The CNO US Healthcare Immersion Program, Part 1: A Transformational Leadership Model.

As a result of recent global health events, US health care leaders are strengthening international relationships to share best practices, health research, and support of workforce capacity. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the American Nurses Credentialing Center, and the Joint Commission International have all committed to expanding their vision and mission to improve health and health care globally. To support excellence in international health care delivery, the authors embarked on a Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) US Healthcare Immersion Program. The purpose of the program is to introduce the US nursing leadership competences to China CNO colleagues in preparation for their future role with health care reform.

The CNO US Healthcare Immersion Program, Part 2: Expanding the Footprint of Professional Nursing.

As global leaders, US nurses will have an increasingly recognized role and responsibility in shaping health care in all countries. They should be at the forefront of changing and improving health systems to achieve universal health. Currently, a major health care reform is underway that requires a shift in the professional nursing footprint of China's nurse leaders. These leaders must garner knowledge capital to reinforce ethics, regulations, and standards; use current best practices; implement a comprehensive performance evaluation process; and capture the spirit of caring within their health care environments. Therefore, China is seeking US immersion opportunities for their emerging nurse leaders. Although US Immersion Programs exist, there is scant literature related to international precepting and how transformational learning occurs within this experience. This article introduces a transformational learning experience between US International Nurse Preceptors and a Chief Nursing Officer from Yinchuan, China.

Use of simulation training in the intensive care unit.

With increased patient acuity, nurse educators are faced with the challenge of providing ongoing education and ensuring nurse competency. High-fidelity simulation is an effective teaching modality that can meet the diverse needs of critical care nurses with various backgrounds and levels of experience. The Institute of Medicine recommends the use of simulation and simulators as a best practice tool for an instructional method in healthcare. There is documented support for the integration of simulation in nursing continuing education. Organizations such as the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, American College of Surgeons, American Council for Graduate Medical Education, National League for Nursing, American Nursing Association, and American Association of Critical Care Nurses have provided support and encouragement for the use of innovative teaching modalities to create enhanced learning. Along with enhanced learning, simulation plays a role in improving patient safety, recruitment and retention strategies, and addressing quality and risk-management concerns. This article will focus on high-fidelity simulation as it relates to clinical education and nurse competency in the intensive care unit.