From our journey to Cherokee, NC and every day since our arrival, it has been an adventure!  Our days have been full of taking in the culture and learning about heritage, disparities and resilience. The  observational clinical experience today alone today has sparked so much discussion and reflection ranging from access to care, health care models, delivery systems, disparities, cultural influence, respect, advocacy and ethics. Never would I imagine that we would be having a debriefing and discussion about our day at past 11pm at night! These young ladies are fantastic- I hope you take time to click on their links, read their blogs and look at photos.

      I am nothing short of impressed at the way the Cherokee Indian Hospital is caring for their people and proactive to bring about positive change.  In the first few hours today I learned more and considered concepts related to holistic care, that I have yet to witness in my 22 years of nursing in a traditional health care system. The collaboration and mutual respect demonstrated by everyone in this system we encountered is nothing short of phenomenal!  Regardless if you can speak the native tongue of others or know all their customs and beliefs, an attitude of genuine caring is universally understood.   

I am filled with much excitement as I prepare to embark on a course with 9 nursing students and another faculty as a chaperone.  We are traveling to an area that no one has ever utilized  before at Methodist College. The Nursing topic, happens to be my nursing passion-caring for children & their families.  In order to holistically care for children and people in general, we need to look beyond their physical assessment and get a closer look at the influences around them. We are going beyond the previous learned pediatric content and looking deeper into not only physical assessment but a closer look at assessing community, culture and family influence.  We are headed to a unique part of this country...Western North Carolina!  While every student who applied for this specialty course has shown much interest, it is my desire that they get out of it what they want from it it.  Prior to the start of the course I am asking each student to create your own personal learning objectives. Together we will work to achieve them!   After a very busy semester and very little down time-I am looking forward to traveling to a beautiful part of the country, with this great group and learning about a unique culture together and reflecting upon our experiences.  It is my pleasure  to facilitate this experience! 

 In less than 3 weeks we are on the road!  Are you ready!?