Preparing American and Nicaraguan Nurses to Practice Home Health Nursing in a Transcultural Experience

Abstract

One of the outgrowths of the Center for International Nursing activities between Duquesne University and Nicaragua is the establishment of an "Hermanamiento" sister school collaboration between Duquesne University School of Nursing and the School of Nursing at the Polytechnic University (UPOLI), Managua, Nicaragua. In response to the formation of this sister school affiliation, a number of activities have resulted. Activities include student and faculty exchange experiences in community and acute health care. One of the latest activities occurred in April 1997 and involved 10 undergraduate students and a faculty member from Duquesne who traveled to Nicaragua for a student and faculty exchange in home health care experience. The purpose of the trip was to allow students to experience health care outside the boundaries of the United States with limited resources. The students were involved with a collaborative nursing experience with counterpart students from Nicaragua. Students carried out a practicum experience in the community and observed health care in public hospitals as well.

Keywords

community culture home health care international student nurses

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