Description/Overview: As nurses and other health care providers are acutely aware, many of the major health problems around the world are related to lifestyle choices. Examples include cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke, type II diabetes, obesity and the list goes on. Clinicians are frequently frustrated at the lack of success in convincing clients to engage in health-promoting behaviors (exercise, diet, medication compliance) and reduce maladaptive behaviors (smoking, substance abuse, HIV risk behaviors). In addition to the disease burden for clients and the frustration experienced by providers, the costs to the health care system have become unsustainable. Nurses realize that behavior change in client’s is difficult to achieve and even more difficult to maintain. Health education, a mainstay of nursing is necessary, but often insufficient, in facilitation of behavior change in clients. Motivation is a major factor in determining whether a client embraces and maintains behavior change Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a goal-directed, client-centered counseling approach to help patients increase intrinsic motivation and commitment for behavior change through exploration and resolution of ambivalence. As both a treatment philosophy and a set of strategies, MI has considerable evidence of effectiveness in assisting clients to adopt healthy behaviors and decrease unhealthy ones across a wide range of settings and health conditions. This symposium will focus on translation of MI into practice and education. First, the philosophy and strategies of motivational interviewing and review of evidence of effectiveness will be explored. Second, the integration of MI into graduate and undergraduate nursing education will be discussed. Educational content, strategies, and challenges will be explored. Evaluation strategies and data on the student skill acquisition will be presented. Third, application of MI to multi-cultural, community health initiatives will be explored.

Learner Objective #1: Synthesize evidence supporting the effectiveness of Motivational Interviewing, an innovative strategy to promote healthy behaviors across a wide variety of populations and settings.

Learner Objective #2: Analyze the process for translation of MI philosophy and skills into educational and community settings to promote healthy behaviors.