May 8, 2022
After a long journey from Pittsburgh through planes and busses, we made it to Birmingham, the second largest city in the United Kingdom! Here are all my brilliant mates and I standing in front of Birmingham City University (BCU):
We arrived around 10 am British Standard Time and immediately hit the town (even though I was functioning on maybe 4 hours of sleep). As we were walking through Brindley Place, we saw stunning canals which we will be doing a boat tour on later this trip. Next, our walk continued through China Town, inside the long-standing St. Martins Church, around the Bullring, and turning around in Digsbeth. Here are some of the amazing sights and snack along the way:
Later on, I took a much needed nap before heading to dinner at Las Iguanas, a Latin American restaurant. I noticed so many cultural differences in the service industry. Before being seated, the hostess asked us to declare allergies, which was shocking because people don’t ask that in the US. Additionally, the restaurant was very high tech using iPads to take orders and giving us the card reader to enter our own card into. Another interested difference is that tipping is optional and a usual tip rate is only 10% whereas in the US, it is typically 20% and automatically added to larger parties. After dinner, we headed back to the hotel and I feel asleep instantly.
May 9, 2022
BCU Vibe
In the morning, I woke up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day! We headed to BCU for our welcome session. I was so impressed with the facility and wondered why this isn’t the standard in the US. The school is environmental friendly and the vibes felt so inclusive for people of all religions, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and those with disabilities. I have seen signs advertising hearing aid availability, speaking groups for people with aphasia, and more. Support groups are very normalized and mental health is a priority here. One of the mental health murals we saw inspired a group of us so much that we hope to create one similar in Victoria Hall!
First Lecture
Birmingham City University consists of 4 faculties with different concentrations just like University of Pittsburgh. The one that we are interacting with at BCU is called Health, Education, and Life Sciences (HELS). Within HELS, there are 3 schools: School of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, and School of Education and Social Work. During our introduction lecture, we had the opportunity to meet a pediatric ICU nurse, a cardiac/neuro ICU nurse, a professor in the school of education and social work, and a childhood/community educator. I can’t wait to ask more questions about their jobs!
We begun discussing many broad ways that our nursing programs are different, but I can’t wait to learn specifics about the National Health Service (NHS) and the education systems later this week. Here is what I have gathered so far:
| BCU | Pitt | |
| Requirement to enter University level studies | GCSE A-levels B-tech diploma/certificates | High school diploma SATs (unless optional) ACTs (unless optional) |
| Nursing degree | Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing with Honors | Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing |
| Length of program | 3 years | 4 years |
| School structure | 50% class, 50% practice | Mix of classes and clinicals that changes each year |
| National exam for nursing | None | NCLEX |
| Who certifies nursing license | Nurse Midwifery Council | Boards of Nursing in each State |
| Where can you practice nursing post-grad? | Anywhere in the UK | Generally only the state you took the NCLEX in |
The most shocking difference that I learned about between our countries is that the UK does not have a national exam they need to pass. All that they need to do is graduate with their nursing degree and register with the Nurse Midwifery Council (NMC). Additionally, I think that it is so cool that you can work anywhere across the United Kingdom with a registration in the NMC. It’s so much simpler than in the US which requires you to jump through hoops to practice in other states.
City Tour
After the lecture, we visited the Birmingham Museum and art exhibit. My favourite part was this plaque shown on the left. With the help from a museum worker, we found out that the damage Bertha caused was worth 50 pounds and left the museum shut down for 6 weeks. I think this snippet of history provides a unique glimpse into the suffragette movement.
To top off this packed day, we did a walking tour of the city which really gave me a better idea of the layout and the vibe. I saw a lot of young people which makes sense because there are 5 different colleges nearby. I also saw a perfect blend of historical structures and beautiful green spaces. I am absolutely in love with this city and will most definitely be exploring so much more. I’ll end my first blog with my favourite new word meaning thank you in British slang: cheers!
