Today was the day we have all been waiting for: presenting at the international nursing conference at Birmingham City University! I like to talk to literally anyone I can so I am not usually nervous to talk, but the pressure was on today. Ruby, Jordan, Jubilee, and I were in a group researching Women’s Reproductive Healthcare and Education in the United States vs the United Kingdom. I find this topic very important especially currently in the United States because everything to do with female healthcare is being decided by governmental figures who have no prior knowledge in the healthcare field. 

Before the presentation at five pm, we had a full day of events before that. I started the day running out of the hotel. Ruby being the best roommate she is, got me a croissant and Nutella dip to eat on the way to the University. Before starting the whole day of events for the conference we had a lecture about the Anantamage table. We have two of the tables at the Pittsburgh main campus, where we use them to show all of the organ systems and physiology of the body in our Anatomy classes. The bodies on the screen are real life people who donated their lives to science. Having their body be on the electronic screen instead of in real life, makes the body reusable instead of having to discard the body after cutting into it. We watched one of the cadavers in a simulation give birth. It shows the experience from the internal perspective showing the organs involved and how the body works as a combined system to deliver the baby. 

Before any of the speeches started there were stands all around the foyer for the students to gain knowledge about local programs in healthcare. My favorite organization was the SPACE stand, which is a location that gives students the ability to practice their clinical skills outside of the classroom without the stress and nervousness the labs can give students. All of the staff and students we have met at BCU have been inviting and sweet to us non-native United Kingdomers. Meredith and I stayed to talk to every single stand and enjoyed learning about all the different opportunities and resources these students have. 

Tea and baked goods are common treats that are seen during snack times. I have enjoyed drinking more coffee and tea during this trip, due to the fact that I have been lacking my eight plus hours a sleep every night and instead have been getting probably around five. 

We started the presentations off by the Dean of the Nursing school and Adult Nursing who introduced us to the school and the different parts of the nursing curriculum. My favorite part of the panel was the four students they brought to speak and answer questions we are interested in. Two of them were adult specific nursing and the other two were student midwives. One quote I took away from it is, “If others say something is difficult, ignore them and remember you can do anything you actually put your mind to.” This quote stuck with me because sometimes I feel like the course and work is too much to me, but then I remember how passionate I am to be a nurse and that itself keeps me strong through these tough times. Dr. Mark’s speech about implicit biases in the nursing profession really stuck with me because it is something I find important and want to focus on in my career. The small judgments we have without noticing are important to remember when thinking because it affects care given to patients. Assessing these implicit biases when we notice them, addresses the crisis when it rises instead of letting it play out like it usually does. 

Then it was our time to do our presentations. Ruby and I were a good amount nervous but then we remembered how long we have been practicing and researching for this topic, so we let it take its course. Our presentation was on Reproductive Rights in the US vs UK, which I have found very interesting while being here because there are so many differences in the framework. It ran smoothly and we did amazing, so I was beyond proud of our group.

Once it was over we went back to the hotel to prepare for dinner at The Brasshouse Pub down the street. I ended up having some barbecue wings, a massive burger, and then a sticky toffee sponge with this sort of custard to pour on top. It was good but I was slightly underwhelmed by the dessert, just because I had better at other places. I am very excited to go to Stratford-upon-avon tomorrow which is the birth place of Shakespeare!