Chapter 40: Introduction to the global context of nursing

Case study: Theo

Theo is twenty-four and has just started the second year of his adult nursing course. He recently attended an information session run by his university about international elective placements where he found out that in his third year it is possible for him to undertake a placement in any clinical area he wishes.

For as long as he can remember Theo has wanted to work as a nurse for an international aid agency, but as he left school without any qualifications, this did not seem achievable. However, after being made redundant from his retail job he decided to return to college to gain the qualifications required to become a nurse. Theo has raised funds, over £15,000 to date, for Médecins Sans Frontieres since he learnt about their activities when he was completing his access to nursing course and is now very knowledgeable about their activities. Theo is very keen to undertake a placement in a developing country, as he feels this would enable him to increase his practical understanding of nursing in resource-poor environments. The opportunity of doing this during his nursing course seems to be too good an opportunity for him to miss.

At the information session Theo was told that he would need to pay for his return travel to the placement area, accommodation, travel and living expenses whilst he was away, plus any inoculations/medications/health checks and visas required. He is concerned that he has only very limited funds and is aware that the injections required to ensure he remains healthy during his visit to a developing country, in addition to all the other costs, are likely to be expensive.

  • What are the first steps Theo should take to investigate whether it will be feasible for him to undertake an international placement?

  • Are there any sources of funding that Theo could investigate to try to add to his limited amount?

› Solution

The first steps Theo should take to investigate whether it will be feasible for him to undertake an international placement are:

1. Talk to his tutor. He may be able to take part in a project that already exists between his university and a healthcare organisation in another country. Theo will also need to consider what he wishes to achieve from this experience, link this to the learning on his course and gain the support of his university before he goes. If there is not a project Theo could become involved in he should consider whether he has any links with other organisations that may be able to include him in a project. Some local NHS Trusts have ongoing relationships with healthcare professionals in other countries and many towns/cities are twinned with towns/cities in other countries (details of this will be available from the town/city hall). Theo also has existing links with Médecins Sans Frontieres so he should contact them. Finally, if Theo has friends or family living abroad they might be able to assist him to find and contact a placement area.

2. Decide exactly where he wants to go and then consider the impact of his visit on his host. Theo must be certain that his visit will be as positive for his host as it is for him before proceeding any further with his arrangements.

3. Work out the cost of everything he needs to finance for his placement. It may not be possible to be exact, but Theo needs a clear idea of how much money he will need.

What sources of funding could Theo investigate to try to add to his limited amount?

1. Before approaching any funding source Theo needs to think carefully about and write down exactly what the benefit of the international placement will be, considering the benefit in terms of the patients he cares for in the future, for him now and during his nursing career and for any future employers. He needs to have a clear idea of how much money he needs and demonstrate that this experience is so important to him that he is prepared to fund as much of it as he is able.

2. Theo should talk to his tutor, who may be able to provide him with the details of financial assistance available from local sources, such as specific financial awards or grants he can apply for in his university, local NHS Trusts or charitable organisations.

3. As Theo is a student member of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) it would be sensible to also ask for their advice, as some RCN branches have funds available to their members.

4. There are also publications which Theo could consult which identify potential sources of funding. These are likely to be available in his university library. Examples of such publications are The Grants Register (published annually) by Palgrave Macmillan, The Directory of Grant-Making Trusts (published annually) by the Charities Aid Foundation and Charities Digest (published annually) by Waterlow Professional Publishing.

5. Another possible source of funding Theo could investigate could be drug or medical equipment companies, UK companies who also operate in the country he wants to visit or companies based where he is undertaking his nursing course.

6. Theo could also undertake some sponsored activities, such as baking cakes or putting to use any other marketable skill he has, to raise funds for his placement. If he does this, contacting his local radio station or newspaper, with the support of his university, would be an excellent idea, as they might be interested in reporting his plans, publicising any fundraising events he is undertaking or even contributing to his fund.