Six weeks in Sweden: student benefits from Scandinavian adventure
A GCU student has spent six weeks in Sweden, giving her the chance to take her nursing knowledge to another level.
Bernadette DelaSanta, who’s originally from the Phillipines, has been making the most of her final year on GCU’s Adult Nursing course.
After deciding to go all in on her university experience, Bernadette embraced the opportunity to spend time at University West, situated in Trollhättan.
With graduation just around the corner, we sat down with Bernadette to hear about her international placement and how it helped prepare her for the future:
How did you originally come to study at GCU?
“I’m actually a registered nurse in the Philippines; however I didn’t practice there after making the decision to move to Cyprus. I then came to the UK and was told that my credentials weren’t sufficient to practice as a nurse here, so I had to study again for three years. GCU gave me the chance to do that.”
Tell me about the opportunity to go to Sweden?
“It was really great. It was offered to students before the pandemic through Erasmus but there hadn’t been anything like that mentioned to us until very recently.
“I basically just saw the announcement that there was an international placement opportunity. All I had to do was apply and give a bit of information around why I wanted to complete an international placement. I was very well guided throughout the process and I owe a lot to Glasgow Caledonian University for being able to provide an opportunity like this.”
What was it that appealed to you about the international placement?
“I really wanted to explore different healthcare systems and the role of nurses in different countries. I was aware that Sweden was well recognised as being very advanced in their technology when it comes to nursing, particularly in terms of digitalization. I had also heard about how they try to help patients avoid travelling to hospitals and instead focus on providing support in their homes or apartments. Overall, it was really nice to explore another country and live life as a local.”
What did your placement focus on overall?
“It was mainly district nursing, which is a community-based type of nursing. I had a supervisor and assessor who were great at looking into my growth and personal experience within clinical settings in communities. A lot of the things I was experiencing was the likes of dialysis, wound management, blood taking, injections and other things like that.
“I worked Monday to Friday from 8am to 3.30pm. The morning would usually involve clinical visits to the houses of patients and then during the afternoon would be meetings with other district nurses about the different patients they’ve visited.”
Was there anything that particularly stood out from your experience?
“I would say the digitilisation aspect of working in Sweden was particularly impressive. Nurses had mobile phones and iPads provided to them, which actually allow them to get into the houses of patients that are bed-bound. I can understand there are perhaps risks associated with this but I found it to be very positive overall – especially given the fact it’s all approved by the police and government.
“There was a big difference to my placements in Scotland. I’m used to working in the city where people are sent to hospitals but working in a rural area of Sweden showed me the importance of helping people in their homes. If there was an emergency then they would have to travel at least an hour, so the fact we can actually help patients where they’re comfortable is so important.”
What was Trollhättan like as a place?
“It was definitely cold! We arrived in March and there was still snow around us. I had to wear my big jacket the whole time.
“Thankfully there wasn’t any rain and it is definitely a pretty part of the world. Where we stayed was great because everything was walkable. I was able to go to the University and also access shops without any issues. I actually worked in Uddevalla and travelled about an hour each day from Trollhättan. Both areas were great and I enjoyed getting to see the rural side of Sweden.”
What was the highlight of your trip?
“Before going to Sweden I didn’t get much of a chance to gain practical experience with dialysis in Scotland. The kidneys are a very challenging area of the body and on one day we actually had to administer dialysis three times to one individual. As someone looking to learn, that was hugely beneficial for me.
“I also really enjoyed getting to spend time at University West. It’s very modern and I loved getting to use their library. The experience of just getting to practice district nursing in another country was amazing. I never thought I would get an opportunity like this, so I am just incredibly grateful to GCU."
What would you say to other students who are considering studying abroad?
“I can understand why some people would feel nervous about it, but it’s a great opportunity. It’s normal to feel anxious about living in a new place but it’s important to just be yourself and embrace the new culture. Be confident and believe in yourself.”
Find out more about GCU’s BSc Nursing Studies (Adult) course here