July 2024

From a remote village in the Honduran highlands to urban clinics across Manila, more than 50 Duke School of Nursing students (as well as Duke Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy students) participated in global clinical immersion experiences at the end of this past semester. The students worked under the supervision of School of Nursing faculty and other clinical leads to give direct care to hundreds of patients at clinics in Honduras, Tanzania, Barbados, and the Philippines. Here, in their own words, are just some of the insight students gained from their experiences:

In a recent study, Duke School of Nursing’s Amie Koch, DNP, FNP-C, RN, ACHPN, sought to understand the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals, and their experience coming out within social settings, religious settings, and health care settings. She studied the act of disclosing individuals’ sexual orientation to providers. The study sheds light on the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals and offers insights into how providers can create a more supportive and inclusive environment.

The study reveals that LGBTQ+ individuals often grapple with the decision to disclose sexual orientation to family, friends, religious communities, and HCPs due to fears of abandonment, judgment, discrimination, and potential negative repercussions. This hesitancy is rooted in safety concerns and the anticipation of biased treatment, which can lead to significant stress and anxiety for individuals seeking care.

Christina Wang's journey into the world of nursing began at Georgetown University Hospital's Limb Salvage wound care clinic, where she was inspired by the nurse practitioners' dedication to patient care. Her experience witnessing the NPs develop significant rapport with patients and work tirelessly to heal complex wounds, sparked her interest in becoming an NP herself.

Choosing Duke was a pivotal decision for Christina. She had moved to Honolulu in 2009 and was working at the Hawaii Health & Harm Reduction Center (where she has been Medical Director since 2017). 

Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) students at the Duke School of Nursing participate in a clinical simulation as part of their recent on-campus intensives. The NNP MSN program at Duke prepares students to provide care for low and high-risk neonates, infants, toddlers up to two years of age, and their families in diverse settings such as the neonatal intensive care unit, special care nursery, newborn nursery, delivery room, and developmental clinic.

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