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A Life-Changing Spring Break: VU Nursing Students, Faculty and Alumni provide vital care for families in Dominican Republic

A large group of smiling "Nurses on a Mission" volunteers posing for a photo outdoors in front of a building. Most are wearing matching blue t-shirts and some have stethoscopes around their necks.

March 25, 2026

VINCENNES, Ind. - The atmosphere in the underserved neighborhoods of the Dominican Republic was filled with both urgent need and deep gratitude earlier this month as Nurses on a Mission arrived. During spring break week, a team including Vincennes University Nursing students, current and retired faculty, and alumni moved through local communities in the Caribbean nation, carrying more than just medical supplies.

The volunteers carried a commitment to service that would leave a lasting mark on all of their lives.

They did more than set up clinics. They entered homes and hearts. They distributed 500 hygiene packs intended to sustain a family of five and distributed 30,000 vitamins. Between treating wounds, providing feminine hygiene products, making home visits, and donating money to a local church, the volunteers found themselves learning from the resilience of the local families.

Two green-shirted nurses smile while using a stethoscope and checking the pulse of a beaming young boy in a red shirt in an exam area.

"There is a significant shift that happens when a Nursing student moves from the classroom to a home visit in an underserved community,” said Stephanie Garrett, VU Associate Professor of Nursing and Program Director for the LPN to BSN Completion Program and Nurse Aide Training Program.

Garrett added, “Seeing our Nursing students, faculty, and alumni come together to serve more than 500 families in the Dominican Republic is a powerful reminder of why we chose Nursing as a profession. We are doing more than just delivering supplies. We are delivering care and hope. This mission is only possible thanks to our amazing partners and local sponsors. Their support ensures families have access to greatly needed care, and our students gain a global perspective on healing that they will carry with them for the rest of their careers and lives."

Volunteers in blue shirts consult with a woman and young girl in a clinic partitioned by white sheets.

Nurses on a Mission was founded in 2014 by five VU Nursing faculty members who felt a calling to provide medical care in severely impoverished countries. The volunteers have made 13 trips to the Dominican Republic, partnering with the Foundation for Peace. Supported by local community sponsorships, their mission highlights the power of partnership.

The trip also proves that when students step outside their comfort zones, they return not just with clinical hours, but with a deeper sense of empathy and a global perspective on healing that will help define their careers.

"Learn In Order To Serve" is VU’s mission statement. All of the Nurses on a Mission volunteers embody this spirit.

WHAT VU NURSING STUDENTS ARE SAYING ABOUT THEIR LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCES IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:

Three smiling women, identified as "Nurses on Mission" by their matching pink t-shirts, stand together outdoors holding various medical and supply items.

“Serving on this nursing mission trip to the Dominican Republic is something that will stay in my heart forever. This week reminded me so clearly that nursing is more than a profession — it is a calling to serve others with compassion, humility, and love.” - Grace Flexter

“I simply cannot put into words how grateful I am to have been able to serve on this mission trip. Helping the Dominican people with their medical needs while also serving God was an emotional and empowering experience.” -  Cydney Pethtel

“Not only did this trip impact the people of the DR, but it also touched my heart in many ways.” - Elizabeth Shea

“To say this mission trip has changed me is an understatement. I couldn’t be more grateful for the people I met and the experience I had. I think what I learned most about myself is that I loved this trip more than I could have imagined. This trip was initially out of my comfort zone, but I learned that stepping outside of comfort, and helping others is an amazing opportunity that I am grateful to have had. I learned that the people of the DR are the most grateful and God-fearing people I have ever met. They appreciated us in all aspects.” - Maya Mullins

“So grateful for this experience and all the wonderful people.” - Maggie Scott

A large group of "Nurses on Mission" volunteers in pink shirts and local community members wave joyfully in front of a bright blue church building.

PRACTICAL WAYS TO SUPPORT NURSES ON A MISSION:  

  • Donate travel-size shampoo, conditioner, body wash, soap, tooth brushes, and toothpaste to help make family hygiene packs for a family of five
  • Donate unexpired supplies, including wound care supplies, feminine hygiene products, and adhesive bandages
  • Sponsor a student traveler
  • Highlight the trip to alumni
  • Share mission stories on social media

To support Nurses on a Mission or for more information, please contact Stephanie Garrett at sgarrett@vinu.edu

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