As seen in the Spring DU Review digital magazine

 

Click here to read moving personal reflections from students and alumni who participated in the nursing study abroad trip.

 

Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, known for its rich blend of Greek, Roman and Ottoman cultures. Each year, the city welcomes more than 20 million international tourists, including a recent group of nursing students from Davenport University’s College of Health Professions. 

The group of sixteen senior nursing students, accompanied by three alumni and three faculty members, spent nearly two weeks in the region exploring, learning and serving during an unforgettable nursing study abroad trip.

The purpose of the trip was to compare the Turkish health care system with that of the U.S., develop cultural competence, gain a greater understanding of global health challenges and observe the role of Turkish nurses, particularly their scope of practice and educational pathways. 

Trip organizers and faculty chaperones, Amy Stahley, dean of Davenport’s College of Health Professions; Amanda Alemdar, nursing faculty; and Debbie Bosworth, nursing program director, are thankful they were able to offer a study abroad experience and said they couldn’t have hoped for a better outcome.

According to Stahley, the trip accomplished all of their goals and more. “It was a success in every measurable domain, from student experience, global learning outcomes to strategic partnerships and relationships,” said Stahley.

Bosworth couldn’t agree more. “The study abroad experience exceeded our expectations at every level, academically, culturally, relationally and logistically,” she said. “Words genuinely feel insufficient to capture the impact this journey had on our students and on us as faculty leaders,” she said. 

Alemdar said she was profoundly impacted by the group’s cohesiveness and the friendships that developed, and was proud of the professionalism and engagement demonstrated by every single participant. “It was humbling to recognize that the impact of our teaching and the trip to Istanbul will impact nursing care delivery and set our graduates apart from others,” she said. “I returned home inspired, professionally enriched and more committed to advancing cross-cultural collaboration in service and practice,” she said.

The Istanbul itinerary was the perfect combination of educational and cultural exploration. The travelers found Turkey’s vibrant mix of modern Europe and deep Middle Eastern and Asian traditions fascinating. They were able to immerse themselves in Turkish culture by learning about Istanbul’s history and daily life in Ephesus. They were able to sample the local cuisine while visiting numerous points of interest, including Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Market. 

Key educational stops included hospitals, universities, public health centers, pediatric units, a Jewish senior living center and the KADAV Organization, a community program that supports women fighting inequality. At each place the travelers visited, they engaged in rich dialogue with those from the organizations and gained meaningful insight into public vs. private health care delivery, university nursing education structures and elder care systems. 

While all the stops on the itinerary were beneficial and meaningful in their own way, several stood out as the most memorable and impactful.

A visit to İstinye University and its clinical partner, Liv Hospital, allowed Davenport’s nursing students to engage in an in-depth exchange of ideas with the university’s faculty and students. There, they learned about the university’s HEAL Club, a student-led service organization focused on community outreach and health promotion initiatives. The exchange fostered genuine connections, opened the door for future collaboration, and, according to Alemdar, was one of the most important stops of the trip.

A visit to the Florence Nightingale Museum, located within the historic Selimiye military barracks in Istanbul, was a moving experience, offering a rare and powerful connection to the origins of modern nursing. While there, they saw original artifacts and instruments Nightingale used during her service and were even allowed to tour her private quarters.

“Visiting the exact location where Florence Nightingale established her nursing operations during the Crimean War was surreal,” said Alemdar.  “The visit was especially significant because we were the first American group permitted to tour the site. Military personnel warmly welcomed our students and expressed profound respect for the nursing profession and described nurses as ‘the heart of humanity,’” she said.

Bosworth echoed Alemdar’s sentiments. “Our experience at the Florence Nightingale Museum provided a profound connection to the origins of modern nursing, reinforcing the legacy of Florence Nightingale and the enduring global respect for the profession. These moments strengthened students’ sense of purpose, reminding them that nursing is both a scientific discipline and a humanitarian calling,” said Bosworth.

On the final day of the trip, students returned to Istanbul by bus and utilized the extended travel time to complete a service project for pediatric patients at Cerrahpaşa Hospital for Children. They assembled art kits containing age-appropriate materials and inspirational messages written in Turkish. To accomplish this task, the students applied their knowledge of child development, holistic nursing principles and cultural sensitivity to design materials that would not only entertain the children but also promote comfort and encouragement.

“This activity strengthened the students’ professional identity as compassionate caregivers committed to global citizenship, empathy and community engagement,” said Bosworth. “ It helped our students recognize that service takes many forms—direct patient care, advocacy, education, emotional support, creative expression, and even making art kits for children in the hospital.”

The comprehensive study abroad experience provided the Davenport delegation with an immersive, multidimensional understanding of global health care, culture, history and professional identity. They witnessed firsthand how social determinants, cultural values, economic systems and public policy shape health outcomes. What’s more, they built international connections, expanded their professional networks, and embraced opportunities for collaboration that may extend far beyond this trip. And perhaps most importantly, they began to see themselves not only as future nurses in their own communities, but also as members of a global health care workforce.

According to Stahley, students returned home with increased purpose, confidence and academic motivation, as well as real-world insights that enhance adaptability, systems thinking and cultural humility. “As far as the effect on Davenport, its students and the future goes, the trip positions the university as forward-thinking and globally engaged. It also opened the door to several strategic partnership opportunities that we are pretty excited about,” she said. 

Bosworth said that by integrating academic learning, cultural exploration, historical reflection and service engagement, the program cultivated globally minded nurses prepared to practice with empathy, leadership, and a broadened worldview. “The impact of this experience will extend well beyond the trip itself, shaping students’ professional practice and commitment to compassionate care for years to come,” she said.

Student nurse Morgan Ware said the experience provided her with a new level of academic and cultural understanding of what life is like in a different country. Click here to read more from Ware. 

Student nurse Anne Marie Eastman said Istanbul challenged her assumptions and taught her that density can create closeness, not chaos, and that faith doesn’t look the same for everyone.” Click here to read more from Eastman.  

Alumni traveler Jenny Lewis, BSN ‘25, said the trip reminded her that the true heart of nursing is not about where one works, but about caring for others in their time of need, advocating for improvements in health care and providing compassionate care to our communities.  Click here to read more from Lewis. 

Alumni traveler Sophia Hoekstra, BSN ‘25, said the trip helped her remember her ‘why’ and that the compassion she shows a patient is what truly helps them feel taken care of. Click here to read more from Hoekstra.