Through this immersion experience, the students can gain a deeper understanding of cultural differences and the opportunity to work with people living in extreme poverty. These are important skills to master whether they are working abroad or at home in the U.S.”
- Dr. Susan Fletcher, professor, Chamberlain College of Nursing

From November 2-22, 2009, Dr. Susan Fletcher, EdD, MSN and Abra Greenberg, Med. MS, professors at Chamberlain College of Nursing led nine students from the College’s St. Louis campus on the Brazil International Nursing Service Project trip. This trip was part of Chamberlain’s co-curricular learning model, which provides students with opportunities to expand their education through a full spectrum of social, cause-related and field experiences.

While there, the Chamberlain team spent a week at our sister school, Fanor. They worked with nursing faculty and students to share best practices and learn from one another. Chamberlain and Fanor students spent the remaining two weeks working together with their instructors to provide health care and health education through an intensive hands-on experience. They split their time between clinics for the urban poor in Fortaleza and setting up make-shift clinics in the remote village of Madalena.

International Nursing Service Projects such as this one are part of Chamberlain College of Nursing’s co-curricular learning model, which provides students with opportunities to expand their education through a full spectrum of social, cause-related and field experiences.

This alternative nursing experience takes the place of Chamberlain’s required Cultural Diversity in the Professions course (SOCS-350) and Community Health Nursing course (NR-442), for a total of seven credit hours.