By Laurel R. Talabere, Ph.D., RN, AE-C, Capital University Professor of Nursing, Fulbright Senior Specialist
As I flew over the Cockpit Country in central Jamaica, I peered down at the unusual conical hill formations that looked like a giant upside down egg carton. My feelings were a mixture of great excitement and calm familiarity – excitement because I was embarking on a second Fulbright assignment and familiarity because I was flying over this countryside for the 15th time. Jamaica, perceived by many as a land of non-stop beaches and resorts, is home to the foremost institution of higher learning in the English-speaking Caribbean, the University of the West Indies (UWI). Jamaicans are a creative and resourceful people who place a high value on education.
Connecting with a new culture
I initially set foot on this island in 1991 as a recipient of a grant for an interdisciplinary team of Capital University faculty to travel abroad. Four of us lived in Kingston for a month, immersing ourselves in cultural experiences and connecting with people in our disciplines. The Nurses Association of Jamaica and the International Council of Nursing happened to be hosting a conference in Kingston that drew participants from around the world. It was my introduction to the nursing community in Jamaica and the health challenges this country faces.
My work continued in Jamaica the next year, when another research grant brought me back to the country to study the health beliefs and practices of women in Kingston, strengthening my connections with the faculty at the Department of Advanced Nursing Education (DANE) at UWI. I also was involved in evaluating classroom and clinical study-abroad experiences. Between 1991 and 1998, 41 Capital nursing students spent fall semester of their senior year studying pediatric and community nursing, and taking core courses at UWI.
Collectively, these experiences were central to my decision to seek a Fulbright appointment. I don’t remember when I first decided to apply, but I know Jamaica was my first choice. In 1994, I became the first Fulbright Senior Scholar to DANE. A goal of the Fulbright program is to strengthen connections with the host country and institution. I wanted to contribute to nursing and health care in this developing country, and my upcoming sabbatical was perfect timing.
Building a partnership
It was only a six-month assignment, but it changed my life. I lived on campus; taught classes; helped with curriculum development; gave workshops; visited numerous health-care facilities; and attended many cultural events. The assignment was over almost as quickly as it began, but I knew my work with DANE would continue.
Since my first Fulbright experience, I have traveled to Jamaica annually to speak at conferences, evaluate classroom and clinical learning experiences, and host workshops. I have served as external examiner (a professor outside of UWI who grades exams, papers and learning experiences) and external program reviewer.
I am a reviewer for the Jamaican Nurse journal, and I’ve co-authored a published article in a peer-reviewed journal with nursing faculty. I currently am helping to lead an island-wide epidemiological survey of asthma. And, three of my colleagues from Jamaica have spent time at Capital, one of whom – Dr. Mary Seivwright – received an honorary degree. Five others have guest privileges that provide them electronic access to Capital University School of Nursing course descriptions and syllabi, giving them supplemental resources for developing distance-learning nursing courses across the Caribbean.
With another sabbatical on the horizon, a second Fulbright seemed like a natural extension of the significant and gratifying connections the faculty and I had nurtured. In fall 2006, I returned to DANE, which over the years had grown into the UWI School of Nursing (UWISON), offering both undergraduate and graduate degrees. This growth had stretched the school’s resources, both faculty and material, and I was eager to help.
A lasting impression
As the first Fulbright Senior Specialist to UWISON, my job was to guide faculty and curriculum development. In just five weeks, the head of UWISON, Dr. Hermi Hewitt, and I exceeded our ambitious goals. Our collaborative effort delivered a stronger curriculum; a renewed vision, mission and philosophy; and student learning outcomes. It energized a strong faculty to take increased ownership of its work and to strengthen its interest and skill in publishing research and developing questions for the licensure exam.
I am especially pleased that by the end of this brief assignment, University Hospital nursing administrators had become active participants in both the curriculum committee meetings and the publication workshops. This laid the groundwork for increased dialogue between nursing education and practice. Perhaps most rewarding is that fact that this critical dialogue continues, even in my absence.
To me, creating sustainability is a fundamental and essential element if one wants to make a real difference in another country and culture. This approach, combined with authentic cultural respect and genuine openness to other worldviews, builds a strong partnership for ongoing, open communication.
My Fulbright experiences have been incredibly rich and satisfying. I have gained far more than I have given, but the opportunity to give has been a significant part of my professional and personal journey. My Jamaican colleagues call me a Jamerican, and I am honored!
Perhaps the following poem I have written best summarizes my second Fulbright experience – five unforgettable weeks of hard work at a quality university, and no beaches or resorts!
TO MY UWISON COLLEAGUES
I came to reach out to you
A C R O S S
whatever boundaries some may perceive, to
C O N N E C T
with you at a level that transcends
D I F F E R E N C E S.
Together we have celebrated the richness of our
D I V E R S I T Y
and found much common ground,
U N I T E D
by our passion to teach and care for others.
We are nurses and educators, so
D I S P A R I T I E S
have diminished, as we realized our
S I M I L A R I T I E S,
grounded in universal human experiences.
Through shared ideas and discourse, we built a
B R I D G E
so strong, so vibrant that we will remain
C O N N E C T E D
to reach the next level and beyond
A C R O S S
physical and virtual spaces.
T H A N K – Y O U O N E A N D A L L ! ! !