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鈥淭he UL experience is second to none,鈥� said Elizabeth Speakman, chief nurse administrator and senior associate dean of SON. 鈥淚鈥檓 so proud of these students for stepping out of their comfort zone and embracing opportunities that will shape them as nurses and global citizens. Healthcare is increasingly interconnected, and experiences like this help our students develop the cultural awareness, adaptability and communication skills needed to care for patients from diverse backgrounds anywhere in the world.鈥�

All students completed at least 28 hours of community service as part of their clinical experience. For their clinical, the trio taught English to Ukrainian refugees.

鈥淚t was like a flashback to high school Spanish class,鈥� joked Riordan.聽

Except this time, they were the teachers. Working with a UL teacher, the students made lesson plans that included engagement and learning through word games. On Fridays, they hosted Conversation Club, a more relaxed learning environment, where friendships were made.

Holleran was amazed at the refugees鈥� progress.

鈥淚t was so nice to see those who excelled help those who were struggling. By the end, they were joking in English. I learned Spanish for five years, and I can鈥檛 tell a joke in Spanish,鈥� Holleran said. 鈥淢aking a joke and having it land with a native speaker shows how far they鈥檝e come.鈥�

All three students received the President鈥檚 Volunteer Service Bronze Award from UL.

鈥淏eing honored made us feel truly a part of the UL community,鈥� Steinberg said.聽聽

At first, the students were nervous about missing out on clinicals in Delaware, but Holleran says they learned a great deal by working with Ukrainian refugees.聽

鈥淥ur experience went beyond taking vitals, which we鈥檒l do for the rest of our lives as nurses,鈥� Holleran said. 鈥淏ut you can鈥檛 teach yourself cultural competence. We learned how to see patients as people and understand what they鈥檝e gone through that affects their health.鈥澛�

They also toured Ireland, visiting the famous Cliffs of Moher, Galway, Cork and Dingle, and traveled to nine European countries, from Hungary to Croatia.聽

鈥淭his isn鈥檛 something everyone gets to do; some people live in America and never leave the state they live in,鈥� Holleran said. 鈥淚鈥檓 so grateful and so much more worldly than I could鈥檝e imagined. It鈥檚 an experience I鈥檒l cherish forever.鈥�

The students returned to the U.S. for the summer as different people, equipped with a newfound confidence they鈥檒l carry into their future nursing careers.聽

鈥淚 feel like now I could talk to anyone on the street. I am now so much more confident in my communication skills,鈥� Riordan said.聽

They also encourage current nursing students to study abroad.

鈥淚 almost said 鈥榥o,鈥欌�� Steinberg said. 鈥淚 was worried about my friends at 91原创 continuing life without me, but you鈥檒l only be 20 traveling around Europe for four months once in your life. We explored the world and changed our perspective; it鈥檚 something I鈥檒l never forget. It really was the best experience ever.鈥�