| CON undergraduate and graduate nursing students travel to Jamaica to provide free medical and surgical care to the impoverished communities in Kingston and St. Elizabeth’s counties of Jamaica. Annually, the interdisciplinary team cares for over 900 adult and pediatric patients that cross the lifespan, providing free medication to each patient as part of a sustainable health care program. Students are engaged in caring for local patients as a member of an interprofessional team comprising of nursing faculty, physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants while learning about developing countries health care system, cultural traditions, and available resources. Students are immersed in the local culture, work in make-shift clinics, educate communities on disease prevention, and participate in home care. |
| Program |
The students learn the importance of being flexible, resourceful, and sensitive to the culture. The program shows the students the importance of developing and sustaining a health care program in a developing country through collaboration with two other universities and non-governmental organizations that continue to serve the same communities throughout the year to meet the needs of the people.
The Jamaican liaison for our field experiences is Sister Grace Yap of the St. Franciscan’s Ministry. Students are greeted on their first day with a Catholic mass at the St. Franciscan convent. Throughout the week, students are immersed in the local culture, eating local cuisine and shopping in local markets. A unique cultural experience is a visit to Trenchtown to purchase local crafts and see the home of Bob Marley. At the end of the week, the team completes their team-building reflection at a local tourist attraction, offering time for team-building, debriefing and reflection of the experiences, while showing the students the contrast in the life of the country.
Note: FPD senior students who apply to the Jamaica clinical immersion must have a planned enrollment in NU 381 Public Health course.
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| Faculty |
Dr. Shery Watson, PhD, RN, MSN
Dr. Heather Ferrillo, PhD, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, CNE
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| Accommodations |
Housing will be at Knutsford Court Hotel. Rooms are triple occupancy. Three meals per day will be provided. You are responsible for your own snacks, if desired.
- Free Internet is available (note: it is strong in the lobby, it is not reliable in rooms)
- A water bottle is needed to replenish water daily.
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| Costs |
Spring 2020 Program Costs
The total program cost due to Sacred Heart University is $2,300.
$815 confirmation fee, $1,405 program fee, $35 emergency fund fee, and $45 application fee.
Payment Due Dates:
- Upon acceptance- $815 confirmation fee, $35 emergency fund fee + $45 application fee (paid online via credit card or by check made payable to Sacred Heart University. Checks can be mailed to Molly Higbie 5151 Park Ave Fairfield, CT 06825)
- December 1st - $1,405 (paid online via credit card or by check made payable to Sacred Heart University. Checks can be mailed to Molly Higbie 5151 Park Ave Fairfield, CT 06825)
PROGRAM FEE INCLUDES: Program orientation, international airfare from NYC area, U.S. and local ground transportation from SHU campus, housing in a shared hotel room, all meals, program excursions, and mandatory basic international health insurance
PROGRAM FEE DOES NOT INCLUDE: Free day excursions, snacks, major medical insurance, trip cancellation insurance, visa/resident permit fees if required, and all personal expenses
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| Excursions |
The last day of the program will be spent team-building and relaxing at a local tourist attraction. |
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| Contact |
Molly Higbie
Assistant Director of Global Health Programs
Center for Healthcare Education, N104
(203)396-6578
higbiem@sacredheart.edu
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| Location |
Jamaica is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea, comprising the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles. It is the fifth-largest island country in the Caribbean. The country boasts beautiful beaches, famous Dunn’s Rivers falls, rain forest, mountains, farms, and a metropolis, Kingston.
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. In the Americas, Kingston is the largest predominantly English-speaking city south of the United States. The geographical border for the parish of Kingston encompasses the following communities, Tivoli Gardens, Denham Town, downtown Kingston, National Heroes Park, Kingston Gardens, Rae Town, Bournemouth Gardens, Norman Gardens, Springfield, and Port Royal. The area spans from the rich, where international celebrities reside, to the severely impoverished population.
Nestled around the Blue Mountains, home of the famous coffee, there are no beaches in Kingston. Kingston is residential and business, rather than tourist with the lush tropics and endless beaches. The beautiful scenes that many think of for Jamaica are across the island in Ochos Rios and Montego Bay.
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| Duration |
Program will run March 21-28, 2020
All clinic locations will be determined closer to date.
- March 21 -- Departure, Unpacking and welcome mass at St. Franciscan’s convent
- March 22 – Medical Clinic
- March 23 – Medical Clinic
- March 24 -- Medical Clinic
- March 25 -- Medical Clinic
- March 26 – Medical Clinic
- March 27 – free day to relax and team-build at Jamaican tourist attraction
- March 28 – return to Sacred Heart University
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