Throughout my time in Nepal, I have witnessed the ways in which culture and religion greatly impact society and the healthcare system. Talking with nursing students at the hospital allowed me to gain insight into Nepali culture and learn about everyday norms. Something unique about the Nepali culture is that while the vast majority of the population are Hindu, mixture between religions is very common. Buddhists, Muslims, and Christians all reside in Nepal, and division is not a huge issue because many people consider themselves to be various religions. From my observations, this mainly occurs between the Hindus and Buddhists, with the Christians intermingling while still professing faith in Jesus as the true Savior. One of the nursing students I worked with shared with me that she is a Christian and doesn’t mind when her friends practice Hinduism, but she doesn’t reciprocate anything they do towards her because she believes in Jesus as the one true king. I think this is important to notice because it shows how in Nepal, Christians intermingle with other religions and don’t seem to condemn them for lack of faith. They serve as Jesus would, and after gaining rapport and building a relationship, they are able to share the gospel. By acting differently, they cause people to wonder what prompts them to behave this way, and they get to share the gospel of Jesus. 

Healthcare in Nepal places such a strong emphasis on cultural norms, and it was interesting to see how family members are such a vital part of the healthcare system in Nepal. I was shocked when on my first day, the mother of my patient emptied her daughter’s foley. After that, I realized they take their family members to the bathroom, bring them food, reposition them, and entertain them. Even though we were told the beds were mostly in the same large room, I was still so surprised by the lack of privacy but also the desire to care for others. The wards were composed of mainly large rooms with eight to fifteen beds and only curtains to separate during invasive procedures. Seeing the family members interacting with each other was so amazing. They would offer food to the bed over from them, and kids would play together from different families. It is so much different than in the United States, and it is founded in the cultural importance of family and the collectivist mentality in Nepal. 

Another practice in the hospital in Nepal that surprised me was how resourceful they are. From what I observed in nursing, gloves were reserved for cleaning wounds and anything else that involved direct contact with patient secretions. Otherwise, the nursing students did not use gloves because the patient was charged for each pair used on them. Instruments, syringes, and other equipment were sterilized and reused after every use because they are in such low quantities. I was very impressed by the nursing students’ ability to be resourceful and find safe ways to use and reuse equipment that in the United States would probably be thrown away even if not used. This experience grew my gratitude for the multitude of resources we have in the United States and showed me how other countries have learned to be safe and resourceful with what they have. 

Healing and medicine is a very big topic of interest at the United Missions Hospital. Many of the doctors are Christians and pray over their patients before starting their day which I think is really cool. They strongly emphasize the healing work of Jesus and our role of prayer in this. Their saying is, “We serve, Jesus heals” and I think they do a great job at responding to God’s calling to work in a rural area and share the gospel. They recognize that they are only human, can only do what God has willed for them to do, and that God is the ultimate and only true healer. I really enjoyed seeing how God is at work in his people here in Nepal though their personal faith stories and the way they live their lives. The doctors were so generous to come have dinner with us and share their wealth of knowledge about faith, missions, listening to God, and of course medicine. Being a Christian here is different than in the United States because the ratio is so different. But the work of the United Missions Hospital showed me what a passion the Christians here have for service, listening to God’s voice, and sharing the gospel in such a beautiful way. 

I am so incredibly grateful for the experience I had at United Missions Hospital and the nursing students and instructors who took the time to explain things to me. The importance of community and praying for Jesus’ healing really stuck out to me as important things to cling to throughout my life. Learning to communicate using minimal words and mainly body language was a great challenge, and it showed me how God is at work in all areas of the world. The importance of creating a relationship with patients and their families cannot be overlooked, and learning how to do this in Nepal was such a cool experience. Even though I couldn’t hold a conversation, I could still say, “Badhai Cha”, which means congratulations, with a big smile on my face to the new mother welcoming her son into the world. Her proud smile afterwards showed me how the joy of the Lord can bring people together. I loved learning about how He is at work here, and I am excited for how he will use this experience to enhance my future role in healthcare.