Rise and shine, it’s conference day! Today definitely caused some nerves but also excitement for we were presenting at a nursing conference in a professional setting. As a freshman nursing student from the Oakland campus of the University of Pittsburgh, this felt like such a huge opportunity and an important step in my nursing journey. Before the conference, our group headed to Birmingham City University for a lesson using the Anatomage tables about pregnancy and fetal development. Since we use similar technology at Pitt, I was already somewhat familiar with Anatomage learning, but today’s lesson focused specifically on fetal development and childbirth, which made it feel completely new and interesting.
We started by learning about the three trimesters of pregnancy and how each trimester lasts around thirteen weeks. We discussed what happens to both the baby and the mother during each stage. One thing I found especially important was learning about possible complications during pregnancy, such as increased ketones or proteins in the mother’s urine. These can be warning signs for health problems, which showed me how important assessments are in nursing care. We also learned about dilation during labor and how healthcare providers measure it using their fingers. It is very important that the mother reaches full dilation before pushing because starting too early can exhaust both the mother and the baby. Another important point was the role of folic acid during the first trimester, since it helps support healthy fetal development.
One topic that stood out to me was learning about the umbilical cord wrapping around the baby’s neck. While this can reduce oxygen flow to the baby, we also learned that multiple wraps can shorten the cord and potentially pull on the placenta during birth, increasing the risk of postpartum hemorrhage. This helped me better understand how careful healthcare professionals must be during delivery to protect both the mother and baby.
We also discussed how babies should be delivered with proper head and neck support to prevent injuries. Another interesting discussion involved differences in fetal weight among populations. We learned that babies in the United States and among people of African descent tend to be larger on average, while British diets with more vegetables may contribute to lower fetal weights. Larger babies may experience more stress during vaginal delivery, which is why C-sections are sometimes recommended. One quote from our instructor, Chinenye, really stayed with me. She called babies “beautiful parasites,” which sounded funny at first but made sense the more she explained it. Babies take the nutrients they need from the mother, even if the mother is left lacking nutrients herself. One example was calcium being taken from the mother, which may lead to muscle cramping. This discussion really emphasized how important nutrition is during pregnancy.
We also learned about the importance of skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth. After delivery, the baby is placed on the mother’s abdomen before the umbilical cord is cut. We talked about how healthcare professionals must wait for the placenta to deliver naturally instead of forcing it out because forcing it can increase the risk of postpartum hemorrhage. Afterward, the placenta is examined to make sure it has fully delivered. Learning about all these details made me appreciate how much responsibility nurses have during labor and delivery.
After the lecture, we were able to view fetal development and the birthing process directly on the Anatomage tables. Although I had used this technology before, I had never explored pregnancy and childbirth in such detail. Seeing everything visually made the lesson even more meaningful and helped connect the concepts together.
Afterward, we had time to eat lunch and rehearse our presentations before heading to the nursing conference. When we arrived, we were welcomed by information tables from organizations including the Air Force and cardiovascular specialties. The atmosphere felt professional but also encouraging, which helped calm some of my nerves.
The conference officially began when Chair Claire Maguire introduced the BCU Nursing Conference. Throughout the evening, we listened to several presentations from nursing leaders and healthcare professionals. One presentation compared adult nursing in the United Kingdom, Japan, and the United States, highlighting similarities and differences between healthcare systems. Another speaker discussed how nurses rely on teamwork with other healthcare professionals such as discharge teams and medical staff. One quote that stood out to me came from Rakhee Aggarwal, who said, “Nurses and other professions work together to enable our patients to be successful.” I really liked hearing this because it reminded me that nursing is never done alone.
We also heard from specialist nurses, including a nurse who worked with sexual health and HIV patients. She explained that HIV is treatable, though not curable, and spoke about reducing stigma around the disease. One statement she made that I will remember was, “Treat everyone the same. No one asked for the stigma behind their disease.” That message reminded me how important compassion and respect are in nursing care.
One of the most inspiring speakers of the night was Executive Chief Nurse Nikki Brockie, who spoke about empowering nurses and midwives. She discussed the history of nursing and influential figures such as Florence Nightingale. Nikki emphasized how important trust is between nurses and patients. One thing she said that really stuck with me was that patients may forget many details of their care, but they will always remember how a nurse made them feel. She explained that even snapping at a patient one time can break trust. This reminded me how important kindness, patience, and communication are in nursing. This also brought me back as to why I have always felt drawn to nursing. I want to be the person my patients can lean on during some of the hardest and most vulnerable moments of their lives. I aim to be someone they feel safe with, trust completely, and know will truly be there for them no matter what.
The second keynote speaker, Dr. Marks, discussed inequality in healthcare, including disparities involving ethnicity, poverty, wealth, and gender. We talked about implicit bias and how unconscious assumptions can affect patient-provider interactions and patient outcomes. I found this discussion especially important because recognizing bias is necessary in order to provide fair healthcare to all patients.
Finally, the night ended with student presentations, including ours. Even though I was nervous, I felt proud of how much our group had grown throughout this study abroad experience. It was amazing to see how everyone improved their presentations by including what we learned through research, travel, and personal experiences in Birmingham. Presenting at a professional conference as a freshman nursing student felt surreal, and this amazing opportunity reminded me how much I am already growing into the nurse I hope to become in the future.
