Today was such an interesting and educational day, and I learned so much about global health, cardiovascular disease, and ECGs. We started the morning by having a discussion about diseases that are commonly associated with Africa. A lot of people immediately think about diseases such as malaria, Ebola, water-borne illnesses, sickle cell anemia, and liver diseases that can cause swelling in the abdomen. One thing that surprised me was learning that Ebola is still a concern and that there have even been reports of newer strains appearing in certain areas. It really showed me how important public health and disease prevention are around the world.

What I found most interesting was that even though infectious diseases are often what people associate with Africa, the top causes of death are actually cardiovascular diseases, especially strokes and ischemic heart disease. Older adults, especially people over the age of 70, are the most affected. We also compared healthcare systems and outcomes between Nigeria, the United States, and the United Kingdom. In Nigeria, life expectancy for people with cardiovascular disease is much lower, sometimes around ten years younger than in countries like the United States. One major reason is the lack of access to preventative medicine and healthcare resources. We learned that in some parts of Nigeria, emergency help can be delayed for up to six hours, and in many cases patients are expected to pay before they are treated. It was honestly heartbreaking to hear because it made me realize how much access to healthcare affects patient outcomes.

We also discussed the importance of education and prevention when it comes to cardiovascular health. We talked about how nurses play a huge role in teaching patients healthier habits. Topics such as vaping, diet, and physical activity were all brought up. In the United States especially, unhealthy eating habits and processed fatty foods contribute to poor heart health. Another point that stood out to me was how younger children are becoming less active because they spend so much time on phones and electronics. Less physical activity at a young age can increase the risk for obesity and cardiovascular disease later in life. It reminded me that nursing is not just about treating illnesses, but also about educating patients and helping prevent diseases before they happen.

Later in the day, Adekola taught us about ECGs, which was probably my favorite part of the day. Adekola is an RN who specializes in anesthesia, which made the session even more exciting for me because becoming a nurse anesthetist is something I am very interested in pursuing in the future. We briefly learned about ECGs in anatomy class, but at the time it was only an introduction, so I did not remember much. This session helped everything make a lot more sense.

We learned that an ECG, also called an EKG, can be one of the earliest indicators of a myocardial infarction, or heart attack. There are many different types of ECGs as well. For example, there are stress test ECGs and portable monitors that patients can wear at home. I actually got to see a stress test before when I shadowed a cardiologist, so it was cool being able to connect that experience to what we were learning in class. During a stress test, if a patient is unable to physically exercise enough, medication can be used to create the same effect on the heart.

We also learned how to read parts of the ECG tracing. One important section is the PR interval, which represents the delay of the AV node after the SA node fires. If the PR interval is prolonged beyond the normal range, it can indicate a heart block. Another thing we discussed was the difference between electrodes and leads. Electrodes are the conductive pieces attached to the patient’s body, while leads are the waveforms that are produced from those electrodes. Even though there are only 10 electrodes placed on the patient, they create 12 leads because of the different electrical views of the heart.

One fact that I found especially interesting was that ECGs work best when the patient is lying flat. We also talked about how to place electrodes on patients who may be missing a limb. For example, if a patient is missing an arm, the electrode can be placed near the shoulder area instead. However, to keep the reading accurate and balanced, the electrode placement on the opposite side must also be adjusted so they remain parallel. I had honestly never thought about that before, but it made perfect sense once it was explained. We also learned about ECG artifacts, which are things that can interfere with the reading, such as shaking, trembling, or seizures.

After all of our lessons, we went to the Boston Tea Party for lunch. I got a sandwich there, and honestly it was probably one of my favorite meals since arriving here. It was so good, and I wish I would have tried it sooner. After lunch, we got on the bus and headed to London. I am super excited to explore the city and see everything it has to offer. We are also going to dinner tonight, which I am really looking forward to. Overall, today was such a great balance of learning and fun experiences, and I feel like I gained so much knowledge that will help me in my future nursing career.