International Journal of Nursing

Addressing the Global Nursing Shortage: An International Collaboration
Katrina Einhellig, PhD, RN, CNE; Carlo Parker, PhD, RN, CNL, CNE; Jeanette McNeill, DrPH, RN, CNE, ANEF; Kathleen Dunemn, PhD, RN, CNM; Faye Hummel, PhD, RN, ANEF

Abstract
The US continues to experience a shortage of qualified faculty to teach at the baccalaureate or higher degree level (AACN, 2017) and this trend is consistent worldwide. Developing countries struggle to teach sufficient nurses to meet the health care demands of their growing and aging populations. Within Vietnam there is a shortage of nurses prepared at the baccalaureate level or higher (approximately 9%) which prevents the upward mobility of nurses into Master’s or doctoral levels who are prepared to teach future nurses. A collaboration between a US and a Vietnamese university was initiated in spring 2017, culminating in 19 MSN graduates in 2019. The curriculum was designed to address quality, safety and leadership in nursing for BSN prepared, working Vietnamese nurses focused on evidence-based practice and preparation for leadership roles within health care. Pedagogical strategies were adapted to meet the unique learning needs of these students and delivered in a hybrid format. Benefits for both faculty and students included an enhanced sense of community, global connections, and positive effects on quality and safety in the Vietnamese healthcare system. The overall impact of nursing and nursing education on global health relies on the preparation of nurses for advanced roles.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/ijn.v7n2a10