Nursing Week 2009 still a hit

In summer 2009, Vancouver nurse Lynn Buhler taught Community Health Nursing at IUBAT. Early during her stay, the IUBAT Nursing Student Society organized a boisterous celebration of Florence Nightingale’s birthday. Lynn writes, “Ever since my wonderful trip to IUBAT & Bangladesh – I have not experienced Nursing Week without thinking of the fantastic students and staff and volunteers that manage to make the School of Nursing a reality. In honour of Nursing Week I would like to get back to donating to the school and in particular providing support to individual nursing students that need a little bit of financial help.” Thank you Lynn for your commitment and support.

 

Our teaching partners, CWCH and U of Vermont

Each year, a group of BS (nursing) students studying under Dr. Hendrika Maltby  at U of Vermont visit Bangladesh and IUBAT as part of their community  health field experience. In January 2012, their fieldwork included observation and practice at one of our teaching hospital partner sites, CWCH - the Centre for Woman and Child Health in Savar. Photos show students working with CWCH Nursing Director, Sister Margaret Sarkar. At the request of the CWCH medical director, Dr. Khurshid Talukder, Dr. Maltby provided some feedback, noting that the students were very impressed with how much can happen with the resources at hand.  "It was powerful to see how the millennium development goals are being put into action at CWCH." "This experience helps me to realize that patient care can be provided without the use of fancy equipment.  It is about how compassionate you are and how much you are willing to give." Overall, praise for CWCH is high and students appreciated the opportunity to spend time there.

 

BSN grad earns Norway scholarship

IUBAT graduate Bimala Rai (BSN 2009) has earned a full scholarship to attend the University of Oslo International Summer School. From late June to early August, she will enrol in a Masters level course in International Community Health. According to the UiO website, the course focuses on global health issues such as human rights, equity, and the social dimensions of health, with a focus on child health, sexual reproductive health and rights, communicable diseases, and chronic conditions. Bimala will study with students from a wide variety of backgrounds: different countries, professional training, academic training, work experience, and cultures. We know she will be a strong representative for South Asian nurses and will bring new skills home with her.

IUBAT grads to write Nepal registration exams

For the first time ever the Nepal Nursing Council is holding a Registration Exam for new nurses this May. A group of IUBAT College of Nursing graduates returned to Nepal after completing their education in Bangladesh. Recently they applied for and received equivalency for their IUBAT BSN degree at Tribhuvan University, the major public sector university of Nepal. This means that IUBAT BSN graduates can now write the new Nepal Nursing Council Registration Exam.  Good luck to all the IUBAT graduates. We are proud of you!

Immunization Day at IUBAT

Rotary Clubs world-wide sponsor child immunization programs, usually coinciding with government initiatives. IUBAT has strong connections with Rotary Club of Greater Dhaka which provided the vaccines for the national polio eradication drive held last February. Using the IUBAT campus, this annual event attracts local residents of all ages. Under the guidance of faculty member RN Shamsun Nahar, IUBAT College of Nursing students organize the event, register clients and administer vaccines. In time, we hope to develop a primary health care clinic to serve the neighbourhood shanty-dwellers.

Strengthening our partnership with United Hospital

United Hospital Limited is one of the best hospitals in Bangladesh. IUBAT Nursing students practice medical-surgical nursing on its cardiac, general medicine and neurosciences wards. Visiting faculty provide workshops for the nursing staff there. In early 2012, UHL opened its own nursing school. Karen Lund and Alex Berland toured the facility and delivered a gift of textbooks, visiting with UHL Director Education, Mme. Hanufa Ahmed (L), Vice-Principal, Major Nazneen (C) and  Principal, RN Momtaz Khanum (R). We look forward to on-going collaboration to strengthen nurse education in Bangladesh.

 

8th Year Anniversary

Eight years ago, volunteers from Mid-Main Community Health Centre in Vancouver started their collaboration with the College of Nursing at IUBAT. In February 2004, the Registrar of the Bangladesh Nursing Council (RN Hosne Ara Begum) inaugurated the nursing program as part of a function held at the IUBAT campus with a large number of senior members of the BNC present. This photo from that occasion shows IUBAT Vice-Chancellor, Dr. M. Alimullah Miyan (centre), National Professor Dr. M. R. Khan, as well as Bangladesh Health Project Director, RN Alex Berland. Eight years later we can claim 22 graduates who have been praised by national and international nurses and doctors for their excellent practice!