Hello! My name is Nick Cline and I am a Senior in the BSN program here at The Ohio State University. I have had the opportunity to explore the beautiful country of Costa Rica and its healthcare system while closely interacting with communities in a variety of settings. In this post, I am going to talk about our time at the Casa de María Auxiliadora Sor María Romero and San Judas Tadeo University.
Casa de María Auxiliadora Sor María Romero is a unique clinic, operating as a free medical clinic, boarding school, Catholic church, and museum for Sor María Romero, who was the first individual born in Central America to be beatified. She focused on social development which the organization still operates for today. It was a heartwarming and humbling experience to volunteer and work with all of the individuals involved. We worked with the nurse to get initial vitals on patients, sat in on consultations with the physician, and helped sort and organize donated medications. This enabled me to gain more experience in interacting with a diverse patient population while giving back to the community.
At San Judas Tadeo University, we participated in emergency and clinical simulations. The faculty that we worked with were extremely helpful and gave great insight to their experience as healthcare providers. We engaged in discussions comparing protocols in the US and Costa Rica which aided our cultural awareness in the medical setting. We also provided Stop the Bleed training to medical students at the university, which allowed for cross-cultural interactions that were very beneficial to have experienced and further prepared us to work in diverse situations.
There is a wealth of information to take from this cultural exchange in Costa Rica. Environmental sustainability is a significant goal for the country and it has been interesting to see firsthand how they are working towards that through many sources of renewable energy, conservation and reforestation, eco-tourism, and more. Connecting with local communities has not only allowed for the volunteering of time and service, but has also provided insight into different perspectives on privilege, resources, and the importance of social support systems. It has been a one-of-a-kind opportunity to gain this experience, cultural awareness, and cultural humility through our time in Costa Rica!