Eating cheesy potatoes (cacio e pepe)

Author: Cole McBride | Major: Nursing | Semester: Fall 2022

I chose this specific program because I thought studying abroad in Rome would allow me to become a more well-rounded health professional, practice my hands-on skills, and gain clarity on my budding nursing career. A clinical experience in Italy allowed me to observe evidence-based practices, develop my critical thinking, and give me the flexibility to take an otherwise unavailable course because of my tight nursing schedule. Cultural immersion in healthcare gave me a unique perspective on nursing internationally. Observing the nurse-patient relationship helped me understand the practices and beliefs of Italian culture. When applying to my future jobs or graduate schools, I believe this trip will allow me to talk about the experiences gained and make me more competitive in applications. This study abroad better prepared me for unanticipated situations in life, the nursing career, and the communities, I hope to serve.

While nursing school is a rigorous major, there weren’t many differences in classes held at the U of A since my professors were from the nursing school. The classes remained difficult with some leeway because of the extreme contrast of Rome and Fayetteville. One course was completely changed, and the nursing students worked with interior design students to create a healthcare facility in an undeveloped area in Rome. My instructors were incredible and understanding of the difficulties of studying in Italy and being stretched thin for time because of constant travel, assignments, and unexpected events in daily life. The most significant difference in being a nursing student in Italy instead of the US is where our clinical were held. The Gemelli University Hospital is the largest in Rome, and all of us nursing students were honored to be able to study and learn there. Despite the intimidating language barrier, the nurses were welcoming and excited to teach us. We were practically forced to be able to speak the little Italian we knew and refine it to be able to participate as much as we could. The experience gained at Gemelli was treasured and incomparable to clinical experiences in the US, something that I will take with me forever during my nursing career.

Italy loves its food; each dish has so much history and culture, making them even more special to eat. Italy also loves its coffee; I had an espresso multiple times a day because it was so good. You simply walk into a coffee shop (they call them bars) and say, “un caffè,” They set out a plate and spoon and make your shot almost immediately. I would then drink it at the counter, pay one euro and then leave. Something interesting that stuck out to me was that every Uber driver drove a black Mercedes-Benz and was wearing a suit. The first thing I noticed being immersed in Italy’s culture was that Italians live to live while Americans live to work. I immediately took this into my daily life while abroad and learned to take things step by step. This gave me an entirely new open-minded perspective on unexpected mishaps throughout my trip. Having this mindset made every day more exciting. There are so many differences and things about Italy’s culture to talk about. Still, despite the differences, we found similarities, something to laugh about, even if we couldn’t understand each other that well.

Overall, the adventure was unforgettable, and I will cherish every moment I spent in Europe, especially Rome. I highly recommend this trip to all nursing students and studying abroad to any student if the opportunity presents itself. I wish I had known more about the language before I went to Italy, I tried to teach myself some, but it wasn’t enough. We all know the cliché “studying abroad transforms you and living in a new country is life-changing, etc.” but it’s true. It might not be the same for everyone, but anyone will always gain something incredible from an experience such as a study abroad. For me, Rome quickly became a place I called home and I potentially see it as a place to live in the future.