For the past 18 years, nursing students from Iwate Prefectural University in Japan have traveled to Spokane, WA, for a 10-day study tour at the WSU College of Nursing. This ongoing partnership has provided students with hands-on learning experiences, cultural activities, and collaboration with nursing students and faculty from Washington State University.
Learning Across Borders
During their visit, the students gained insights into nursing and health care systems in the U.S. through tours and discussions at various health care facilities.
Highlights included:
WSU’s Range Community Clinic
A special addition to this year’s itinerary was a visit to WSU’s Range Community Clinic. Through a combination of extension clinics, telemedicine, and mobile outreach, WSU’s partnership with the Range Community Clinic helps address the shortcomings of our current healthcare system by treating patients wherever they are, creating healthier communities across the state.
Native American Health Sciences Center
Students also visited the WSU Native American Health Sciences Center, where students learned about traditional indigenous healing. This session provided an opportunity to explore the intersection of cultural heritage and Western health care.
Ronald McDonald House
The group visited this essential community resource, which provides temporary housing for families with children undergoing treatment and necessary care. They brought get-well cards with origami paper craft and hand-drawn anime characters (e.g., Luffy from One Piece) which will be hung on the wall at the Ronald McDonald House.
Simulation Lab at WSU College of Nursing
The students participated in hands-on skill validation using high-fidelity simulation scenarios to gain insight into nursing education in the United States.
A S2 nursing student, Greta G. ’25, worked with the Iwate students in the Simulation and Practice lab during their visit. This experience helped Gordon understand the nuances of global nursing practices. Gordon said,
“Working with the Iwate students this past week was so helpful in showing me the different means for learning similar skills. These students explained how they usually use virtual simulations to work through the practice of monitoring patient conditions and changes. On the WSU Spokane campus, we use manikins to simulate this. It was awesome to see them jump right in to assessing the manikin for pulses, respirations, and blood pressure with such confidence despite this being the first time they had experienced this. I know when I first did an assessment on the manikins I was intimidated! It was wonderful to see how different schools across different countries can have different modalities for reaching the same goal. It makes me wonder if there are different benefits or drawbacks to a certain framework and maybe in the future, we can lean on these global perspectives to improve our nursing education!”
Providence Holy Family Hospital and Sacred Heart Medical Center
Students toured hospitals, observed clinical care settings, and learned about specialized health care practices, including pathogen containment protocols.
At Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center Iwate students learned about the key functions of pathogen containment in the Special Pathogens Unit, toured multiple units with the J2 students, met the three K-9s used at Providence for deterrence along with a K-9 demonstration, and met with S1 students in the Labor & Delivery unit.
The School Night
One of the key events of the visit was a joint session at Gonzaga University Health Sciences, Nursing, where students and faculty from WSU, Iwate, and Gonzaga engaged in discussions about:
- Nursing education in Japan and the U.S.
- Common health challenges in both countries
- Differences in health care systems and nursing practice
- Exam and licensure processes for nurses
This interactive event encouraged knowledge-sharing and fostered international collaboration among future health care professionals in nursing.
Natsuko Wood, the College of Nursing’s International Program Coordinator said, “It was our first school night across the three nursing schools. We had 42 participants, including students and faculty, and they were enlightened by this cross-cultural exchange event.”
Immersive Experiences in Spokane
Beyond academic learning, the students explored Spokane’s cultural and recreational offerings, including:
- A tour of Riverfront Park and River Park Square in downtown Spokane.
- A Spokane Chiefs hockey game.
- A scenic hot cocoa cruise on Lake Coeur d’Alene, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
Their visit concluded with a farewell dinner hosted by WSU College of Nursing celebrating 10-days of learning, friendship, and cultural exchange.
The exchange program continues to strengthen ties between WSU and Iwate Prefectural University, broadening students’ global perspectives in nursing and health care. We look forward to hosting the next cohort of Iwate nursing students next year.
About the WSU College of Nursing
Washington State University College of Nursing offers accredited BSN, MN, and DNP programs, emphasizing integrity, caring, and social justice. With campuses in Spokane, Tri-Cities, Vancouver, and Yakima, the College serves diverse communities throughout Washington.
About the RANGE Community Clinic
The Range Community Clinic, affiliated with Washington State University (WSU), aims to improve health care across Washington State by bringing care and education to communities where people live, play, and work.
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