Korean health care students visit UNG

Nursing and physical therapy students from Yeungnam University in South Korea visited the University of North Georgia (UNG) from Jan. 26 to Feb. 24 to learn alongside UNG students in their disciplines while also practicing their English-speaking skills.  

Twelve third-year South Korean nursing students took part in labs and simulations with their UNG counterparts, and the four physical therapy students from South Korea were able to participate in a variety of activities in their discipline. All 16 students sat in on classes with UNG's Dr. Jiyoung Daniel, associate professor of Korean, which provided a chance for UNG students to practice their Korean-speaking skills and allow the visiting students to work on their English.  

The collaboration, which was funded by a grant from the South Korean government to Yeungnam University, is part of a broader memorandum of understanding between the schools. UNG hopes to eventually send nursing and physical therapy students to South Korea through an exchange. 

"We are grateful our students were able to have this cross-cultural learning opportunity," Dr. Heather Harris, UNG department head of nursing, said. "Students from both universities will carry this valuable experience into their nursing careers." 

Dr. Julie Behr, student success coordinator, coordinated logistics for the South Korean nursing students in their final week of the visit.  

"They've really enjoyed their time here," Behr said. "They want to come back and work as nurses in Georgia." 

Mabry Brown, a first-semester accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing track student from Dahlonega, Georgia, said she enjoyed working alongside the South Korean nursing students in labs. Both schools' students desired to learn about the others' training.  

"In health care, you work with people from a variety of cultures," Brown said. "This experience allowed us to learn how to break down barriers, even when we don't speak the same language." 

The South Korean nursing and physical therapy students stayed at UNG's Dahlonega Campus, with the nursing students also taking part in some activities on the Gainesville Campus.  

Woo Hyeonseo, a junior nursing student from Yeungnam University, enjoyed noticing some of the differences in health care between the two countries. 

"American nurses have a lower patient load, so they can give deeper care to their patients," she said.  

Dr. Eunse Park, associate professor of physical therapy, organized the visit. He appreciated the way it was impactful for all involved. 

"Learning about each other's medical systems helps develop the students from each country," Park said.  

Binna Lee, one of the physical therapy students from Yeungnam University, said the language practice was quite helpful. 

"At first, it was difficult to communicate in English, but as the days passed, the language barrier gradually disappeared, and I was able to see anything from a broader perspective," Lee said.  

Another 14 physical therapy students from Youngsan University, another UNG partner in South Korea, visited UNG in the final week of February to practice their language skills and learn more about American health care.