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Ultrasound stenographer Nila Pew shows 4D images of a baby boy to Anna Katinyan, center, and Kristina Aramyan. |
Katinyan and Aramyan, both master’s level nursing students from Erebouni College of Medicine in Yerevan, Armenia, recently spent a whirlwind week in Omaha touring UNMC, several health clinics and taking in some of the local culture.
The nurses are part of a partnership between UNMC and Erebouni College that began three years ago. Through this partnership Katinyan and Aramyan are able to take UNMC master’s level nursing courses via the Internet.
The American International Health Alliance funding for the project also allows students to make one trip to Omaha to see first-hand best nursing practices and technology. Five Armenian students came to visit in February 2002.
While at UNMC, Katinyan and Aramyan toured The Lied Transplant Center, OB/GYN clinic, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and the 5-West wing of the hospital to observe in-patient care.
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Concierge and transplant recipient David Eggers gives Kristina Aramyan, left, and Anna Katinyan an overview of what The Lied Transplant Center has to offer. |
“They were particularly fascinated with the 4D ultrasound machine in the OB/GYN clinic and the infant heart-lung machine in the NICU,” said Kristina Beckners, staff assistant to Sheila Ryan, Ph.D., professor in the College of Nursing and the Charlotte Peck Lienemann and alumni distinguished chair. Dr. Ryan is the U.S. representative with the program.
“Coming to Omaha gives them an opportunity to view some of our clinical practices, compare that with what is going on in their own practices and add to what they are doing well,” Beckners said.
The hope, she said, is that the nurses will eventually raise the standard of nursing in their own country by allowing them to set up a master’s program.
In Armenia, Katinyan said nurses do most of the care for patients, so their studies vary greatly from maternal and pediatric care to geriatric care.
Both nurses teach courses at Erebouni College. Katinyan teaches a course in psychology and Aramyan teaches computer skills.
While in Omaha, Katinyan and Aramyan spent a day at the Visiting Nurses Association and another at the SONA Clinic. They also toured the emergency room at Children’s Hospital, where they picked up tips on how to assess the needs of incoming patients based on the severity of the injury or illness.
The two also were treated to lunch at the TreeTops Restaurant at the Henry Doorly Zoo, toured the Lauritzen Botanical Gardens, went shopping and attended a rodeo.
But the best part of the trip, both nurses agreed, is seeing the technology and learning from other nurses.”Everything is very interesting and very new for us,” Katinyan said.