Courses
Below are the Category B: Global Competency Related Courses that I have taken at Thompson Rivers University, advancing my knowledge in cultural and global content. I have successfully completed 5 courses that meet this criteria within my BScN program.
HLTH 2300: Interdisciplinary Indigenous Health
This course focussed on the Indigenous ways of knowing and the importance of integrating holistic health into my nursing practice. This course allowed me to have a better understanding of the Indigenous culture and their health by reading the novel 21 things you may not know about the Indian Act: Helping Canadians make reconciliation with Indigenous peoples a reality and having weekly talking circles where we passed around a sacred item and shared our thoughts with the class. An important assignment that I completed for this class that allowed me to better understand the impact of colonization was making a podcast about the forced sterilization of Indigenous women in Canada. This allowed me to connect the determinants of health that Indigenous women face and how they affect their rights within the healthcare system and federal law. By learning the Indian act and understanding intergenerational trauma, I want to better advocate for my patients rights in my future career as a nurse.
and steps taken to address forced sterilization
of Indigenous women.
HLSC 3830: Global Health Perspectives
In this course, the bulk of our content examined all things related to global health, such as disasters, determinants of health, communicable diseases, language and culture, international organizations and more. This has been by far my favourite course that I have taken at TRU in the nursing program. I found there to be so much value in learning about the health challenges the are faced on a global level, as I am fortunate to live in a country that prioritizes their healthcare in ways like vaccination coverage, universal healthcare and more. It was interesting to learn about the disparities and quality of life in other nations, as I could never imagine having those circumstances in Canada. Throughout the duration of the course I was assigned to read the novel called However Long the Night: Molly Melching’s Journey to Help Millions of African Women and Girls Triumph. This novel was impactful in numerous ways, as it touched upon women’s rights in the country of Senegal, the traditional practice of female genital cutting and bringing western beliefs to them. Overall, I am excited to take this knowledge into my future goal of becoming a disaster nurse in underserved nations.
Journey to Help Millions of African Women and Girls Triumph.
NURS 3730: Health and Health Promotion 5: Health Transitions
Throughout this course I learned about how each client that I will care for has a different interpretation of what health means to them. For instance, different factors like religion, culture, race, family support, education and other determinants can influence a clients presentation and how they value health and wellness. In this course, lectures and tests were based on case scenarios of different client presentations that were all unique from each other. This allowed me to navigate my implicit bias and learn how to discard it when given these scenarios, as multiple factors can dictate someone’s ability to maintain good health. A large component of the course highlighted the need for social justice from nurses within the healthcare system to advocate for marginalized groups. This course has taught me how to provide a client centred approach, where I will be able to incorporate cultural practices into care, while providing cultural sensitivity within the workplace.
NURS 3500: Health and Health Promotion 7: Promoting Community and Societal Health
This community based course allowed me to expand my knowledge and appreciation for underserved populations within a community. I got to apply this knowledge by helping develop a pregnancy passport specific for the Métis community in Kamloops. My group members and I included educational material on pregnancy topics and compile resources in Kamloops and have it organized together in a passport. With this, we ensured that cultural components like prayers, Elder quotes and traditions were incorporated throughout to personalize the passport. Below is a photo of my group members and I in Métis sashes, as we were gifted them by an Elder at Lii Michif Otipemisiwak (LMO) after we showcased our final copy of the passport to the agency. This was a very special moment, as it felt so rewarding to feel accepted and thanked by such a loving community. This course overall has made me aware of the community issues that stem from the failing healthcare system. Learning about stigmatism and social justice of Indigenous peoples in Canada will be imprinted in my mind going forth with my nursing career.
NURS 3170: Communication & Collaboration 3: Connecting Across Difference
This course offered valuable topics like diversity, ethics, cultural safety, and spirituality, which contribute to the health and well-being of many on an international scale. I got to learn how different backgrounds can shape one’s view on health and their experience while being treated in the healthcare system. As for the importance to uphold ethics, it also allows me to respect my clients rights, dignity and autonomy while providing healthcare in any setting, especially ones with low-resources. A key component to this course was learning about cultural safety, which was primarily done through simulations, allowing me to embrace other cultures and understand the importance to prioritize their traditions and beliefs in care.