Aurelie Parent

Aurelie is a 4th year nursing student from Erasmushogeschool Brussels. She needed to complete 400 hours for her nursing degree and spent 12 weeks in Hue, Vietnam. 

I have always wanted to undertake a placement abroad. I love discovering new cultures, and my university lecturers told me it would be a great thing to do for my personal and professional development. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I grabbed it with both hands. 

I love to travel and I love Asia, so I knew I wanted to do my placement somewhere here. I was travelling with a friend from university and Vietnam was the one country that stood out to us. Neither of us had been before and felt there was a lot to discover and learn. 

I experienced so many great moments during my time in Hue. I didn’t expect to develop so many friendships with so many of the local doctors and nurses. I learnt so much at the hospital and enjoyed working alongside the local teams. 

Spending time in the Emergency Department was eye-opening. I was quite nervous in advance of going into this department but in the end, I spent 4 weeks in the department and I regret not spending more time there. I also spent 4 weeks in the Orthopaedic and Plastic Surgery Department as well as 4 weeks in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Undertaking an overseas placement has helped my confidence. I am usually quite a shy person and meeting new people can be challenging for me. Being in Vietnam for so long helped me a lot – I’ve grown as a person.

It was fascinating to see a different healthcare system, and I’ve built upon my skills and can be more creative in my nursing. 

As I was fortunate enough to be there for 12 weeks, I spent the first few weekends in Hue exploring the local area. We often went out with local students and doctors which was nice as I got to see places in Hue that I wouldn’t have discovered if I had not been with them. 

We also went to Da Nang, Hoi An, Bach Ma National Park and Phong Nha Caves – all of which were great. We also went further afield and flew to Ho Chi Minh City, Ninh Binh and Hanoi. 

I made so many amazing new friends who I shared incredible experiences and memories with. The social aspect of my trip was the best. 

If you’re considering a nursing placement overseas, it can be scary and overwhelming but I am 100% sure you won’t regret it. I have experienced so many wonderful things, it truly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you should not miss out on.