PUC’s Nursing Department Provide Health Care in Fiji

Last year, former PUC Missions Director Fabio Mia came to the nursing department at Pacific Union College and proposed a mission trip to Fiji for the nursing students. Before the pandemic, Mia and Sandra Ringer, PUC nursing assistant professor and online director, had discussed the possibility of taking students. Still, Ringer wanted to offer a course encouraging participation. When she became BSN director, Ringer wished to provide a mission opportunity combined with fulfilling clinical hours for the RN to BSN program’s Community Health Nursing course.

This year's second annual trip to Fiji to provide healthcare was both a mission trip and an academic course, encompassing PUC’s mission entirely—Learn with Purpose, Rise in Faith, and Serve with Love. From March 23 to April 2, 17 students, Ringer, and Nursing Department Chair Kimberly Dunker (who went as the cook), joined four physicians, one PUC staff member, two dentists, and other helpers. The team cared for approximately 225 medical patients, providing the people of Fiji with biometrics, glucose checks, and medical history. Additionally, they assisted 130 dental patients with their needs.

PUC’s students served the people of Fiji with love; learning with real purpose by applying their knowledge of community health to the island and placing faith in God that He would send those to the clinic who needed medical and dental services.

Ringer described a specific moment that stood out to her—when she walked into the village for the first time after not being there for a year. “The island's people called me by name,” shared Ringer. “The local church members came and hugged me. It was a precious feeling to return to help those who needed it.”

Other moments that stood out to her were hearing the children sing, being in a humble home where several families lived, and assessing the mother, father, daughter, granddaughter, and cousins. Ringer shared that the nursing students, physician, and local guide began to sing together to the family, which was a God moment. It was wonderful for her to watch PUC students interact with the community, gain their trust, and discover the musical talents they have.

“No one can walk away from a mission trip like this as the same person,” said Ringer. “The students will be more compassionate, stronger nurses, and become more aware of needs beyond the physical. The students quickly realized the great need of those not as privileged as we are to have access to healthcare. Finally, the students will not take for granted fresh, clean water daily (the well water on the island contains E coli), multiple food options, and all the comforts of home.”

Outside of offering medical services, the group went on home visits to the community, provided Vacation Bible School in the afternoon to the children, played volleyball with the locals, swam in the ocean, and ate fresh coconuts.

Ringer felt fulfilled to see her students provide medical care in Fiji. “I am proud to be part of an organization like PUC that offers an opportunity for students to grow as nurses and people through this experience and complete clinical hours simultaneously,” she expressed. “The students were fabulous, caring, understanding, and flexible—I was super proud of them.”