My Erasmus Experience
Vicki McAllister - SwedenNaturally, I was nervous and apprehensive in the months leading up to my departure as I did not know how I was going to deal with the language barrier amongst other things, but I was sure that the advantages would far outweigh the disadvantages and that this would be an exciting and unforgettable period of my life. And it truly has been!
Reflecting on my twelve weeks clinical nursing placement in a Swedish university hospital, I noted some similarities as well as considerable differences in the Swedish healthcare system in comparison to the NHS in the UK. Most notably, there was no obvious sense of hierarchy between members of the medical team; hence, doctors and nurses were regarded as equal contributors to the overall patient's health. In addition, there appeared to be a larger proportion of female doctors and male nurses in comparison to British hospitals. Another difference is that Swedish nurses were given a lot more responsibility in making decisions about the care of their patients in comparison to nurses in British hospitals. One of the advantages of working as a student nurse in Sweden is that it has allowed me to acquire certain key nursing skills, which I would not have been able to achieve if I had carried out my rostered service in the UK, such as taking blood samples. This technique is incorporated into the undergraduate nursing courses in Swedish universities, but it does not yet form part of the standard nursing curriculum in British universities. One of the main disadvantages that I experienced was the difficulty in communication because of the language barrier. However, most of the staff spoke excellent English and the majority of patients, with the exception of the elderly, were able to speak some English. Obviously, all of the patients’ information was written in Swedish and therefore I was not able to participate in documenting care. However, after a few weeks I had learned enough of the language to obtain some basic information from my patients and to decipher some of their medical notes. I was not given as much responsibility as a third year student nurse as I may have been had I been working in a hospital in the UK, but this is to be expected and it is only a minor drawback.
Discovering the cultural differences of other countries is one of the highlights of travelling and was one of the main reasons that I applied to Erasmus. The Swedish celebrate a number of unique holidays, including the Midsummer to commemorate the summer solstice, which involves dancing around a tree like a frog. We did not ever discover the reasoning behind this absurd dancing, but enjoyed following the other adults who were leading the way. At certain times of the year, specific food is eaten, such as smorgasbord, herring and crayfish. Traditionally in the north of Sweden, surstromming, which is fish that has been fermented in a tin for several years, is eaten at the end of the summer. Unfortunately, we were invited to some friends’ house for this culinary event and of course, we had to sample this regional specialty!
Having successfully worked in another country, albeit for only a few months, I have gained some transferable skills, which I feel future employers will look upon positively. Being able to adapt to a new culture and healthcare system indicates that I am flexible and keen to experience new challenges. Because of the positive Erasmus experience that I have had, I would not hesitate in applying for nursing positions abroad in the future as I have learnt that I can manage with the language difficulties and adapt to the cultural differences. At times, it was difficult being in a foreign environment and not being able to understand conversations or even to be able to talk as much with the patients as I would have at home but I am so glad that I have been able to experience another country’s health service and to draw comparisons with Britain. I have developed nursing skills as well as my personal skills, especially communicating with staff and patients. Sometimes I had to rely more on my non-verbal communication skills in order to determine the situation or to convey information to my patients. I have increased in confidence and developed a more relaxed attitude to life because of my three months abroad.
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