![\"Indonesian](\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/963\/indonesia-e1473365210853.jpg\")
Indonesia may be a half-a-world away, but for twelve URI nursing, pharmacy, and physical therapy students, it provided invaluable lessons and an opportunity to expand their perspectives on health care.<\/p>\nIndonesia may be a half-a-world away, but for twelve URI nursing, pharmacy, and physical therapy students, it provided invaluable lessons and an opportunity to expand their perspectives on health care.<\/p>\n
The group\u2014which included seven students from the College of Nursing\u2014participated in the two-week trip, designed to give them a firsthand look at Indonesia\u2019s health care system and a chance to increase their knowledge of each other\u2019s disciplines. They stayed in Surabaya, Yogyakarta, and Bali, visiting health programs in urban and rural settings, where they\u00a0had the opportunity to meet and work with international students, compare URI\u2019s nursing program to the Indonesian program, and explore new global health care initiatives.<\/p>\n
The trip was the first URI interdisciplinary global health trip, and it was offered to students during the University\u2019s January term.<\/p>\n
Senior Heather Marty, <\/strong>who spoke about her belief that nurses need to be culturally competent, was excited about the opportunity to travel to Indonesia and learn about its culture. \u201cI experienced how Indonesians work with limited resources, and what they do to keep their community happy and healthy. Throughout the trip I thought more about health promotion and the assessment of a patient,\u201d she said. \u201cPharmacy students thought about which drugs would be most effective for the patient, and physical therapy students thought about the rehabilitative process that the patient might require. We worked together to come up with ideas for how we might treat patients with leprosy, HIV, and women with pregnancy complications.\u201d<\/p>\n