U.Va. nursing student points out differences in bedside practices
By Jone Brunelle
University of Virginia Communications Intern

Growing up in Shanghai, China, Jie Chen often visited the hospital where her aunt worked as an obstetrician-gynecologist, kindling her interest in becoming a doctor. Although her grandmother encouraged the profession, her parents took a more traditional stance and preferred that she first marry and have a family.

After studying and working as a registered nurse in Shanghai, Jie had an opportunity to work for former U.S. president George H. Bush. A teacher remembered Jie’s top performance and selected her to be part of a medical team that would aid Bush and his entourage while he traveled in China.

This opportunity encouraged Jie to move to the U.S. and further pursue her nursing education at the University of Virginia. She entered the RN to BSN program and realized this was her calling. “It was like I was born to be a nurse.”

Despite similarities in nursing education in the United States and in China, Jie points out a major difference in bedside practice. U.S. nurses are encouraged to treat the patient as a whole, whereas nurses in China have more specialized tasks, such as Jie’s former task of working with the IV.

She did not get reports on each patient, just went from one bed to the next and completed the doctor’s orders without question. Here, she says, “It’s my patient. I know you head to toe.”

Jie has decided she wants to be a nurse practitioner in acute care, noting that it involves not only diagnosing, but also prescribing medication. She sees this as a higher level of nursing that will require a more holistic understanding of each patient.

As for the future, Jie hopes to be involved in nursing education.