Every year, La Salle University gives its nursing students unique ways to learn beyond the classroom. In spring 2025, 16 nursing students took part in international clinical programs in Rome, Italy, and Mexico City, Mexico. These hands-on experiences helped them understand how healthcare works in other countries while fulfilling their course requirements. More than just a trip, this journey helped students grow both professionally and personally.
Learning by Doing in Rome, Italy
In Rome, eight nursing students were placed in hospitals where they learned about maternity and pediatric care. They visited well-known hospitals like Agostino Gemelli University Policlinic. Here, students saw real-life medical situations like C-sections, childbirth simulations, and child health checkups. Even though language differences were present, the nursing methods were similar to those in the U.S.
Trang Nguyen, who worked in the maternity unit, shared how she noticed both the similarities and small cultural differences in patient care. Another student, Wanneh Togba, mentioned how special it felt to work in the same hospital where the Pope had been treated. Ethan Leibiger, focused on pediatrics, said the trip helped him make lifelong friendships with classmates, showing that learning also happens through bonding and teamwork.
Real-World Public Health in Mexico City
In Mexico City, eight students focused on public health. Their goal was to learn about disease prevention and health promotion. Under the guidance of Dr. Jeannine Uribe and in partnership with De La Salle University in Mexico, students helped with health screenings, visited local clinics, and studied disaster response systems. Because some clinics lacked basic supplies, students often used their own tools, helping them appreciate how healthcare works in low-resource settings.
Student Ashlie Baker spoke about how welcoming the people of Mexico were. She said the experience changed the way she viewed Mexico City. During their community wellness tasks, students were asked to observe everything around them—how families acted in public places and even what food was sold on the streets. This helped them think about how environment affects health in ways they hadn’t before.
One important visit was to Casa Xochiquetzal, a community home for retired sex workers. Here, the students provided basic health checks and gave health education. This visit taught them to treat every person with respect and dignity, no matter their background.
Blending Culture with Clinical Knowledge
Both in Rome and Mexico City, students mixed clinical learning with cultural experiences. They visited famous landmarks and spoke with local healthcare students, which helped them see how nursing is practiced in different countries. Dr. Uribe explained that even during sightseeing, students were learning through reflection and real-world observation.
What stood out was how students learned that nursing is not only about treating illness. It is also about building trust, understanding cultures, and promoting wellness in communities. This broader view of nursing helps prepare them to be better nurses in any setting—whether at home or abroad.
A Life-Changing Experience
The international clinical programs were more than just an academic requirement. For many students, it was a turning point in how they viewed the world and their future roles as nurses. The experiences taught them valuable life lessons like adaptability, compassion, and cultural awareness.
As Trang Nguyen said, “Nursing really is universal. The compassion, the care—it’s all the same.” Ashlie Baker added that the trip helped her see how important community wellness and health equity are in nursing. And for Togba, the trip was unforgettable and life-changing.
La Salle University’s spring 2025 global clinical trips to Rome and Mexico City gave nursing students a rare chance to apply their classroom learning in real-world settings. These programs helped students grow into well-rounded nurses who understand healthcare on a global level. By stepping into different cultures and healthcare systems, the students gained skills and insights that will stay with them throughout their careers. Whether it was assisting in childbirth in Rome or performing health checks in Mexico, one thing became clear—nursing, at its heart, is all about caring, no matter where you are in the world.
