Guyana Nurses Visit the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford

WEST HARTFORD, CT – Five nursing students from Guyana recently visited the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) in West Hartford for a reciprocal clinical and classroom experience as part of the university’s Guyana Immersion Project.

GIP, established in 2002, is USJ’s primary vehicle for international service, enabling faculty and students to share knowledge in health care with those suffering from illness in the third poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, according to a release.

After their time together in Connecticut, USJ Nursing faculty traveled to Guyana in October to train health care workers and address two of Guyana’s most distressing health care issues: the highest suicide rate in the world and inadequate palliative/end of life care. In addition, each March USJ students and faculty travel to Guyana and Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital to continue student learning and conduct research on the health and educational needs of the nation.

The USJ GIP team will prepare curriculum to teach suicide risk screening and prevention methods and palliative care practices to Mercy health care workers. The team will also implement a training program with enhancements to ensure continued care that will impact long-term health outcomes.

Image via University of Saint Joseph.