August 14, 2013

MSN student Allison Bungardas traveled to Vietnam with the organization Vets With A Mission from June 19 to July 5, 2013. She worked in two clinics in the Da Nang area, Vietnam, to satisfy the clinical practicum requirement for a course called Nurses Building a Healthy Community.

Bungardas is also an attorney. A Vietnam Veteran and Veterans Disability Attorney, Robert P. Walsh, brough the Vets With A Mission group to her attention. Her practicum preceptor was Steve Scott, RN, BSN, a Vietnam Veteran Nurse, who oversaw her work at the Da Nang Center for Reproductive Health. At the Center, Bungardas and Scott met with the director to discuss women’s health challenges in Vietnam.

"Going to Vietnam was a rewarding and challenging experience. I was honored to serve on the mission with Vietnam veterans, active service members, and veteran supporters,” Bungardas said. “I saw ample opportunity for the nursing profession, and other health care professions, to make a difference in the quality of life for the Vietnamese people. The ability to positively impact and contribute to this developing nation's health will directly impact the future of Vietnam in a positive way."

Bungardas is inspired to return to Vietnam soon to “get back to work!”