Today was one of the most heartfelt and reflective days of my study abroad experience in Birmingham so far. As a freshman nursing student from the United States, I have spent most of my first year learning anatomy, basic nursing skills, and foundational concepts in healthcare. However, today reminded me that nursing is so much more than physical care. Nursing is also watching for cues of concern and also cushion and guiding the patients through the tough tikes, tries to be there to support them the bet you can. Some of the most important lessons today were not about procedures or medications, but about empathy, awareness, advocacy, and creating safe spaces for patients and families during some of the hardest moments of their lives.
We started our morning at Birmingham City University attending a lecture on female genital mutilation (FGM). Before today, this was a topic I honestly knew very little about because it is not commonly discussed in my community back home. As we were introduced to the topic, I quickly realized how important it is for healthcare professionals to educate themselves on issues that may not directly affect their own communities. This blog reflects on lectures that included heavy and potentially sensitive topics. Please read with care. During the lecture, we learned that female genital mutilation includes procedures involving the partial or total removal of external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. There are absolutely no health benefits associated with the practice, and it is internationally recognized as a violation of girls’ and women’s human rights, including their rights to health, dignity, and safety. We also discussed other forms of gender-based harm, including breast ironing, which similarly violates women’s rights and has no medical purpose.
We also learned about the cultural and historical background behind the practice. While the origins trace back to ancient Egypt, the practice evolved over time and is now often tied to ideas about purity, marriageability, social acceptance, belonging, and preserving virginity. One thing I appreciated about the lecture was that it encouraged us to approach the topic with empathy and understanding rather than judgment. Understanding why families continue these traditions does not mean agreeing with them, but it helps healthcare providers communicate respectfully and support patients without stigma. One of the most shocking things I learned was the scale of the issue. More than 230 million women and girls worldwide have undergone FGM, and over 4 million girls are at risk every single year. Hearing those numbers made the issue feel much more real and urgent. The lecture explained that FGM often occurs between infancy and age fifteen and can have immediate, long-term, and psychological consequences for both the individual and future pregnancies or childbirth experiences.
As future healthcare workers, we discussed the importance of recognizing warning signs that a girl may be at risk. These signs can include long absences from school, extended trips abroad, recurrent urinary tract infections, difficulty walking or sitting, or hesitation around medical exams. One statement from the lecture that really stayed with me was that girls may confide in professionals they trust, and it is our responsibility to respond with empathy and support. As nurses, we may be one of the first people someone turns to for help, and our response could determine whether they feel safe enough to continue seeking support. As a female myself, learning about this topic for the first time made me feel angry for the women and girls who have endured it. However, as I reflected more deeply, I also developed a strong sense of empathy. Many young girls may not realize that this practice is not normal or universally accepted, which means they often endure the trauma without fully understanding what is happening to them or feeling able to speak out against it alone.
This lecture made me think deeply about cultural competence in nursing. I realized that being a good nurse means being willing to learn about experiences outside of your own comfort zone. It also made me wonder how healthcare systems in the United States can better educate providers about global health issues that may still affect immigrant or traveling populations within our own communities.
After the lecture, we grabbed lunch at Boston Tea Party before heading to Birmingham Children’s Hospital, which partners closely with Birmingham Women’s Hospital.
Touring the hospital was such an impactful experience for me because it showed how healthcare environments can be designed to support not just patients physically, but emotionally as well. Additionally, while the lecture provided me with meaningful background information, being able to walk through the hospital and observe patients and healthcare workers in practice helped put much of what I learned into perspective.
The hospital immediately felt colorful, welcoming, and child-friendly. As we walked through the building, I noticed how many spaces were intentionally designed to feel less like a hospital and more like a home. There were family rooms, movie spaces, and comforting environments that helped reduce fear and anxiety for children and families. I strongly believe that environment matters, especially for these children, and reducing stress can significantly improve the patient and family experience.
One thing I found especially amazing was the parent and family accommodation center, which is the largest facility of its kind in Europe. This reminded me how important family-centered care is in pediatric nursing. Healthcare does not only affect the patient, but it affects the entire family. Supporting parents emotionally and physically allows them to better support their children as well.
We also learned about the James Brindley Academy, which provides education for hospitalized children because every child still has the right to learn even while receiving treatment. I thought this was such a meaningful example of holistic care. It showed me how healthcare and education can work together to support children during difficult times.
During the tour, we heard from several nurses working in different specialties, including pediatric intensive care and hematology-oncology. Olivia, a PICU nurse, explained that the unit has 31 beds and over 300 nurses working across different specialties. Hearing about the teamwork involved in pediatric care really reinforced how multidisciplinary healthcare is. Nurses, physicians, educators, and chaplains all work together to provide comprehensive care for patients and families.
We also visited the Rainbow Suite, which is a quiet space created for families to spend time with their children after leaving the ward. The suite welcomes families of all religions and backgrounds and is a support that the hospital offer’s families. As a nursing student, this room really stuck with me because it showed me that healthcare is about so much more than just treating physical illnesses. Seeing a space designed specifically for comfort, reflection, and support during such emotional moments reminded me how important it is to care for patients and families emotionally as well as physically.
Another interesting thing I learned was how nurses’ uniforms in the UK include colored piping that identifies their band and role within the hospital. I thought this was a really effective way to quickly recognize responsibilities and levels of practice within such a large healthcare setting.
As a freshman nursing student, today reminded me that nursing is not only about mastering clinical skills. It is about continual and persistent compassion, advocacy, cultural awareness, and creating environments where patients feel safe and supported. I want to take with me the reminder to always approach patients with empathy, especially when caring for people whose experiences and backgrounds differ from my own. I also want to remember how important family-centered care and emotional support are in healthcare settings. Today made me wonder what kind of nurse I want to become in the future. Will I work with children? Could I see myself in advocacy or public health nursing? While I still have so much to learn, today helped me realize that nursing is not just a profession but a responsibility to care for people with both knowledge and humanity. I will look back at this opportunity during those hard lows of my nursing career and takeaway what — had told us, which was that at the end of the day, patients may not remember every medication or procedure, but they will remember the people who supported them during those hard times. As future nurses, it is important to continue showing up, giving our best effort, and leading with compassion because even the smallest actions can make a meaningful impact on someone’s life.