East Alabama Health, Auburn University College of Nursing host international nursing students for immersive tour

East Alabama Health in partnership with the Auburn University College of Nursing recently hosted a group of international nursing students at East Alabama Medical Center (EAMC), offering a look at the health care workforce and innovation landscape within the United States.

The visit marked the fourth consecutive year the organizations have hosted students from the National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) in Taiwan and the National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences (NTUNHS) in Taiwan. 

Among the group were undergraduate nursing students and nurse practitioner graduate students. 

 

During the visit, students were introduced to the U.S. health care environment and gained insight into the workforce development pathways, educational programs and career opportunities East Alabama Health has built to support employees, strengthen clinical teams and better serve the communities across East Alabama.

“We are honored to host these students each year and provide a firsthand look at how we approach workforce development, clinical education and patient care,” said Lauren Farris, Workforce Development manager for East Alabama Health. “It also gives us the opportunity to highlight how East Alabama Health is investing in programs that create new, accessible pathways for people to enter the health care industry.”

Students also visited several key areas of the hospital, including Radiology, Pharmacy, Pediatrics, Medical-Surgical units and the recently opened Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU). 

Leaders from each area shared how multidisciplinary teams coordinate care, improve workflows and use evidence-based practices to support patient safety, quality and outcomes. 

The experience also highlighted how process improvement, staff education and collaboration across departments help create more efficient systems of care while preparing the next generation of nurses to think critically about the connection between clinical practice and patient experience.

About East Alabama Health

East Alabama Health encompasses East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika, EAMC-Lanier Rural Emergency Hospital in Valley, East Alabama Medical Center North in Opelika, the Spencer Cancer Center in Opelika, the Auburn Medical Pavilion and a host of other key medical clinics and practices that help provide a continuum of care to patients throughout an 11-county area. EAMC is a 316-bed regional referral hospital. EAMC-Lanier Rural Emergency Hospital provides emergency and outpatient services while its campus also features a nursing home and an ambulatory surgery center. East Alabama Health employs about 4,100 people and is the second largest employer in the region, trailing only Auburn University.