YEREVAN, Armenia — For the second year in a row, senior students enrolled in the American University of Armenia (AUA) Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program successfully completed their clinical practicum at Winchester Hospital in Massachusetts, United States.
The partnership between AUA and Winchester Hospital demonstrates the strength of academic and professional collaboration in advancing global nursing education and promoting cross-cultural exchange.
This exceptional opportunity was made possible through the dedicated efforts of Dr. Nancy Barsamian, adjunct faculty at the BSN program, who served as the faculty member supervising the students in their practicum. The program also acknowledges the generous support of the Armenian American Medical Association, Robert Bagramian, and Patricia Tutunjian, for making the practicum possible this year.
The BSN practicum brought to life what BSN students have studied in the program over the past three years. It provided them with the opportunity to observe the implementation of patient-centered care in accordance with standard policies and guidelines across various departments, including the intensive care unit , emergency care, and surgical care.
The students gained experience with advanced hospital processes such as the Epic health information system, incident reporting, and infection control practices. They participated in interprofessional patient rounds and case discussions which involved all healthcare professionals engaged in patient care planning, fostering collaboration to enhance patient outcomes. They also benefited from leadership mentoring and gained valuable insights into a range of quality improvement initiatives, patient care programs, and hospital operations.
Following their return from the practicum, the students organized a comprehensive roundtable discussion during which they shared key experiences and lessons learned. They expressed deep appreciation for the exceptional support provided by their mentors and were inspired by the leadership approaches they witnessed at Winchester Hospital. “Healthcare providers function collaboratively as a team. Effective communication strengthens patient safety and enhances the quality of care. Nurse leaders provide support, direction, and motivation to staff, contributing to improved practice, teamwork, and patient outcomes,” they reflected.
The students were also highly impressed by the breadth and excellence of nursing practice and patient care, as well as the outstanding level of interprofessional communication and collaboration.
Throughout the practicum, the BSN students took part in valuable clinical observations and professional development opportunities that expanded their clinical understanding while also fostering a meaningful cultural exchange. The participation of the AUA BSN students encouraged reciprocal learning and generated meaningful dialogue within the Winchester Hospital community.
The roundtable discussion was attended by Ministry of Health personnel and medical directors from institutions where the senior BSN nurses work. The First Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Lena Nanushyan (MPH ’05), M.D., shared the Ministry’s vision for advancing nursing in Armenia by supporting the BSN program at AUA.
The AUA Turpanjian College of Health Sciences works actively to improve population health and health services in Armenia and the region through interdisciplinary education and development of health professionals to be leaders in public health, nursing, health services research and evaluation, and health care delivery and management.
