Harm Reduction in Amsterdam

Independence

Trip price

Trip duration

All third Year Nursing Students (Adult, Child, Mental Health and Learning Disability) who have or will be undertaking NURX/Y3103 – Complex Care Module are eligible to participate on this opportunity. There is a maximum of 20 places available, with a minimum of 15 participants required for this opportunity to take place. Students are recommended to check the eligibility criteria before applying.

Through past DMU Global opportunities, relationships with Dutch health care providers have been established in the areas of Harm Reduction with regards to those who use street drugs and those engaged in sex work. This visit is well aligned to the third year nursing module: NURX/Y3103 Complexities in Nursing Practice, as well as the UN Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being (improving public health).

The Netherlands are key players in public health prevention programmes, especially those relating to sexual health care, HIV, and drug use. Dutch intervention strategies are based on a public health harm-reduction model rather than a criminal activity perspective, which has translated into better health outcomes for its citizens. This visit will provide an opportunity for nursing students to learn more about different public health promotion perspectives and to compare and contrast UK and Dutch health care policies, especially in relation to sex work and drug use.

There are current moves by the Amsterdam City Council to move the red light district to a multi-story erotica centre on the outskirts of Amsterdam which is controversial. There will be opportunities to explore such political views and those of those who could be affected by such a move.

The range of proposed visits (health-related services and museums) will explore topics such as anatomy and physiology, physical and mental health, the impact of lifestyle choice on well-being, sexual health and HIV, pharmacology and drug mis/use, as well as enabling students to reflect upon the ways in which personal and societal attitudes and stigma can impact on health inequalities through among others, visits to a drug consumption room with a two hour talk about Dutch health care provision, risk and harm minimisation and a comparison of differing political agendas in relation to a UK comparison.

A visit to the Prostitute Information Centre consists of a talk from a sex worker with a nursing degree and relates to her area of expertise with clients who are disabled, elderly or may have mental health issues. This is then contrasted with the work of a window sex worker. Prior to this visit students will go to the Red Light Secrets Museum in order to gain background information to inform the visit and talk at the Prostitute Information Centre.

Students will be required to pay for a range of other activities in addition to the £300 trip cost, including: Bodyworlds or Science Museum (£23); Drug Consumption Room (£30); Prostitute Information Centre + Red Light Secrets – Museum of Prostitution (£40).

Learning Objectives

Participating in a DMU Global opportunity can help you develop knowledge, skills and competencies that enhance your studies. The objectives of this trip to Amsterdam are:

Skill development

This opportunity has been designed to help develop the following DMU Graduate Attributes:

Communication skills

Critical thinking

Confidence

Resilience

Cultural Activities

While in Amsterdam, students will have the opportunity to visit a wide range of cultural activities in their free time. Recommended visits include Anne Frank Huis (entry is around £14 and tickets are released two-weeks ahead of time), the Van Gough Museum and the Royal Palace Amsterdam.

There will also be a mandatory group visit to Zaanse Schans (£14 for transport), a working museum set in the picturesque country town of Zaandam. The museum is made up of working windmills and workshops (including clog making) and depicts life in 18th and 19th century Holland.