Global Health: Past, Present, Future

The American International Health Alliance’s (AIHA) International Nursing Leadership Institute (INLI), led to the transformation of global health throughout Eurasia.   The main goal of the program was to build a cadre of nurse leaders in the New Independent States (NIS) and Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) trained in leadership and management skills who could serve as leaders and mentors.  56 nursing professionals received more than 12,000 hours of training through the Institute and, in turn, committed to passing along their new knowledge and skills to colleagues at hospitals and clinics throughout the region. Of these nurses, 23 were subsequently promoted to leadership positions due, in part, to the skills they developed through the program. Additionally, graduates had an opportunity to continue work on projects to benefit their local communities through a competitive small grants program. Developed in close coordination with the board of the Global Education Development Institute (GEDI), and leading U.S. nursing professionals, INLI provided a year-long learning experience in which NIS and CEE nurses could gain the skills and knowledge necessary to be successful leaders and mentors in their own countries. Each INLI nurse continued to work in his/her home country throughout the program, traveling to attend three intensive, one-week class sessions and international nursing meetings. The sessions were held in the U.S., Russia, England, and Denmark. The program utilized varied teaching methodologies to create an integrated curriculum that used adult learning models. At the end of each class, the INLI participants were asked to employ their new competencies to develop a project in their home countries that would enhance healthcare and the nursing profession at a regional level.  The presenter will highlight the continued successes achieved by these participants in advancing global health and the nursing profession.