The NLC was filled with students visiting from Japan participating in their first ever simulation. While standard for BYU Nursing students, these students from Ishikawa Prefectural Nursing University were shocked at how lifelike the manikins could be. These students practiced chest compressions, measured heart rates, and spoke to patients as if they were real people. These Japanese students will remember this opportunity as they return to their studies in their home country after their two-week-long trip to the United States.
This excursion began with a friendship between Dr. Craig Nuttall and Professor Hiromi Tobe after Dr. Nuttal visited Japan to scope out a potential site for a Global Population Health Nursing practicum (Professor Tobe had met Dean Lassetter an academic conference she hosted several years prior). While a practicum has not yet come to fruition, 21 Japanese nursing students and 3 faculty were able to visit the States to learn more about US culture, US healthcare system, and BYU in general. These students were also hoping to practice and improve their English.
“I always encourage my students to express themselves and ask questions, but it has been very difficult, even in Japanese,” said Professor Tobe. “But here at BYU, everyone has been so kind to them, so they feel more confident, loved, and encouraged. They learned how they can contribute even when they're not perfect at English.”
On Tuesday night, the students hosted booths for a Japanese night at the SNA Opening Social to share Japanese culture with BYU nursing students. BYU students learned how to write their names in Japanese script, played Japanese games, and learned origami. They brought 48 yukatas that the community donated for this trip. One Japanese student, Ayasa, even helped BYU goers put on yukatas. Even Dean Lassetter joined in!
“We had many booths to share the Japanese culture, and I was in charge of the yukata,” said Ayasa. “I put on the yukata for the students and the students had a happy smile. I’m happy to see them smiling and I hope BYU students will come to Japan!”
The camaraderie between the students from both schools was further evident when the Japanese students attended several lectures. “I was so impressed by their nursing curriculum they have,” said Ayano, another Japanese nursing student. “They have a lot of nursing simulation training in such an incredible center with a real hospital-like setting and medical equipment, so the students can learn nursing. In Japan we just take a lecture in the first and second years, and then we go to the hospital and clinic. I was so impressed by the lecture. In the lecture, BYU nursing students asked questions so positively and actively, and didn't worry about making mistakes. But in Japan, we just listen and write, so I think we in Japan must learn from BYU Nursing students.”
“It was so interesting to interact with nursing students who have different cultures and backgrounds. I learned so much from BYU nursing students,” another student named Chihiro said. “When I get back to Japan, I want to try new things and learn more deeply and more actively. I think BYU nursing students are the best.”
As part of their time in Utah, the students also had the opportunity to visit several church sites, like the conference center and welfare square, hiked Arches National Park, and stayed with two host families. They were also given a special tour of Utah Valley Hospital thanks to Maria Black, a BYU alumna. There they witnessed the differences between Japanese and American health practices.
Professor Tobe, the faculty member in charge of the trip and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was grateful that the BYU students were incredibly kind to their Japanese counterparts. They plan to start simulation training at their university. “We hope that we faculty and students will apply what we have learned to what we'll do in our simulation program,” said Professor Tobe. “They'll be the great source, and the students will lead our next step.”
She was also deeply impacted by the Lord’s timing in allowing her and her students to visit BYU. “BYU is the best school, has the best teachers and best students, and we have been so blessed to be here and to meet all the great people,” said Professor Tobe. “I'm very grateful that the Lord had a tender mercy, and plan. I never expected this to be happening, but it really did, in a very special and most wonderful way.”
This trip marks the first of hopefully many exchanges between BYU and Ishikawa Prefectural Nursing University. These bridges, built through practicing nursing skills and learning from each other’s culture, will help both schools to become better nurses.
