Today was definitely one of the longer and busiest days, unexpectedly. It was our last day in Birmingham before heading to London, which felt exciting since we could visit more places, but that also meant it was nearing the end our our trip. Birmingham had already started to feel comfortable and familiar, so it was weird knowing we were leaving. Before we could make our way to London though, we still had lectures at Birmingham City University. As a group, we walked over to campus together in the morning. I think one of my favorite things about this trip has honestly been the little moments like those walks together. Even though we were all tired from traveling and long days, it felt nice being able to experience everything together, I’ve become so close to this group in such a short amount of time.
Our first lecture was about the global impact of cardiovascular disease and was taught by an adult nurse educator from Nigeria who had experience in midwifery and cardiac critical care. I thought it was really interesting hearing her perspective because she had experience working in different healthcare systems. We compared statistics between Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and the United States, which really showed how healthcare can vary so much depending on where someone lives.
One thing that stood out to me was learning that ischemic heart disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. We also talked about how rates of cardiovascular disease have continued increasing globally over the years. Looking at those statistics really put it into perspective for me how serious CVD is. We discussed modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for heart disease. Modifiable factors included things like diet, exercise, smoking, and lifestyle choices, while non-modifiable factors included age, gender, and genetics. Something I kept thinking about during the lecture was how much a person’s environment affects their health. In countries with less access to preventative healthcare, people are often diagnosed later or cannot receive treatment as quickly.
We talked specifically about Nigeria and how access to care can sometimes be limited because patients may need to pay before being seen. Emergency response systems can also take much longer. Hearing that really made me appreciate how important healthcare accessibility is. One quote from the lecture that really stuck with me was, “Time is muscle.” This means the longer the heart goes without enough blood flow, the more damage happens to the heart muscle. Since heart cells do not regenerate easily, fast treatment is extremely important. At the end of the lecture, we talked about ways nurses and communities can help improve health outcomes. Some ideas included better education about nutrition and exercise, making healthy food more affordable, and creating safer spaces for physical activity. I liked that the lecture focused not only on the problems, but also on possible solutions.
Our second lecture was about ECG theory and interpretation, taught by Adekola Ogundare, who is a registered nurse and nurse anesthetist. I was excited because this was our only time talking to a nurse anesthetist, which is what I am interested in. At the beginning of class, he said something that really stood out to me, he said “nurses may not always know the exact diagnosis right away, but they should know when something is wrong because nurses are often the first people to notice changes in patients.” I thought that was a really important reminder about how observant nurses need to be.
We learned about stress tests, ECGs, and different forms of cardiac monitoring. I didn’t realize how many different types of ECGs there are, including ambulatory ECGs and even heart monitoring technology on watches and phones now. We also reviewed situations when ECGs are used, like chest pain, dizziness, fainting, shortness of breath, and before surgery. One thing I found really interesting was learning the difference between ECG leads and electrodes because I always mixed them up before. The electrodes are the sticky pieces attached to the patient, while the leads are the electrical views (waves) produced from them. Even though it is called a 12-lead ECG, it actually only uses 10 electrodes. Einthoven’s triangle is an imaginary upside-down triangle around the chest that is used in electrocardiography (ECG/EKG) to help measure the heart’s electrical activity.
We also learned about the conduction system of the heart and how the SA node acts as the natural pacemaker. If the SA node fails, other parts of the heart can still create impulses, but they are not as effective. We reviewed normal sinus rhythm and how every P wave should be followed by a QRS complex. It definitely felt like a lot of information, but it was also really interesting because it made me feel more connected to actual nursing skills we will eventually use.
After the lectures, we grabbed some food, picked up our luggage, and finally headed to London. Saying goodbye to Birmingham felt strange because it already held so many memories from the trip. When we arrived in London, we checked into Inhabit Queen’s Gardens, and honestly the hotel was amazing. The decor felt very calming and cozy, almost more like a wellness retreat than a hotel. My favorite part was definitely the rainfall shower and the complimentary slippers after such a long day of traveling.
What made the hotel even more interesting though was how focused it was on sustainability and wellness. You could tell they really cared about being environmentally friendly. They used sustainable materials throughout the hotel, avoided single-use plastics, and provided filtered water stations with reusable glass bottles instead. The hotel also promoted wellness with yoga spaces, spa treatments, and fitness areas. I thought it was really cool seeing how luxury and sustainability could work together.
Later that night, we went to Smith’s Bar & Grill for an alumni dinner. At first, I honestly did not know what to expect, but it ended up being a really fun and helpful experience. We got to meet another study abroad group that focused on genetics, and it was interesting hearing how different their trip was from ours.
One of the best parts of dinner was meeting my genetics professor for next semester. I also talked with a nursing student who had just finished her sophomore year. I asked her questions about nursing school, balancing classes, clinicals, and what to expect moving forward. As a freshman nursing student, hearing advice from someone who had recently gone through it all made me feel a lot less nervous about the future.
By the end of the day, I felt exhausted but also really grateful. Every day on this study abroad trip teaches me something new, not only about healthcare and nursing, but also about myself. From learning about global heart disease to arriving in one of the biggest cities in the world, today was definitely a day I will remember for a long time.