A brief introduction to the Inbound Student Exchange Programme of SN Student Exchange Ambassadors

Being the Student Exchange Ambassadors were rewarding as we could learn and share nursing knowledge and cultural differences with students from different parts of the world, including the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and mainland China. This 4-week programme enhanced our cultural sensitivity and intercultural communication skills, and provided us opportunities to make new friends, and have various excursions.

Breaking the iceLed by Ms Janice Chan, an enthusiastic language instructor of the English Language Centre (ELC) our exchange programme swung into full gear. The interactive games helped us to get to know each other and be closer together.

We taught each other and learnt how to pronounce the word "nurses" in various languages, such as French, Indonesian, Italian, Cantonese, Mandarin...and so on. After some stretching exercises, we were challenged by the interesting questions about nurses, e.g., how many steps in average a nurse walks in a day? We worked in groups to use the hints sticked on the walls to figure out the answers. We also designed our dream nursing uniforms and our models confidently debuted them on the catwalk show.

Four-week Inbound Student Exchange Programme: SN Student Exchange Ambassadors School of Nursing, PolyU

We took a group photo with the ambulancemen.

The interior design of an ambulance.

A group photo with the academic staff members at the School of Nursing of HKSH.

Students experienced the difficulties of ageing at the Jockey Club Centre for Positive Ageing.

1Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Nursing, Year 42Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Nursing, Year 3

3Bachelor of Science (Honors) in Nursing, Year 24Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Mental Health Nursing, Year 2Chan W Y

3, Choi P S

2, Lau H Y

2, Lee U T

4, Lo C Y

2, Tsang O Y

1

We took a group photo at the PolyU Logo Square.

Deeper understanding on Hong Kong's healthcare system

Thankfully, the School gave us opportunities to visit a renowned private hospital - Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital (HKSH), and a public hospital-Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital in Wong Tai Sin. The latest medical technologies in the HKSH broadened our horizons and the well-equipped private rooms, which alike rooms in a 5-star hotel, were stunning. In the sub-acute hospital, most patients were elders or suffering from chronic illness. The nurses in the hospital earnestly introduced the general clinical setting and specialist in-patient service to us. Some of the exchange students were shocked by the clinical environment of the hospital. They described that the patients in ward were packed like sardines. There were patients even in the corridor. They could not believe that there was such a huge difference in the clinical settings between the public and private sector.

Sharing of clinical and learning experiences with other institutions

One of our major learning objectives was to compare the healthcare systems and practices between Hong Kong and other countries, and we discovered a lot of new things. For example, in Hong Kong, nurses sometimes apply restraints for patients with high fall risk. However, in some UK hospitals, nurses are not allowed to apply restraints, and they should use other methods to prevent fall.

In these few weeks, we were glad that the School arranged a visit to the nursing school of the HKSH. It was a valuable chance to share our learning and clinical experience with nursing students from another local institution. During the group sharing session, we were surprised to know that one of the teaching fellows from the nursing school is a PolyU graduate. She shared her clinical experience in both private and public hospitals to us.

Developing discipline-specific knowledge on ageing population

Our main goal in this 4-week inbound exchange activity was to have a deeper understanding on the needs of the elderly. Before the exchange activity, we had completed an online module about ageing population and we had shared our views with our groupmates and had held a small discussion about the topic. During the exchange period, there were many lectures and game sessions about ageing. We focused on the impact of an ageing population to healthcare services and discussed how could the society and healthcare professionals adjust to the phenomenon of ageing.

We visited the Jockey Club Centre for Positive Ageing to experience the difficulties of the elderly. In the centre, we wore the presbyopia glasses to experience visual impairment, and used the aged simulation set to experience limited motion of the elbow joints and the knees. We also visited The Lei Muk Shue Nursing Home and Housing Society Elderly Resources Centre to learn how to build up an age-friendly city.

Visiting the ambulance station

We visited the ambulance station in Tsim Sha Tsui, which is located near to PolyU. The charming ambulanceman introduced to us the commonly used medications and first-aid equipment. With the guidance of the ambulance officer, we experienced how to use the first-aid equipment.

Entering the ambulance, we were impressed by the interior design of it. The ambulancemen also shared their daily duties with us.

The requirement of ambulance jobs is no less demanding than nursing, especially in terms of the physical (ambulance officers work a 12-hour shift) or intelligence requirements. Let's salute the heroes!

Discovering the beauty of the Chinese culture

The Chinese culture, such as the Chinese calligraphy, was introduced to students in the exchange programme. We visited the Jao Tsung-I Academy in Mei foo. Professor Jao is an outstanding calligrapher and contributor to the Chinese culture. The tour guide in the Academy gave us better understanding on the work of Professor Jao and his life. We enjoyed an afternoon tea there and shared our feelings and views after the tour. It was surprising to find out that our friends around the globe were interested in writing their names in Chinese with ink brushes!

Conclusion Time flied and the 4-week exchange programme quickly came to an end. We definitely had fruitful experiences in terms of intercultural knowledge exchange, professional understanding and friendship development. We were so glad that we had taken the role of exchange ambassadors, which broadened our cross-cultural and professional horizons. The exchange students were very nice and they promised to show us around when we visit their countries.

The exchange students debuted their tailor-made nursing uniforms.

A Swiss student teaching the pronunciation of "nurses" in French.

Students discussing the answers in groups.

Ms Janice Chan and Dr Justina Liu welcoming the exchange students.

Doing the stretching exercises.

Looking for the hints sticked on the walls.

A photo at a semi-private single room in HKSH.

An exchange student holding a simulated baby.

Sharing with the nursing students at the School of Nursing of HKSH.

A helper in the Elderly Resources Centre helped the exchange student to participate in the memory test.

We joined the guided tour and listened to the biography about Professor Jao and the history of the site.

An afternoon tea in the Jao Tsung-I Academy.

Students at the Elderly Resources Centre.

Student Exchange Ambassador for Summer Exchange Programme 2016-17