QNIS hosts students from the USA

The group of fourteen, which comprised mostly nursing students but also included others studying sonography, radiology, and health administration plus two tutors, joined us towards the end of their ten-day study trip to the UK, which included London and Glasgow along with Edinburgh.

Emma Legge, QNIS Professional Nurse Lead, gave a presentation to the group which provided a brief history of QNIS. She also discussed the health care inequality gap in Scotland with them, outlining the factors that contribute to this and demonstrating how nurses - particularly community nurses and midwives - are helping to address this through small innovations and projects, and by having the right conversations with the right people. 

The group was particularly interested to hear about the NHS and how it is funded and paid for, and about free access to prescription medication in Scotland. There was also discussion about how the Scottish system compares with what they have in their state. There were some parallels, but the conversation always returned to care being contingent on your level of health insurance in the United States. The group was also interested in the nursing workforce and training structure in the UK, how nurses are regulated and requirements for revalidation. 

QNIS was really pleased to have the opportunity to meet with the students who had also managed to fit in a visit to RCN Scotland, a trip to the Tattoo, and some fringe shows whilst in Edinburgh.