Week 16: Final Thoughts

I will be honest.  I signed up for this course as a prerequisite for a nursing program.  At first, I questioned why I would need to take such a class to go into nursing.  I am always interested in learning about new people and places but I could not see the connection between sociology and the practice of medicine.  However, after taking this course I now see how important knowing about societies is.  Working in medicine, you come across people from all types of backgrounds.  Especially in an area as diverse as Northern Virginia, you need to appreciate where people come from.  People have different cultures, religions, and customs.  Many Middle Eastern women cannot be touched by a male doctor and many minorities from poor neighborhoods cannot afford health insurance.  Through this course I have gained a better understanding about the different places that people come from.  Globalization will only continue to put us all on paths that intersect and cross with others from around the world.  It is important to keep in mind how everything interacts so you can understand why things happen the way they do.  This course is not just helpful for medicine, but all fields.  If more people took this course I think that we could help many understand and appreciate all societies.  Maybe we could end a few stereotypes or prejudices.  I am glad I got to take this course, even though I may have just barely scratched the surface of all the complexities that make up societies.  I think that learning about sociology will make me a better nurse and a better person.