Shorter University students show compassion, care at Bulgarian orphanage

Shorter’s first class of nursing students participated in a global study and health care mission, a unique program designed to give students hands-on nursing experience while allowing them to show Christian kindness

August 1, 2011 - For a group of 25 Shorter University nursing students, caring for children living inside a state-operated orphanage in Bulgaria came as somewhat of a shock, though they had prepared themselves for the worst.
 
The sights there were hard to take: a boy, so badly abused by his father, that he lay curled up in his crib, knees tucked under his chin; a young girl, perfectly healthy, yet lagging behind developmentally simply because of lack of love and interaction; a sweet-faced child who looked to be the picture of health, until he turned sideways, revealing a deformity that left him without most of the backside of his head.
 

Shorter University School of Nursing students pose for a quick photo outside of the Bulgarian orphanage where they worked for two weeks this summer. Next year, Shorter plans to take 40 students to work at the same orphanage.

 
The students’ experience in Bulgaria was part of Shorter University’s inaugural global study and health care mission, a required component of the university’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Students were culturally well equipped for their time overseas thanks to a Cross-Cultural Ministry and Global Awareness class offered through Shorter’s Christian Studies department. Taught by Dr. Richard Bray, assistant professor of Christian Studies, the class taught students what to expect while serving in a foreign country. The class met several times before leaving for Bulgaria.

“We talked about cross-cultural communication and helped them prepare for being in that country,” said Dr. Bray. “Having been a missionary living overseas, I tried to explain to them that the things they would see there wouldn’t necessarily be right or wrong – just different, because that is their culture. The main reason for requiring this class is to allow students to become more globally aware as part of their Christian mission trip and to train them to look at things through a biblical worldview.”

The group also traveled to London, visiting the Florence Nightingale Museum and learning about England’s health care system. But it was the students’ time spent working with the Bulgarian orphans that made a lasting impression. Shorter nursing student and Lindale resident Anna Abney can attest to that.    “Working in Bulgaria at the orphanage has strengthened my relationship with God,” said Abney. “He has shown me so much and allowed me to open my eyes to what His love is really about. He allowed me this awesome experience to spread His love to children who know nothing about Him.” Left: Shorter University student Anna Abney prepares to feed one of the children living in the Bulgarian orphanage.

While there, students were given the opportunity to work with children suffering from severe medical disabilities. As one can imagine, the task had the potential to be challenging, both emotionally and physically.
 
For nursing junior Brittny Brown, working with the children housed in the anomalies unit of the orphanage proved to be one of the most rewarding experiences of the trip. Brown said she stood by and watched as an orphanage nurse changed the diaper of a baby girl born with severe hydrocephaly (fluid on the brain that causes swelling of the skull) and Spina bifida (opening in the spine).

“After she was done and put the baby back in the crib, I simply stayed there for a while and stroked her back to keep her from crying,” Brown explained. “One of the translators there came up to me and asked how seeing and working with children like this made me feel. I answered by saying that all of the babies are children, and they are just like any other child. They want the same things that any other child wants -- to be held, or fed, or played with. So I don’t feel any differently about this unit than any other, I just have to be a little more careful with them.” Dr. Vanice Roberts, dean of the School of Nursing, explained that Brown’s experience is one that defines what the program’s global study and healthcare mission is all about. “That’s the kind of experience we want our students to be able to take home,” Dr. Roberts said. “It’s our hope that it gives our students an awareness of the world around us. We want them to be able to say that they found people in need -- even though they were halfway around the world -- and they are no different than anybody else. They need care; they need comfort; they need a Christian witness. Having seen how impoverished people live allows students to bring back an attitude of gratefulness of what they have here. This is an important lesson to learn, not only for life in general, but especially in the field of nursing.” Right: Anna Abney plays with a child at the orphanage.

Later that day, Brown said she began to think about what she had seen and everything that had taken place while working on that unit. “I began to pray and I thanked God for granting me the ability to look past the things I had seen and be able to provide care and love that was non-judgmental and unconditional. No matter what language a person speaks, no matter what country a person has been born in, and no matter what situation a person may be born into, we are all human, we are all children of God, and there is no person that deserves to be treated as less than such.”
 
Children living at the orphanage are attention-starved, often to the point of affecting their development. Nurses there provide the best care they can, but more often than not, their care does not allow for one-on-one interaction. Many of the students said that they were able to see significant changes in the babies’ attitudes and expressions even after a few days of spending time with them.

Shayla Raines, a junior from Warner Robins, experienced this first-hand. “During one of our first days there, I remember seeing a little boy in a crib. I grabbed a squishy ball and threw it to him. The first day I did that, he would just look at me, but the next day he actually began to throw it back. And then the kicker came when he began to smile and giggle. The nurses informed me that that was the most interactive he had been. What a feeling to know that I had helped bring a smile to his face! Plans are already in the works for next year’s trip. Current plans are to have 40 students work at the same orphanage next summer, Dr. Roberts said. “We are just so proud to be able to offer this type of program to our nursing students. While it’s certainly valuable in terms of the hands-on nursing experience, what makes it more valuable is that it truly is a mission. It’s a chance for Shorter students to demonstrate the love of Christ through service; to let their lights shine.” Left: Shorter University student Shayla Raines plays with a child at the orphanage.

Founded in 1873, Shorter University is a Christian university committed to excellence in education. Since 2003, U.S. News & World Report has ranked Shorter among the South’s best baccalaureate colleges, and the Princeton Review annually includes Shorter on its lists of best value and best Southeastern colleges. The university offers traditional bachelor’s degrees in 48 major areas as well as undergraduate degree programs for working adults, the Master of Business Administration, the Master of Education and the Master of Arts in Leadership. General education and calculus courses are offered in an online format, and Shorter recently launched online programs that lead toward the Associate of Science, the Bachelor of Business Administration, and the Master of Accountancy degrees. For more information, visit www.shorter.edu.


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