There is no doubt registered nurse Savannah Pennington has a passion and a knack for what she does. Her WVU School of Nursing professor, Dr. Emily Barnes, saw Pennington’s potential, so she informed her about a chance to provide people with medical care in Honduras during the spring. Because Pennington loves what she does, she jumped on this opportunity.
Pennington, a Buckhannon native and registered nurse for eight years, graduated in May 2024 with her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) degree. She has a background in labor and delivery, as well as postpartum and newborn care. In addition, she is a neonatal resuscitation provider instructor. Barnes saw her as a perfect candidate for this opportunity.
“[Traveling to Honduras] gave me an opportunity to see many new and unique medical conditions. I learned so much from these individuals and got to see procedures and have patient care opportunities that I have never had before,” Pennington said.
The Honduras team, which included physicians, nurse practitioners and nursing students, stayed in Limon and traveled to remote clinics to provide care to area residents. During Pennington’s first day at the clinic, she completed a home visit to help treat an elderly man with pneumonia.
“He was so grateful and even though he was extremely sick, he looked up at us and smiled, and you could see how grateful he was,” Pennington said. “Each patient I came in contact with taught me something new and left a lasting impression on my heart.”
Because of her incredible experience, Pennington encourages other students to get involved in international volunteer opportunities. She describes her trip to Honduras as one of the best experiences she has ever had.
“It was life-changing and I want everyone to have this chance. You will never regret it if you are able to go. When you see how grateful each person is and the smiles on their faces, it will change how you see the world,” Pennington said.
She explained the most rewarding part for her was the ability to care for patients that otherwise have no access to medical care: “This was an extremely humbling trip and one that made me realize just how fortunate we are in the United States. We have access to healthcare that they can only dream of having.”
Pennington added, “I owe a huge thanks to our team leader, Dr. Emily Barnes and all the other professionals that came to Honduras. After this trip, I can only hope I have the opportunity to make this an annual trip to offer my time to others that are less fortunate.”
Now equipped with her master’s degree and experience with international nursing care, Pennington is ready to continue making a difference in the lives of her patients, to further her career and to serve as a leader in her profession. She has been working since July as a certified Family Nurse Practitioner, and she is currently working in family practice with the geriatric population.
“I care deeply for others and hope that I can leave a lasting impression on each patient that I serve,” she said. “My goal is to help others thrive by teaching them about health and empowering them to be the best version of themselves.”
To learn more about global outreach opportunities, visit the WVU School of Nursing Community and Global Engagement page.
