6 Taiwanese student nurses cap studies with Owens visit

Kim Holman, a registered nurse, speaks to Taiwanese students at Owens on trends in nursing education.

Jetta Fraser

Jieh Chang, an assistant professor in Taiwan, takes notes at Owens Community College.

Taiwanese nursing student Chia-Jung Chung s motivation for pursuing a three-week exchange program at Owens Community College is simple: The 19-year-old is considering working in the United States.

Not only do U.S. nurses make more money and typically have fewer hospital patients to care for at once, but the profession is respected more in the United States than Taiwan, she said in between classes at the Perrysburg Township community college.

I wanted to go and check it out, Ms. Chung said. I m excited about it.

As part of a new international exchange initiative, Ms. Chung and five other students from National Taichung Nursing College in Taichung, Taiwan, were at Owens last week to study western nursing practices.

They are accompanied by Jieh Chang, assistant professor at the government-owned National Tai chung Nursing College.

Owens this year received approval from the U.S. Department of State to host exchange visitors who are sponsored by entities in their home countries, and this is the first group of students to visit, said Cesar Hernandez, Owens international services administrator.

Kim Holman, a registered nurse, speaks to Taiwanese students at Owens on trends in nursing education.

International professionals also can go to Owens as faculty members, Mr. Hernandez said.

The visiting Taiwanese students will take a three credit-hour class for three weeks as well as visit several area hospitals, said Cindy Hall, Owens chairman of nursing.

For about four years, Owens has hosted Taiwanese nursing students who recently completed their education, she said.

Eventually, Owens might send U.S. students to Taiwan. However, for now the college is enjoying the benefits of hosting, she said.

It s going to help our faculty and our students to have an understanding of Eastern medicine, said Ms. Hall, adding Asian cultures use more herbal remedies and other alternative approaches.

They are more holistic than we are here.

Ms. Chung and the other Taiwanese students will be taught medical terminology, ethical issues and technology, and other topics.

Ms. Chang, who received her doctorate in nursing from the University of Utah, said the exchange program gives the students an international experience.

We want to have the global view, she said.