Practical ECG training – Healthcare Placements in Indonesia
Author : Khiri Campus | Tag : Health sciences, Indonesia, Staff Stories, University Programs
Indonesia’s diverse geographical condition, ranging from mountains to coastal areas, causes a wide variety of health conditions, and the lifestyles and diets of people from different ethnic backgrounds also have a unique impact on public wellbeing. A massive population of more than 270 million people across over 17,000 islands in the archipelago also poses a challenge for a government which aims to provide an accessible and comprehensive health service system for all. The nursing placement in Yogyakarta is one of the most-notable Khiri Campus healthcare programs, providing a hands-on introduction to the many challenges facing Indonesia’s healthcare sector.
Khiri Campus’s nursing placement program in Indonesia is situated in the heart of Java Island in Yogyakarta and runs between two to three weeks. One of our recent groups who took part in the placement consisted of 18 students and two lecturers from Australia. During the placement, students have the opportunity to practice clinical skills that they have learned while in university and receive real-world feedback. The group spent most of their time in the community-clinic and had the opportunity to perform routine checkups on many patients. In one day, they could see more than 100 patients!
At the care center, they also had a chance to connect and work with the local healthcare staff. While there were differences in methodology, local healthcare staff were all willing to exchange ideas with the students throughout the program.
In preparation for the trip, the students decided they wanted to raise money to pay for an ECG machine that the Yogyakarta communities really needed. Through bake sales and many generous donations, they raised enough money to buy one in Indonesia and were pleased to donate it to Khiri Campus‘s partner organizations on their first day there. Throughout the program, students and local healthcare professionals learned how to operate the machine. This practical skills training is something students would rarely be able to do in Australia, even if they were qualified nurses.
Another aspect of the placement that students genuinely enjoyed was the home visits. It was eye-opening to see how their patients were living in rural Yogyakarta. The visits also provided them with a better understanding about how creative healthcare professionals needed to be when they recommend treatments while at the placement. These home visits also showed them the warmth and hospitality of Javanese households. The local patients really loved spoiling students with many cups of sweet Javanese tea, freshly harvested corn, and other tasty local snacks!
By the end, students said their time during placement will be missed. They have developed many memorable connections and learned a great deal from everyone. Many within the community were extremely sad to see them go.
If you’d like more information on our healthcare placements in Indonesia or any of our other school or university educational travel programs, please get in touch with us.
