10 Nursing Students Travel to Peru to Care for Local Residents

Dr. Darlene Weis, associate professor emerita of nursing, is leading a group of 10 Marquette senior nursing students on trip to Piura, Peru, May 29 to June 27, 2009. Weis and the students provide care to the local residents and teach how to prevent illness.

The students complete their community health course while there, working primarily in a local clinic, hospice and in home visits, as well as teaching health-related information to elementary school children. In addition to learning about the Peruvian health care system, students are also introduced to an alcohol and drug abuse clinic and a women’s domestic violence group.

May 31 -

Yesterday, we got in Piura around 5:40 a.m. with a wonderful welcoming commity from the Parish here. We arrived at the compound, got a tour of their brand new facilities, which will be holding their grand opening today! This will allow for surgery here at their clinic as opposed to the eye doctors across the street.

We visited a village with three home visit patients. These people were welcoming and kind to each one of us. The kids here were intrigued by us and kept smiling at us, which was adorable! We did get pictures, which will come later.

It was a pretty relaxing day after a full day of travel. In the afternoon one of the staff members, who studied in Pewaukee, took us to the supermarket and other shops in the community. Overall, we had a great time, everyone here has been wonderful, and we are all working on our spanish skills!

Here is a picture from the first day here in Piura, Peru. This is the students, one staff member, and some of the patients at the hospice here.

- Marquette University Students in Piura, Peru

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