Nursing Care and Culture of Mexico

Summer 2010: May 15 to June 7 (tentative dates)

Program Location

Querétaro, founded in 1531, located 124 miles (200 km) northwest of Mexico City, is known for its Spanish colonial architecture, with a population of 596,000. The historic city offers over 460 years of history and tradition through its aqueduct, temples, mansions and palaces that make of this city one of the most beautiful colonial spots.

Academic Program

The purpose of this course is to address developing nursing cultural competence in our increasingly diverse healthcare settings. As students of nursing and practicing nurses find themselves caring for non-English speaking patients, culturally sensitive care strategies must be learned. A cultural encounter experience will provide students with an opportunity to explore their own personal biases, stereotypes, prejudices, develop an understanding of Mexican culture and history, practice nursing care skills within the context of Mexican health beliefs and healthcare delivery models, and develop a fluency in spoken Spanish.  In this course students will examine Mexican healthcare delivery systems, nursing in Mexico, and Mexican culture and health beliefs. Students will study Spanish language speaking with the Universidad de Autónoma de Querétaro (UAQ). Students will be assigned to small groups with language instructors and will meet every day for three weeks. Additionally, students will live with homestay families associated with the universidad. Students will also meet with UAQ nursing students and will attend nursing class and have an opportunity to participate in care delivery with Mexican nursing students.

Instructional methods include lectures, guided tours, journal assignments and/or papers.

Prerequisite: foreign language proficiency with the ability to speak and understand some Spanish.

Tentative course offerings:
NSG 490: Enfermeras de JMU: Spanish Language, Healthcare & Culture (4)

Accommodations

Students will reside in host families. Group meals will be provided.

Program Costs

For the current projected costs for this program, please click on the following link to the Fees for JMU Study Abroad Programs page.

Application

For more detailed instructions and to download the application, please click on the following link to the Applications and Forms section for JMU Short-Term Programs.

In addition to the Short-term Application, interested students should submit an essay and contact the program director for a brief interview.

For More Information

For additional information about the program in Mexico, please contact the program director:

Dr. Linda L. Sobel
Associate Professor
Department of Nursing
Tel: 540-568-8127
E-mail: sobelll@jmu.edu