![[ Visit Client Website ]](images/banner.gif)
Introduction: The State University of Oaxaca (SUNEO) is a well-established university system that prepares professional nurses to meet the health care challenges and needs of the country. Nurses in Mexico understand that evidence based practice is essential to address the health care needs of citizens. The Global Forum for Health Research introduced the concept of the 10/90 gap. They note that only 10% of the global resources for health and healthcare resources are available for developing and low income countries that bare 90% of the global healthcare burden. Transnational research is a vital part of improving global health. Mexico is a middle-income country in the Americas and enjoys an established medical system. According the World Health Organization there are 88,678 professional nurses in Mexico. This translates to a nurse to patient ratio of 9/10,000. Their neighbors to the north in the United States enjoy a nurse to patient ratio of 94/10,000. Presently there is only one university in Mexico where nurses can earn a PhD and perfect research skills. There is currently only one PhD prepared nurse in the SUNEO system.
Beginning a transnational relationship: The relationship between Rutgers and SUNEO initially developed around a mutual concern for the health of immigrants from the Mexican state of Oaxaca.
In 2008, faculty and administrators from SUNEO and Rutgers co-sponsored a Health Across Borders conference. This marked the beginning of an academic partnership between the two nursing programs. Dr. Cori Alba Alba, who participated in that conference, returned to Rutgers in 2012 as part of a doctoral research stay with Dr. Karen D’Alonzo, and the two initiated plans for student and faculty exchanges between the two programs. Students from Rutgers visited SUNEO in the spring of 2014 and plans are underway to bring SUNEO students to Rutgers in the fall of 2015 to study with Rutgers students who will visit Oaxaca in the spring of 2016.
Developing a successful program: Planning for transnational education and research exchange takes a considerable amount of time. There must be interest from faculty and students and support from administration at the school and university level. There are a host of logistical issues that must be addressed. This presentation will address issues such as: faculty and student recruitment/interest, travel timing, passports and visas, currency, lodging, communication and language barriers. Opollo et al. developed a schematic to assist with transnational research. We will discuss our unique experience using the concepts of pre-entry, during field work, getting back and after field work.
References:
Global Forum for Health Research (2004). The 10/90 Report on health Research 2003-2004. GFHR, Geneva, Switzerland.
Opollo, J., Opollo D., Gray J., & Spies, L. (2014). Conducting international nursing research: challenges and opportunities. Nurse Researcher. 22(2), 29-33.
Suhonen, R., Saarikoski, M., & Leino-Kilpi, H. (2009). Cross-cultural nursing, research. International Journal of Nursing Studies. 46(4), 593-602.