There are no words to describe what I have experienced during these past three months completing my community clinical at Hospital San Juan de Dios in Granada, Spain. I cannot believe that this semester has come to an end and I will be returning to the United States to finish my academic career at Simmons College in Boston, MA and obtain my nursing degree, a goal I have been working toward since I was fourteen.
During my time in Granada, I have grown in ways I didn’t know were possible and changed profoundly as a result. In the beginning, I was unsure if I had made the right decision to complete a clinical abroad. But after my very first shift, I knew this would be unforgettable. Over these three intense months, I’ve gained technical skills (from wound care to IV infusions), but more importantly, I’ve gained clarity on the kind of nurse I want to become.
The relationships I formed (with patients, families, fellow students, and staff) deepened my understanding of what it means to offer care. I have stayed with patients through their final moments and shared joy with others in recovery. These connections, and the compassion that shaped them, are what will stay with me the most.
Although I don’t want to leave Granada or the hospital, I now feel like a true nurse, full of compassion, understanding, and love.
Sarah Kinney (Simmons College)
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It’s incredible how much someone can change in just four months. During the Fall 2015 semester, I completed my nursing internship at Hospital San Juan de Dios. I chose the program to improve my Spanish (especially medical Spanish) and to understand new techniques, cultural practices, and a different healthcare system. I hoped this experience would help me become a more culturally competent nurse. I can now say I’ve achieved those goals and more.
I remember how nervous I was on the first day. I had decent Spanish skills, but no experience with medical terminology or colloquial expressions. I expected to observe for a few days before jumping in, but I became integrated into the team almost immediately.
One surprise was how physical closeness and affection are culturally different. Being greeted with kisses in a hospital setting felt unusual at first, but I quickly came to appreciate how integral family is to Spanish healthcare. Relatives are part of the care team and contribute in deeply emotional and practical ways.
The Spanish model taught me that high-quality patient care doesn’t always mean having the latest technology (it means having well-trained, collaborative professionals who care). This experience opened my mind and changed my assumptions about what good care looks like. I now appreciate different cultural perspectives and no longer assume the American way is always best.
I would recommend study abroad to any nursing student. You gain so much, from language and cultural skills to renewed purpose in your career choice.
Christina Rullo (Simmons College)
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Granada provided a life-changing experience for our nursing students. Their clinical work opened their eyes to global health realities and alternative healthcare systems. It deepened their cultural knowledge and gave them firsthand experience navigating the challenges of language and communication in clinical settings.
Even students who spoke Spanish well quickly discovered the complexities of being a non-native speaker in a healthcare context, a powerful lesson in empathy that they will carry into their future practice. The experience in Granada has forever enriched how these students view themselves and their patient relationships.
Karen Teeley (Professor of Practice, Simmons School of Nursing and Health Sciences)
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The original text of Christina Rullo’s article was written in Spanish as part of this student’s experience with us. You can read it below:
Es difícil como una persona puede cambiar de una manera tan grande, en solo cuatro meses. Durante el semestre de otoño 2015, hice mi práctica de enfermería en el Hospital San Juan de Dios de Granada, España. Elegí este programa porque quería mejorar mi español, especialmente el español médico. Quería aprender nuevas técnicas de enfermería, conocer la relación con los pacientes y el sistema de salud diferente. Quería usar esta experiencia para convertirme en una enfermera más consciente culturalmente en el futuro. Ahora, puedo decir que he completado esas metas y más.
Recuerdo el primer día, lo nerviosa que estaba. Hablaba un español decente antes de empezar el semestre gracias a haber estudiado en Granada antes y a que miembros de mi familia hablan español, pero no tenía experiencia en terminología médica o coloquialismos. Al principio estaría haciendo más observación durante los primeros días para aclimatarme en la planta, pero me integré casi inmediatamente en la rutina.
Un hecho que sabía de España, pero me sorprendió en el ambiente hospitalario, fue el sentido del espacio personal. Pacientes y miembros de la familia me saludaban con besos (aproximadamente igual a un abrazo en los EEUU) que es un saludo muy incómodo en un hospital para una americana. También la distancia entre cualquier persona que habla era mucho más cerca de lo que cabría esperar.
La familia en sí en España tiene una parte muy especial en el equipo de atención médica. Tiene la capacidad de darle afecto al paciente más que cualquier enfermera o médico. Los ven a diario y son su inspiración para mejorar. En España son realmente parte del equipo, se comunican lo que es factible y el médico trabaja con ellos para ofrecer el mejor y más razonable cuidado para el paciente. La alta calidad de atención al paciente no significa la mejor tecnología o sistema, sino contar con profesionales inteligentes, capacitados y que trabajan juntos para mejorar la salud de una persona. Esta ha sido una experiencia única que ha cambiado mi vida de una manera importante e increíble. Como persona, tengo una nueva apreciación de las diferentes culturas y mi mente se ha abierto para no poner siempre la versión americana como la mejor.
Sé que oportunidades como esta no se presentan a menudo, pero yo realmente recomiendo los estudios en el extranjero a cada enfermera o estudiante de enfermería. Se aprende sobre la cultura e idioma del país, sobre el papel de la enfermera y se reafirma su elección en la carrera.
