During the final year of her degree, mental health nursing student Katelyn travelled to Hue in Vietnam on a four-week elective placement to see the differences between healthcare in the UK and the developing world.
Guest blog: Katelyn Bromley
I am a third-year MSc Nursing Studies (Mental Health) student, and I have completed many placements in different sectors of the NHS in the UK. However, another student at my university recommended an overseas nursing placement to me, and it sounded perfect.
From a young age, I wanted to travel. But in 2017, I was at a terrorist attack, which left me with PTSD and anxiety, meaning I didn’t have the confidence to travel.
I signed up for an overseas placement to force myself out of my comfort zone and see the world while helping others.
Having never been outside of Europe, Work the World – the organisation that facilitated my placement – was so helpful in making sure everything was organised to perfection.
The phone calls, video calls, emails and MyTrip page were so helpful, and Work the World were really easy to contact if I needed any help.
When I arrived in Vietnam, the local team introduced me to my placement supervisors, which helped me feel more comfortable.
Even though I had lots of independence and autonomy while there, it was still nice and reassuring to have a team there for me as and when I needed them.
I got to live in the house with people from all over the world, and it had a pool, chefs and amazing staff – not to mention the brilliant weather.
The staff have the best sense of humour, will welcome you into the country and make you feel at home instantly! After a long day at the hospital, whether it’s a good one or a bad one, it’s always nice to see the friendly team and have a chat! From the chefs to the housekeepers, the security and the programme staff, every person was so kind and friendly.
The house is always 5-star clean, the beds are so big and comfy, and there are lots of social spaces.
Words cannot express how much I love and will miss everyone I met during my placement.
I knew that the healthcare system in Vietnam would be different from the NHS, but I was shocked at how different it was.
The lack of equipment compared to the UK was surprising. However, it really made me appreciate my clinical skills and highlighted just how much some Western countries rely on technology.
My favourite thing about the healthcare system in Vietnam was how much respect there was between patients, families and healthcare staff.
In Vietnam, we explored Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An and more. It was so much fun and a nice break outside of my placement – the Work the World staff had lots of great recommendations.
In the evenings, we would eat dinner with everyone in the house, cooked by the chefs, which was amazing! On other nights, we would also visit the Hue walking street, use the pool and spend the evening together relaxing.
One thing about my experience which will stick with me forever is how Vietnamese people were so grateful for their healthcare system.
Another thing that will stick with me is how the doctors and nurses were so patient and happy to explain things to me.
Work the World specialise in creating overseas nursing placements across Africa and Asia. Their destinations offer eye-opening insights into the challenges of delivering healthcare in the developing world.