During the second week of March, five nursing students and several faculty members from the U went to the University of Mexico City to study, interact and learn more about the Mexican culture and people.

To further their knowledge of nursing and learn how to care for Spanish-speaking patients more efficiently, the students attended classes at the University of Mexico City, took cultural tours and helped at the university’s clinic.

“The majority population in the health-care setting is starting to speak Spanish, and this experience allows us to have more empathy and compassion for all patients,” said Sally Valdez, assistant dean of the College of Nursing.

As a result of the growing Latino population in Utah, the College of Nursing was looking to become more “culturally competent and sensitive to the customs and needs of Mexican people,” said Penny Brook, dean of the College of Nursing.

So when the Mexican Consulate approached Brook a year ago to participate in a nursing student exchange program, the college was eager to “open more dialogue” with Mexico, Valdez said.

Anmy Tran, a second-semester nursing student, said she has always been interested in the Mexican culture, so she jumped on the opportunity to go on the trip.

“I learned about being a good nurse to more of the population I will be nursing,” she said, “I also understand patients and the education process much better.”

Tran said the experience was “eye opening” because the facilities and people were so similar to those at the U. “It was so similar to Utah across the spectrum, the staff was so dedicated and they served their community really well,” Tran said.

Some clinics that the students visited were completely run by nurses, and it was nice to see how much trust the Mexican population puts in the nursing profession, Tran said.

“A lot of people think of Mexico as a third-world country in terms of health care, but it is very modernized in both its hospitals and education,” Valdez said.

Tran said the trip was important for breaking down cultural barriers that nurses sometimes face.

“I think it should be part of the curriculum,” she said.

Several University of Mexico City nursing students will be visiting the U in the fall to complete the exchange.