Panama-2026!

This experience in Panama has been very meaningful and has helped shape me both personally and professionally as a nursing student. It has always been a goal of mine to go on a mission trip like this one, so being able to actually experience it has been very rewarding. Throughout this trip, I learned the importance of providing compassionate, patient-centered care while also being culturally aware and adaptable. I gained a better understanding of global health and how limited access to healthcare, resources, and medications can affect communities. It was very eye-opening to see these challenges firsthand, and it made me reflect on how fortunate I am back home to have access to healthcare resources that we often take for granted. Over the course of this experience, I developed stronger communication, teamwork, and clinical skills. Being able to speak Spanish was a very valuable asset because it allowed me to connect directly with patients, help translate, and make people feel more comfo...

  This experience in Panama has had a big impact on me both personally and professionally as a nursing student. It was very eye-opening to see how limited access to healthcare, medications, and resources affects entire communities. It made me realize how fortunate I am back home to be able to go to a clinic, receive care, and pick up medications easily, while many people here struggle to receive even basic treatment. This experience helped me better understand global health and the importance of healthcare access and equity. Throughout this trip, I have grown in my confidence, communication, and teamwork skills. Being able to speak Spanish was a very valuable asset because it allowed me to communicate directly with patients and help bridge the gap between providers and the community, which made me feel proud. I also learned the importance of cultural humility, adaptability, and advocacy when caring for diverse populations. Moving forward, I will apply what I learned by continuing t...

Today we went back to the La Toza community, and it was a really meaningful experience. I had the chance to spend time with the kids, play games with them, and give out prizes like balls, bubbles, and toys. It was really special getting to interact with them and make fun memories together, and many of the kids even asked when I would be coming back. Experiences like this reminded me that I am becoming the type of nurse who values compassion, connection, and community care. I felt most confident today when interacting with the community and helping patients feel comfortable, especially because being able to speak Spanish helped me communicate clearly and build trust with the patients and families. I also had the opportunity to work at the intake station today. It was busy, but it was nice knowing we were helping get patients checked in so they could be seen by the providers. This helped me practice accountability by making sure patient information was collected correctly so the clinic c...

Today I worked in triage, where I closely interacted with the patients while collecting their blood pressures, height, and weight. It was very eye-opening to see how something as simple as basic vitals makes a huge difference to them, along with the overall care we provided today because they cannot afford medical attention out of pocket. I was also excited to get a lot of practice taking manual blood pressures, which helped me continue developing my clinical skills! Being able to speak Spanish continued to be very helpful because it allowed me to communicate clearly with patients and make them feel comfortable during the process. Today was also our last day working with the Pilares community, and they gave us a very special thank you that was very meaningful. It was a reminder of how important it is to build trust and show compassion when working with communities. This experience has helped me better understand global health and the healthcare challenges many communities face, while a...

Today I had the opportunity to go out into the Cocle community and work alongside a doctor to help provide care for community members. Many of the people who came to the clinic today do not have insurance and were coming in to receive temporary medications and basic care. Our clinic was organized into different stations, including intake, triage, medical, dental, and pharmacy, which helped make the process easier for everyone. Being able to speak Spanish was very valuable today because it allowed me to communicate directly with the patients and also help translate between the patients and my team. It also made me proud that I was able to understand what the doctor was discussing medically and help support patient care. This experience was very eye-opening and made me realize how fortunate I am back home to have access to healthcare and medications that are so easily available to us, while many people here in Panama depend on these brigades to be able to receive even small amounts of me...

Today I contributed to the team by participating in a community outreach, where we went door to door completing health surveys. Communication was very important, and being able to speak Spanish was a very valuable asset because it allowed me to communicate with every person I met and help my team better understand their responses. It made me very proud to bring that skill with me to Panama and connect with the community! Getting to know the people from La Toza was a very humbling experience and showed me how privileged we are in the United States to have easier access to healthcare. Many people shared that there are not enough clinics, communication is poor, and the few clinics that are available are not well equipped and very understaffed. People reported that they usually spend about $1 to get to the nearest clinic by bus and $2 for the appointment, and sometimes they still do not receive treatment or medication. Considering that many people only earn about $5/day, this is definitely...

Most of our first day was spent traveling from Chicago to Panama City with a 5.5-hour flight and then about a 2.5-hour drive to our hotel, but it gave me time to reflect on the purpose of this trip and the opportunity we have to serve this community. I want to take ownership of my learning this week by staying engaged, asking questions, and taking advantage of every opportunity to learn! I also want to model professionalism by being respectful, responsible, and supportive to the team and the community we will be working with. I am very grateful for this opportunity because it allows me to grow as a nursing student, learn more about a different culture, and be part of a mission that focuses on helping people who may not always have access to healthcare.  To me, showing up fully as a nursing student means coming with a positive attitude, being open to learning, and being ready to help in any way that I can!