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International nursing practice in developing countries: Evolution at one school of nursing

Sara Groves, DrPH, RN, CS, Elizabeth Sloand, MS, CRNP, and Joan Kub, PhD, RN, APRN, BC. School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, 525 N. Wolfe St, Room 452, Baltimore, MD 21205, 410-614-6284, sgroves@son.jhmi.edu

Graduate and undergraduate nursing students indicate increasing interest in global health, including international clinical experiences in developing countries. Many of them hope to be involved in both international health care development and humanitarian disaster relief after graduation. Other students recognize the ongoing impact of immigrants to the United States, and the importance of learning to care for diverse cultures, even if they intend to practice nursing domestically. In response, the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing is strategically planning international and domestic opportunities for students to learn about the nurse’s role in global health by creatively cultivating sites and preceptors that maximize student learning. The School of Nursing has recognized the responsibility to prepare nurses to competently practice in these setting, and is increasing the flexibility of the educational programs to meet this need. The evolution of the experience will be explained, including the formal and informal avenues that were traveled, the course development of the nurse’s role, and the partnership with the Bloomberg School of Public Health and other international non-governmental agencies. The current clinical and academic courses and their relationship to developing country health needs will be discussed, and opportunities for future expansion identified.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

Keywords: International Health, Nursing Education

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Public Health Nursing Education

The 132nd Annual Meeting (November 6-10, 2004) of APHA