my project. thank you for reading!

Hi, friend. Here is my proposal. I know it's formal, but you get the idea. I plan to leave around May 20th.

Transcultural Nursing in Rural Cambodia

Working alongside Ann Hall, a full-time nurse practitioner with Resource Development International (RDI), I will visit rural Cambodian villages to provide hands-on care and teaching. RDI is a non-profit organization existing to holistically serve the people of Cambodia in such areas as technology, education, and health. My primary learning goal is to better understand the health problems in rural Cambodia and assist RDI in the implementation of a range of therapies.

I will also explore the effects of the violence of the Khmer Rouge regime upon the health of the population (e.g. landmine injuries, post-traumatic stress). During this tragic period of Cambodia’s history, educated people were targeted and executed in mass, leaving behind an entire generation of people with minimal medical knowledge and scant resources for treatment. I hope to investigate the intersection of culture and health in the region. For example, I might explore a correlation between one’s willingness to accept medical care and disparities in income and education.

Major health risks for this population include poor water quality, lack of hygiene, and malnutrition. I will be able to make home visits in rural villages with two Khmer women who consult regularly with Ann. On these trips, I will use skills learned in my nursing curriculum at UT to assess sick individuals. I will then report back to Ann with notes of my findings, and either accompany her on follow-up visits or administer medications and provide further teaching on my own. For instance, medications for lice and scabies are regularly distributed due to rampant infections. Ann also dispenses antibiotics for urinary tract infections, as detected by simple laboratory tests I have learned to perform. Additionally, the lab at RDI helps Ann diagnose parasitic infections, a common malady in Cambodia.

I will also help disseminate preventive education measures through RDI. Hygiene lessons in local schools decrease the risk of infection. Over 20,000 Khmer students have participated in the health education programs provided by RDI. I will partner with Ann to teach villagers to use traditional remedies, such as guava tea for diarrhea. Medicines made from native plants are essential because of their accessibility and financial feasibility for Cambodians. Locals are able to follow the simple recipes and treat their own families.

Through this experience I hope to gain knowledge of treating poor and underserved populations, knowledge that coincides with my professional goal of caring for the needy as a nurse practitioner. I hope to foster an understanding of how culture affects health among Khmer families. While I plan to practice primarily in the United States, my aim is to continue to take international service trips periodically. I believe caring for groups such as the Khmer this summer will enhance my care of people of all cultures.