Nurse Educators Answering the Call to Missions

Abstract

Educators can personally impact college students' lives by leading medical mission trips. The purpose of this chapter is to discuss accepting the call to missions, the role of the nurse educator in mission work, challenges and opportunities, and cultural preparedness. Beyond didactic instruction and clinical training, engaging in mission work provides a transformative experiential way for instructors to develop holistic learning experiences. The word ‘transformative' is an adjective that means causing or able to cause an important and lasting change in someone or something. A transformative experience like this helps students learn in a manner that will foster life-long learning. Assuming the role of a mission team leader involves guiding college students through experiences that extend beyond the traditional classrooms.