If you need medical help, you want a care provider that not only understands what’s wrong with your body, but who can also relate to you as a human being. In the modern era of corporate hospitals and medical specialization, it’s a godsend to find a nurse with good “bedside manner” and the ability to connect with their patients. One of the goals of the School of Nursing at Wisconsin Lutheran College (WLC) is to instill in the hearts of nursing students Christian love and respect for patients regardless of their background. A vital step towards reaching that goal is two weeks of clinical work in Zambia, where the Wisconsin Synod has a well-established connection with the Lutheran Church of Central Africa (LCCA).
Since 2011, WLC nursing students have been travelling to Zambia as a part of their formal studies. Dr. Rebekah Carey, the first Chair of the School of Nursing at WLC, had served the Lutheran Medical Mission at Mwembezhi, so her familiarity with Zambia was beneficial when setting up the nursing trip. Most nursing programs in the United States offer some sort of cultural immersion experience, but at WLC the Zambia trip is a required part of the curriculum. Because of the longstanding relationship between the Wisconsin Synod and the LCCA, Zambia is a logical destination for these trips. The nursing students take advantage of housing at the Lusaka Seminary, and local WELS missionaries are available to provide invaluable logistical support as needed.
The majority of WLC’s students come from the Upper Midwest. For many of these future nurses, this trip is their first international experience. During their stay in Zambia, the students visit various health care sites in Lusaka run by both government and private agencies like the Special Hope Network, which provides services for children with disabilities. They also visited two primary schools, where the students taught on various health topics and conducted vision screening. The WLC Student Nurses Association collected over 2000 toothbrushes this past spring, which the nursing students distributed at the clinical sites during the trip.
Dr. Sheryl Scott is the current Chair of the School of Nursing at Wisconsin Lutheran College and has now made a total of four trips to Zambia with her students. Dr. Scott sees a clear connection between the nursing profession and Christian vocation. Christian Nurses are able to see physical symptoms, yet they also recognize the importance of ministering to the emotional and spiritual needs of the patient and the patient’s family. Observing health care professionals in the developing world exposes the students to people from a greatly different background than their own. Additionally, this experience helps students understand that even with limited resources, it is possible to provide patients with excellent care for their body and soul.
Read more about this summer’s trip to Zambia at http://magazine.wlc.edu/category/academics/nursing/2018-zambia/
In 2012, Wisconsin Lutheran College graduated its first class of ten nurses. At this writing there are 80 students pursuing a major in nursing. During the first year of the nursing program, students are required to take prerequisite classes including chemistry, biology, psychology, English composition, speech and theology. Admission requirements for the nursing program include:
- A cumulative GPA of 2.75
- Criminal background check and drug screen
- Minimum grade of C on prerequisite courses
- Personal essay
- Pre-admission exam
- Faculty interview
The School of Nursing is served by four full-time called faculty, one part-time called faculty, adjunct clinical instructors, and a program coordinator. The nursing program is housed in Generac Hall, a state of the art facility that includes two nursing labs, two simulated patient care rooms and a simulation control center. WLC nursing students also have patient care experiences in a wide variety of clinical sites throughout the Milwaukee area during the junior and senior years of the program.
The Lutheran Church of Central Africa and the Wisconsin Synod Board for World Missions is thankful to play a small part in preparing these students for a lifetime of serving people’s physical and spiritual needs, whatever their background may be.
For more information about the nursing program at Wisconsin Lutheran College visit http://www.wlc.edu/Nursing/
Please pray for those working in fields that are ripe for harvest. Share their story, engage with future news and receive updates. Go to this link to learn more about our mission fields in Africa and how the Holy Spirit is working faith in people’s hearts https://wels.net/serving-others/missions/africa
