Villanova Nursing senior completes fellowship in Japan

“…This experience has encouraged me to become involved with international nursing in my future,” says Eileen Condon.

VILLANOVA, Pa., October 12, 2007 — How did Eileen Condon, a senior at Villanova’s College of Nursing and presidential scholar, learn Japanese phrases and conduct research abroad? Through her one-month fellowship in comparative studies of Japanese and American nursing practice at St. Luke's International Medical Center in Tokyo during the summer of 2007. Her fellowship was funded by the American Council for St. Luke’s International Medical Center, an organization that fosters interest and raises funds for the medical center.

Condon of Stratford, Conn., outlined her research plans and other goals ahead of time. Her fellowship was facilitated by Professor Nancy Sharts-Hopko, Ph.D., R.N., FAAN who has served on the American Council since 1987 and worked at St. Luke's College of Nursing from 1984 to 1986. She initiated the exchange of nursing students in 2001, when a Villanova nursing student first went to Tokyo. In the past, a Japanese student has also spent time with the College of Nursing.

“My time spent in Tokyo has left me with countless memories that I will never forget, as well as a valuable educational experience that will forever impact my nursing career,” explains Condon. She was impressed by the hospitality of the students and faculty at St. Luke’s College of Nursing where she was able to interact with students during class time as well as after school. During her first two weeks at the College, Condon was accompanied by four nursing students from Yonsei University in Korea. She notes, “Getting to know these four students greatly richened my experience, and gave me the opportunity to learn about nursing and healthcare in Korea as well as Japan. It was very interesting to learn about the patient-nurse relationship in Korea, as well as the Korean educational and healthcare systems. The ability to share such information across cultures was fascinating, and this experience has encouraged me to become involved with international nursing in my future.”

Condon participated in lectures about Japanese medical care and nursing systems, intercultural communications, nursing education, and maternal nursing. In turn, she shared information about nursing in the United States through various presentations about culture and current health issues, including obesity. She also gave an extensive presentation on Villanova University and the College of Nursing. Condon’s experiences were not limited to the classroom. She visited a day care center for the elderly, a rural community to observe public health nursing practices, a home for the elderly, and shadowed a visiting nurse, all of which complemented her interest in public health. Condon enjoyed her in-patient clinical rotations at St. Luke’s International Hospital on a pediatric unit and in the emergency department.

Research also factored into Condon’s time at St. Luke’s. She elected to study the professional socialization of nursing students. She interviewed students and faculty members, and has been continuing this project since her return home. “I obtained very valuable information from these interviews, and I anticipate that the results of my study will have many implications for nursing practice,” she offers. Condon sees her research project having an impact on education as well, “With a greater understanding of professional socialization among nursing students, implications can be made for enhancing the socialization process within many different facets of nursing education. Since a comparison between professional socialization in the United States and Japan has not yet been studied, it is my hope that this project will provide significant information for nursing education.”

Condon assimilated Japanese culture into her life through the excursions and her home stay with a Japanese family. She plans to use the information she learned during her fellowship to promote cultural understanding and improve her own nursing practices and those of people around her. Condon summarizes, “The opportunity to exchange information and experiences with nurses from Korea and Japan will always be an immense and invaluable piece of my nursing education.”

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St. Luke's International Medical Center was established by an American Episcopalian missionary doctor over 100 years ago. Its American Council was first established to manage an endowment from John D. Rockefeller, Jr. to support medical missions of the Episcopal Church in Japan. Now a separately incorporated entity, the Council funds personnel exchanges between St. Luke's College of Nursing and St. Luke's International Medical Center and health care institutions and educational programs within the United States.