Asia University (Asia University) School of Nursing Students Complete Internship at Taoyuan International Airport Medical Center, Gaining Hands-On Experience in Aviation Medicine, Emergency Care, and International Patient Transfer
From July 28 to August 8, 2025, the Department of Nursing at Asia University’s School of Nursing arranged a two-week international professional internship for its students at the Taoyuan International Airport Medical Center. This unique learning experience allowed students to engage in a specialized environment combining emergency care, travel medicine, and public health, while honing clinical nursing skills and cross-cultural communication in the fast-paced airport setting.
Dean of the School of Nursing, Professor Hsu Hua-Shan, noted that the airport medical center serves as the first line of defense for public health at the nation’s gateway, protecting the wellbeing of international travelers. Interns not only needed to respond quickly to medical emergencies but also interact professionally with travelers from around the world. She emphasized that such experiences greatly broaden students’ global perspectives and cultivate cross-border healthcare literacy, laying a solid foundation for developing internationally competitive nursing professionals.
During the internship, nursing student Liao shared that the most memorable experience was assisting with an in-flight passenger who suffered sudden chest pain and a blood pressure spike above 200 mmHg, necessitating an emergency return to the airport. She helped monitor vital signs, prepare oxygen, and coordinate with the team for rapid patient transfer. When the patient was safely handed over to the ambulance, she truly appreciated how every professional judgment and action contributes to saving lives. Liao also participated in yellow fever vaccinations and international health education, experiencing firsthand the importance of nursing in cross-cultural healthcare.
Nursing student Chen described her first field response, attending to a passenger with sudden loss of consciousness. She was impressed by the team’s seamless coordination and calm, efficient handling in the bustling terminal. Chen also took part in international patient transfer tasks, accompanying patients from hospital discharge to boarding the aircraft, ensuring professional monitoring and documentation at each step. She emphasized that the internship strengthened her practical skills, on-the-spot decision-making, and confidence in facing future clinical challenges.
This internship highlights the Department of Nursing’s commitment to internationalized education. Students not only enhanced their professional knowledge but also experienced cross-border healthcare and multicultural health practice. By training at the nation’s gateway, Asia University’s nursing students continue to exemplify the program’s goal of cultivating internationally mobile nurses capable of caring for global patients and supporting international medical operations.
