There is no doubt that registered nurse Savannah Pennington has a passion and talent for her work. Her professor at the WVU School of Nursing, Dr. Emily Barnes, recognized Pennington’s potential and informed her of an opportunity to provide medical care to people in Honduras in the spring. Because Pennington loves her work, she jumped at the opportunity.
Pennington, a Buckhannon native and registered nurse for eight years, graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) degree in May 2024. She has experience in obstetrics and delivery, postpartum and newborn care, and is also a neonatal resuscitation instructor. Barnes saw her as the perfect candidate for the opportunity.
“(The trip to Honduras) gave me the opportunity to experience many new and unique medical conditions. I learned so much from these people and was able to see procedures and take advantage of patient care opportunities that I never had before,” Pennington said.
The Honduran team, which included doctors, nurses and nursing students, stayed in Limon and traveled to remote clinics to provide care to residents there. On Pennington’s first day at the clinic, she made a home visit to help treat an elderly man with pneumonia.
“He was so grateful and even though he was very sick, he would look up at us and smile and you could see how grateful he was,” Pennington said. “Every patient I came into contact with taught me something new and left a lasting impression on my heart.”
Because of her incredible experience, Pennington encourages other students to volunteer abroad. She describes her trip to Honduras as one of the best experiences she’s ever had.
“It changed my life and I want everyone to have that chance. You will never regret it if you get to go there. When you see how grateful each and every person is and how they smile, it will change the way you see the world,” Pennington said.
The most rewarding part for her was the opportunity to care for patients who would otherwise have no access to medical care, she explained: “This trip has been very humbling and has made me realize how lucky we are in the United States. We have access to health care that they can only dream of.”
Pennington added: “I owe a huge debt of gratitude to our team leader Dr. Emily Barnes and all the other professionals who came to Honduras. After this trip, I can only hope that I have the opportunity to make this trip every year to give my time to others who are less fortunate.”
With her master’s degree and international nursing experience, Pennington is now ready to continue improving the lives of her patients, advance her career, and serve as a leader in her profession. She has been working as a certified family nurse practitioner since July and is currently working in a primary care practice with geriatric patients.
“I care deeply about others and hope to make a lasting impression on each patient I care for,” she said. “My goal is to help others succeed by educating them about health and empowering them to be the best version of themselves.”
For more information about global outreach opportunities, visit the WVU School of Nursing’s Community and Global Engagement page.
