Learning beyond borders: An international nursing placement in India

In a world where healthcare systems are increasingly interconnected, cultural safety and adaptability are essential skills for nurses (Pirhofer et al, 2022). Nurses are expected to graduate as global citizens and professionals, as they will develop their careers in a globalised world where workplaces are increasingly diverse in terms of ethnicity, culture and language (Galan-Lominchar et al, 2024). As part of our nursing programme in the UK, we had the opportunity to undertake a one-month international placement at Caritas Hospital, a multi-speciality private healthcare institution in southern India. Organised through a partnership between the university and the hospital (Caritas Hospital and Institute of Health Sciences, 2023), the placement offered exposure to a new clinical environment, different models of care, and a healthcare culture distinct from the NHS. In this article we reflect on our experiences, insights, and the impact this placement had on our development as student nurses.

Clinical learning