Three student nurses from Whiddon Beaudesert have departed for Vietnam for three weeks to provide support and nursing care.
Tayla Babin, Amelia Hasenkam and Mackenzie Niesler left Australia on 25 November.
Whiddon Deputy CEO Alyson Jarrett presented the student nurses with a cheque for $500 towards medical equipment and educational toys and resources for schools and sports in northern Vietnam.
The trip is part of their international community placement before they become Registered Nurses.
They will be working at Mai Chua Hospital and in rural northern communities in Vietnam.
The trip will provide an invaluable learning and knowledge transfer and exchange opportunity, where the student nurses will utilise and hone their medical skills to support patients living in impoverished communities.
The three women are expecting a lot of cultural differences but are excited about the opportunities the trip will provide.
“The way they nurse and care over there is completely different,” said Mackenzie.
“We are able to provide support, education and nursing care to the less fortunate.”
Amelia described it as a once in a lifetime opportunity.
“Once I do this I will have the experience and exposure to go and do it when I graduate – to volunteer in missions over there,” she said.
They will be part of a group of 18 student nurses travelling to villages in rural areas.
“When expressions of interest came up we all decided to do it together.”
“We will stay in the communities and I have an app that will help with the language,” said Amelia.
“We haven’t had much time to learn the language but when we are in the clinics we will have a translator.”
The three women have also been studying cultural practices in Vietnam to assist them with nursing.
