VCU School of Nursing News Archive

Culture and Health Care in the New South Africa

The Office of International Education and the School of Nursing at Virginia Commonwealth University are pleased to offer a unique opportunity to study the impact of national and international policy decisions on the health and well-being of individuals and communities in the new South Africa. Download the brochure.

South Africa Nursing and Health Care
3 or 6 undergraduate and graduate credits in Nursing and International Studies
July 19-August 19, 2007
Contact: Martha W. Moon mwmoon@vcu.edu
$2,400 + airfare + VCU tuition
Registration deadline: March 1, 2007
Course and credit options: 3 or 6 undergraduate or graduate VCU credits
-NURS 514/INTL 514: International Perspectives on Community Health in Developing Countries
-NURS 491: Special Topics
-No credit; field trip only.
Course description: This program is offered in collaboration with the International Studies Program and the Department of Nursing at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. After participation in the program, students will be able to discuss four factors that have influenced the development of the health care system in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa and to describe the major cultural influences impacting the health of South Africans. Nursing students who have completed the Health Assessment course will be provided provisional licenses from the South African Board of Nursing to provide health assessment activities to patients in the home, clinic, and hospital settings. Students will be accompanied in all settings by the nursing faculty mentor, a lay health worker volunteer, or a South African nursing student. Experiences include working in home-based care for a family over the duration of the trip, working in a community health clinic with South African nursing students, working or observing in a tertiary care hospital, working closely with a South African nursing student buddy, and a visit with a traditional healer.

Program cost: $2,400 + airfare + VCU tuition
The program fee covers lodging, study visits and tours, VCU administrative fees, and the International Student Identification Card. Students are responsible for the cost of airfare, VCU tuition, all meals and other miscellaneous personal expenses. Please budget for these additonal expenses. A nonrefundable administrative fee of $50 is due upon registration. A nonrefundable deposit of $200 is due by April 1, 2007. The balance will be billed through VCU Student Accounting in May 2007. Students who register between April 1 and April 15 must pay the deposit and registration fee together upon registration.
Tuition: Tuition is charged separately and additionally at standard VCU rates for in-state students and at a 40 percent discount for out-of-state students. Estimated costs, based on current tuition per credit, are as follows: undergraduate in-state, $179 (per 3 credit class: $537); undergraduate out-of-state, $401 (per 3 credit class: $1,203); graduate in-state, $379 (per 3 credit class: $1,137); graduate out-of-state, $533 ($1,599 per 3 credit class).
Airfare: Airfare is not included. Participants are responsible for their own round-trip travel arrangements between the United States and South Africa. Students should plan to arrive in Port Elizabeth on the afternoon of July 20. For best fares you should purchase your ticket prior to April 15 but not until accepted into the program. Once accepted, Dr. Moon will advise you about the most economical and direct travel arrangements.
Payment of fees: The nonrefundable registration fee of $50 is due upon registration. A nonrefundable deposit of $200 is due two weeks after receipt of acceptance packet. Students who register after April 1 must pay the deposit and registration fee together upon registration. The balance of the program fee and the tuition costs (based on the number of credits taken) will be billed separately through VCU Student Accounting after May 2007. (Both amounts may be billed at the same time.)
Eligibility: This program is open to students from all fields.
Registration deadline: March 1, 2007. Applications will be accepted until the deadline or until participant space is full. A minimum of 6 students is required to offer the program, and a maximum of 9 students will be accepted.

Two required pre-trip meetings will be held.
Activities and excursions: Included in the activities is a safari to view the wildlife, and a visit to a farm.
Accommodations and meals: Students will stay in guest houses in double accommodations (2 per room). Meals are not included in the program fee.
Financial aid: Eligible VCU students may apply for need-based financial aid to participate in this program. Contact VCU Financial Aid, Ginter House, Room 110B; phone 828-6669; or email faidmail@vcu.edu. VCU offers its students a limited number of scholarships for study abroad participation. Contact VCU Education Abroad or see our website for further details.
Passports: If you have a passport, make sure it is valid for at least six months after your return date. If you do not have a passport, apply early because the processing time is up to eight weeks. For more information on how to apply for a passport, visit http://travel.state.gov
Program director: The program will be led by Martha W. Moon, RN, Ph.D., MPH. Dr. Moon is an Associate Professor of Nursing in the Department of Integrative Systems in the VCU School of Nursing. She has been on faculty at VCU since 1998. Her teaching focus is on community and public health, and her research program is in HIV prevention and stigma in vulnerable populations.
Every effort is made to provide updated and accurate information at the time of printing. The sponsors reserve the right to make necessary changes to the programs and costs.

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