Promoting a Global and Environmental Perspective of Nursing & Engineering Students: An Interdisciplinary Intervention in Nicaragua

For four years Villanova University nursing and engineering students have collaborated on a joint health promotion project in Waslala, Nicaragua. Waslala is located in Nicaragua's rural and rugged north central mountainous region. As the clinical component of their senior nursing course in Health Promotion, nursing students prepare for the experience seven weeks prior to the trip and receive credit for the experience. The engineering students are able to apply the knowledge gained from the experience to their senior design projects. Nursing students research the literature for the history and culture of the Nicaraguan people. They gather facts and statistics related to the country and the health care system. They also research the topics of poverty, adult education, and working with people from different cultures. At the same time the nursing students prepare educational programs on health related topics such as; water borne illnesses, first aid, hygiene, sexually transmitted diseases, and Tuberculosis. An emerging health issue that will be addressed in the spring of 2008 is that many families burn the already ubiquitous plastic to start their home fires and to dispose of the trash. The students' projects are complimentary and the two groups work together preparing for the experience and during the week in Waslala. An important part of the collaboration is educating the population about water sanitation. When engineering students visit communities to assess for clean water sources, the nursing students deliver health educational programs and do basic health screening.