Becky Bunderson, director of the College of Health Sciences Simulation Center, and Barb Allerton, associate professor in the School of Nursing, spent two weeks in China at Hangzhou Normal University. They were invited to China to work with the Hangzhou School of Nursing on integrating simulation into their curriculum. Allerton provided guest lectures in two community health classes, focusing on family assessment. In addition, the Memorandum of Understanding between the two universities was also re-negotiated as the original five year agreement was about to expire.
Bunderson and Allerton provided formal lectures on simulation and demonstrated facilitation of four actual simulations with nursing faculty and students participating. The goal was to introduce the faculty to simulation as a teaching tool and demonstrate our process for facilitating simulations here at Boise State. Bunderson spent time helping them understand how to use their human patient simulator as the technology was new to them and also how to setup their simulation room and control room to better facilitate learning. Allerton and Bunderson stressed the importance of using simulation as teaching methodology that would help their students self reflect and promote critical thinking.
Dean Tim Dunnagan and Nursing faculty Barb Allerton with Spring 2012 Chinese Exchange Students
Eight nursing students from Hangzhou Normal University joined School of Nursing classes in February and March. Six senior baccalaureate joined Nursing Leadership and Community and Public Health courses in order to learn how community health and leadership are taught and practiced in the US. Two graduate students joined a variety of nursing classes with goals to learn how nursing is taught in the US including the use of simulation in nursing education. In addition, the graduate students worked on their masters’ thesis proposals. The faculty and students warmly welcomed the Hangzhou students in classes, professional and social activities. Boise State School of Nursing hosted the graduate students at the Idaho Nurse Educators Conference in Twin Falls and all of the students attended the Northwest Nazarene University Simulation Expo in March. The students enjoyed inner tubing at Bogus Basin, attending a Boise State basketball game and participating in several Student Nurses Association meetings. This ongoing exchange has helped to expand the global world view of the Hangzhou and Boise State students and faculty. The Boise State School of Nursing looks forward to more opportunities to send faculty and students to Hangzhou as well as hosting Hangzhou students and faculty in the future. Click here to read more about the history of the School’s partnership with Hangzhou.