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Student Nursing Exchange 2012


Since 1995 an annual exchange of students nurses from the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen and Houston Baptist University has been arranged by the Grampian-Houston Association and the Houston/Grampian Association.


The students spend two weeks comparing healthcare provision and nursing education and practice in their Sister City areas. Following their study visit they submit reports on their findings to the two Associations.


The four students taking part in the 2012 exchange are Rachelle Gerke and Kathy Sacueza, from Houston Baptist University, and Beverley Brown and Iona Hynd, from The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen.


Rachelle and Kathy pay a two-week study visit to Aberdeen in May and September Beverley and Iona travel to Texas to look at healthcare services and nursing education there.


The 2012 exchange is again supported by the Wood Group in Aberdeen and in Houston


Rachelle (left) and Kathy (right) are pictured above with exchange co-ordinator Carol Decker and Mary Metz, Chairman of the Houston/Grampian Association.


Flying the flag at The Robert Gordon University are (L to R) Iona, Beverley, exchange co-ordinator Leanne Morrison, a lecturer at RGU School of Nursing and Midwifery, Kathy and Rachelle.


The four exchange students were the guests of the Grampian-Houston Association at a dinner in the Cults Hotel where John Reynolds, Association Chairman and Depute Lord Provost of Aberdeen, presented Rachelle and Kathy with inscribed quaiches (Scottish drinking cups) as a memento of their visit to Grampian.





Councillor Reynolds is pictured here with (L to R) Iona, Rachelle, Kathy and Beverley together with some of those who attended the dinner. The student nurses expressed their appreciation to the Association, the Wood Group for their support and to all those who had contributed to the success of the exchange.










During their visit to Houston from September 7-21,2012, Beverley and Iona were welcomed at Houston City Hall by Mayor Annise Parker and members of the City Council.


In recognition of the success of the nursing exchange Mayor Parker issued a proclamation declaring 11 September to be Houston-Grampian Nursing Exchange Programme Day in the Texas city’s calendar.


The proclamation states, “Since 1979 the City of Houston and the Grampian Region of Scotland have shared a mutually fruitful sister city relationship. The relationship has several active programmes with the nursing exchange programme being very highly regarded. This annual two-week programme allows students from each country to learn about healthcare in their sister city’s country.


“The nursing exchange programme is demonstrative of the beauty and value of the sister city programme. Students are able to learn with an international awareness and broaden their horizons because of the relationship between Houston and Grampian Region. The City of Houston highly values its ties with the Grampian Region and looks forward to continued exchanges in the future.”


Before leaving Houston Beverley and Iona were guests of honour at a dinner hosted by the Houston/Grampian Association at Houston Baptist University. Among the guests were U.K. Consul General in Houston Andrew Millar, City Councilman Mike Laster and HBU Principal Dr Robert Sloan.