Learning Objective #1: Evaluate the application of technological strategies to advance international nursing education and practice.

Learning Objective #2: Analyze the limitations and strengths of technology in implementation of international graduate nursing education at a distance.

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Worldwide, the need for nursing leaders in education and practice is clear. This has set the stage for the demand for educational strategies to moderate the limitations of time and space. Distant learning is not a new concept in nursing education. Distance education has increased access to education (Fryback, 1997) and a means by which countries around the world can upgrade knowledge and practice of nurses without dislocation and disruption (Lewis & Farrell, 2005). Web-based instruction has become an important strategy to deliver nursing curriculum.

The purpose of this presentation is to discuss the use of technology in planning and implementing a graduate nursing education program in a developing country. This graduate program is the first nursing masters program in Vietnam. A nongovernmental organization in the United States and a university in Vietnam partnered to create a graduate nursing program that integrated technology throughout the curriculum to meet the challenges of program implementation. The use of distance education strategies have been implemented to extend the classroom learning environment and interactions beyond the classroom once the US visiting professor has completed the person to person course.

The use of technology to teach and mentor students enrolled in this program will be discussed. Distance learning has been facilitated by computer conferencing and Internet access. Strengths and shortcomings of technology in nursing education at a distance will be explored. Factors that hindered and facilitated the use of distant learning technology will be explored.

Evaluation approaches will be discussed and include student satisfaction surveys, development of electronic portfolios by each student, and informatics surveys. Program evaluations to date reveal satisfaction with ability to expand the reach of nursing education expertise to students across the globe and suggest student learning is enhanced with the use of technological teaching strategies.