A cool, partly sunny morning makes an enjoyable walk over to the engineering school for a presentation on nursing and the real-world research in Spain led by lead nurse Dr. Ingio Ruiz at the University of the Basque Country. The discussion was divided into different sections meant to highlight the nursing field from the healthcare system to future innovations. Historically, the Bismarck model was popularized in Northern and Southern Europe. We students (with special emphasis on the nursing students in the room) participated in an active discussion with Dr. Ruiz about the educational and systemic differences between the two countries. After a thorough comparison of the two countries’ healthcare systems, we concluded that free healthcare, tax funding, and nursing education varied the most. 

         Following an engaged and informative discussion, we heard a personal story of Ruiz’s career, including his curiosity about reusable medical devices inspired by his time studying in London. It highlighted the transformation from a clinical practice to a real-world application. Put simply, Dr. Ruiz was struck when he observed that needles could be cleaned and reused, whereas in his homeland, Spain, they would have been discarded. Guided by curiosity and the pursuit of a better use of medical resources, Ruiz researched similar cases of reuse in the community and identified the idea of reusable pacemakers. After further research and patience, Ruiz collaborated with doctors in India to deliver these reusable pacemakers that instantly impacted the community. I was inspired by the story’s theme of perseverance and initiative. 

      The double header presentation concluded with a thorough and engaging presentation about the engineering design process. First, before the engineers scheme technical solutions or complete a plan, the first question to answer is: who is this solution for? From there, engineers and, more generally, problem-solvers can identify and stay committed to a common solution. From there, they are allowed to define a function (the action that the device will perform in response to the identified problem). Sequentially, creating a model, building the prototype, and ensuring criteria are met (this includes technical expectations and deadline sensitivity) are all executed in that order and usually need to be repeated until the product is finalized. The professor (one of the leaders of Oreka engineers from yesterday) explained this process in the context of both Oreka and prosthetic legs. All of us were actively participative and picked his brain, much to his pleasure. 

      In typical fashion, rain greeted us in the afternoon as we walked over to explore Bilbao further, with our group splitting up: half of us went to explore the stores on the Gran Via, and the other half enjoyed a guided cooking class. I first journeyed through the classic Gran Via, and we stopped in some of the local stores. However, nothing compared to the nine-story mall that we found! We scaled each floor, marveling at the grocery floor, sports floor, and the prices on all the branded clothes. Shortly thereafter, we switched with the other group, and I finally got to get my hands on some Spanish cooking. We made pintxos, tortilla, and a three layered desert. The chef was a great guide as I chopped, stirred, and poured. The food tasted amazing after a long day!