in the clinic waiting room will be introduced. Students are encouraged to begin research for this educational activity.
MODULES 9-21 – IN-PERSON PROGRAM IN BELIZE
DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN COUNTRY AND SETTLING IN
Module 9 – Introduction to the In-Person Program (2 HOURS)
Introductions and Review Itinerary: Staff and students introduce themselves to one another. Review of the program’s itinerary and ground rules.
DAY 2:
Module 10 – Visiting the Community (9:00 AM- Noon)
Students visit the community and meet its leaders, identify the social determinants of health in the community (to be discussed in more detail in Module 11).
Module 11 – Review of the Community Selection Process; Social Determinants of Health (2:00 – 3:00 PM)
Review of how communities are selected. Work in small groups and discuss the social determinants of health observed in the community visit, and learn how Global Brigades addresses some of the social determinants of health in the community.
Module 12 – Medical and Healthcare System group in Belize (3:00 4:00 PM)
Discussion with a physician on the healthcare system in Belize and compare/contrast medical training, healthcare systems between Belize and the students’ home country.
Module 13 – Clinic Preparation 1: Infectious Diseases (4: 00 – 5:00 PM)
A physician will discuss the most common infectious diseases that students will encounter in their clinic visits.
Module 14 – Clinic Preparation 2: Clinic Simulation (5:00 – 6:00 PM).
Students and a physician engage in local symptom-disease exercises. Students continue to develop their educational activity for their presentation to children and adults who are in the clinic waiting room.
Module 15 – Clinic Preparation 3: Chronic Diseases; Assisting with Packing Supplies for the Community Clinic (7:00-8:30 PM)
A physician will discuss the most common chronic diseases that students will encounter in their clinic visits. Students will assist with the packing of supplies for the Community Clinic.
Day 3
Module 16 – Community Clinic Day 1 (9:00 AM – Noon and 1:00 – 4:00 PM)
Students will rotate between various Clinic stations: intake, triage, medical consultation, education activity area, pharmacy, and dental.
Reflections and Observations from Community Clinic Day 1 (7:00 – 8:00 PM )
Day 4
Module 17 – Community Clinic Day 2 (9:00 AM – Noon and 1:00 – 4:00 PM)
Students will rotate between various Clinic stations: intake, triage, medical consultation, education activity area, pharmacy, and dental.
Reflections and Observations from Community Clinic Day 2 (7:00 – 8:00 PM )
Day 5
Module 18 – Community Clinic Day 3 (9:00 AM – Noon and 1:00 – 4:00 PM)
Students will rotate between various Clinic stations: intake, triage, medical consultation, education activity area, pharmacy, and dental.
Reflections and Observations from Community Clinic Day 3 (7:00 – 8:00 PM )
Day 6
Module 19 – Community Clinic Day 4 (9:00 AM – Noon)
Students will rotate between various Clinic stations: intake, triage, medical consultation, education activity area, pharmacy, and dental.
Module 20 – Celebration with the Community (2:00 – 4:00 PM)
Module 21 – Final Reflection on the Program Experiences (7:00 – 8:00 PM)
Day 7: Depart from the Airport
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