Some academic collaborations stay on paper, others become living partnerships thanks to the exchange of students and staff. BGU signed a cooperation agreement with Duy Tan University in Da Nang, Vietnam, which came alive this summer when Nancy Hurvitz and Keren Levitin from the Department of Nursing of the Recanati School for Community Health Professions were dispatched to teach at the newly-created nursing school there.
Above: Nancy Hurvitz with students
“The visit to the Women and Children Hospital in Da Nang was a time warp and opened our eyes to a different reality. It was a combination of old equipment and technologies in the intensive care departments and old approaches and treatment strategies,” they said. .
The School of Nursing at DTU is only two years old. The highlight of the teaching experience was definitely the simulation, which enabled the students to think through relevant practices. The scenario was translated from Hebrew into Vietnamese, which enabled the students to practice their skills in a near real-world situation.
The two also taught classes to students in basic nursing, ethics, critical thinking and evidence-based practice and coached the faculty about how to develop a teaching faculty. The last week was devoted to instruction in new teaching techniques and practicing them. Response was very positive to their classes, the two concurred.
Above: Keren Levitin with students
“There is no doubt that this visit was a fascinating and important experience. It is a first rate anthropological and professional experience and we are sure that there is room to continue the connection and our continuing contribution as a department to further nursing in Vietnam,” they agree.
