Saturday, 28 October 2017
Purpose: The purpose of this presentation is to explore lived experience of APRN faculty and students as they prepare and travel to and from a developing nation to provide healthcare to an underserved population. APRNs (advanced practice registered nurse) have the necessary knowledge and skills to impact the health of undeveloped nations, through education, and the provision of safe and quality care. World Health Organization recently reported that nurse practitioners are an effective option in providing care to the medically underserved around the world. There is minimal research that explores APRN role in global health. With a growing focus on global healthcare needs, the role of the APRN stands poised to meet primary health care needs at an international level. As initiatives to provide healthcare to developing nations move to the forefront in world healthcare, it is imperative to provide foundational knowledge in the expanding role for the APRN. Using a qualitative approach, this presentation will focus on issues faced when APRN faculty and their students provide healthcare in a developing nation. It will evaluate the personal and professional growth gained, and the challenges faced when managing acute and chronic diseases with limited resources in an unfamiliar country. Nurses have an obligation to safeguard, respect, and actively promote people’s health rights at all times and in all place. Keeping with this mission, APRN faculty strive to lay a foundation for global health by integrating it into curriculum and into practice while providing healthcare to underserved populations. When considering implications to the nursing profession, we attempted to explore interconnectedness, health promotion, disease conditions, social issues and attitudes and values. As mentors, faculty are encouraged to develop student nurse practitioners to provide care in the ever widening global arena including the development of a culturally competent global health program.
Methods: Using a qualitative approach, this presentation will focus on issues faced when APRN faculty and their students provide healthcare in a developing nation
Results: Several themes emerged from the study.
Conclusion: More studies are proposed to further explore the role of APRN's in global health initiatives.