I am spending two and a half months in Coimbra, Portugal. I study nursing and I am doing two practical trainings here. In addition I have a Portuguese class once a week in the local nursing school. I am experiencing this exchange with my friend. My practical training takes place in the Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra. The hospital is actually the biggest hospital in Portugal. I am spending 9 weeks in the Orthopedic ward. Being in this ward has offered me a lot of new learning experiences and I have gained perspective by seeing how the work of a nurse is in another country outside of Finland. I’m glad to have noticed that everyone has been really nice and the atmosphere has been welcoming towards students. I have learned a lot about the culture and traditional foods of Portugal from the local nurses.
Coimbra is a smaller city in central Portugal. Because traveling through the country is pretty easy, I have enjoyed seeing other places aswell. I have travelled to Lisbon, Porto, Aveiro and Figueira da Foz. These places have been beautiful and full of culture. My favorite place has been Aveiro because it is known as “The Venice of Portugal”. I think it is a good description because there is river that goes through the city and lots of little boats that sail in the river. Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and it was great to see a bigger city here in Portugal that was full of beautiful buildings and historical places.
Studies are a little bit different in Portugal compared to Finland. The biggest difference is in the practical trainings. The local nursing students have their first practical training in the second year of their studies. Students go to different hospital wards in small groups and their teacher from the school comes with them to the training. This system has good sides and bad sides. I think it is better for the students because this way they have the support of each other in the new environment. In the third and last year of their studies, local nursing students are working all year in the hospital. In Finland nursing students are doing practical trainings that lasts about 4 to 6 weeks each and the training takes place throughout the studies, starting in the first year of studies. The teachers are not in the hospital with students and usually students are in the trainings by themselves. I think it’s better that trainings are divided throughout the studies and not just to the last year. In my experience, the nurses here are more willing to teach nursing students and more is expected of the students. Nursing students are treating the patients almost all by themselves. In Finland nursing students don´t have that much responsibility. For the patients safety, I think it is better that students don’t have that much responsibility because they are still learning.
All in all, I have had a great experience abroad and I am happy for my exchange in Coimbra. Coimbra is a great place for students because the whole city is full of student life. I have went to different types of student events and that has given me new friendships and lots of good memories. I have also made new friends from the residence I am living during my exchange period. I would recommend Portugal as an exchange destination for other students aswell!
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