A Week of Impact, Learning and Partnership
The MUSC College of Nursing (CON) faculty and students' recent trip to Eswatini, South Africa, was more than a single week abroad. It was the foundation of a lasting relationship, one that the CON hopes to nurture through future visits centered on palliative care and our growing partnership with Good Shepherd College of Nursing.
Over the course of the week, CON faculty and student team threw themselves into a series of initiatives that reflect our deepest commitments to global health and nursing education, and they returned with experience, perspective and connections that will shape the work ahead.
This trip brought together a dedicated group of faculty and students from across our programs. The faculty team included Cathy Durham, DNP, APRN, FNP, FAAN, Dean, Carrie Cormack, DNP, APRN, CPNP-BC, Lead Palliative Care Faculty, and Lori Tisdale, MSN, RN, CPN, CNE, Instructor. Joining them were four students representing the breadth of our programs: recent Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) graduates Gabby Ruiz-Coss, Belicia Debose and Karissa Johnson, DNP student in Psychiatric Mental Health and Talina Seabrook, Ph.D. in Nursing Science student who also serves as a clinical adjunct in the ABSN program.
Meeting Patients Where They Are
A cornerstone of the week was time spent in the community. Every member of the team joined the local palliative care home care team on home visits, offering compassionate support to community members in their own homes. These visits were a powerful reminder that care often begins not in a clinic, but at the bedside of someone surrounded by family and familiar walls.
Beyond home visits, the team had the privilege of spending time at an inpatient hospice center and at outpatient clinics.
Hands-On Learning at Good Shepherd Hospital
For students, the experience was deeply hands-on. They took on significant responsibilities in the inpatient pediatric and women's wards at Good Shepherd Hospital, contributing directly to patient care and rising to the challenges of an environment that asked a great deal of them. The growth that comes from this kind of immersive, real-world practice is hard to replicate, and our students met the moment.
Sharing Knowledge Across Institutions
Learning flowed in both directions throughout the week. Students presented to nursing students from both Good Shepherd College of Nursing and the University of Iowa, focusing on effective communication in palliative care. These sessions did more than share clinical knowledge; they built collaboration and relationships across institutions that we hope will deepen over time.
While students engaged on the wards and in the classroom, faculty turned their attention to the future. They held meaningful discussions with leadership and faculty at Good Shepherd College of Nursing about expanding palliative care education through post-college continuing education, exploring potential enhancements to the nursing program, and finding ways to support students in closing academic gaps. These conversations set the stage for a sustained, mutually beneficial partnership.
Looking Ahead
This trip made an impact, but its greatest value may lie in what comes next. The relationships built this week, particularly with Good Shepherd College of Nursing and through a palliative care lens, give us a clear path forward. We are proud of what our team accomplished, grateful to our partners in Eswatini and excited to continue this work on future trips.
Explore our Palliative Care Programs at MUSC College of Nursing.
