Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Collaborating Centers in Nursing and Midwifery in Haiti.

OBJECTIVE: To describe partnerships that Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) Collaborating Centers in Nursing and Midwifery have in Haiti, and their contribution to promoting universal health coverage in that country. METHODS: In 2017, semistructured interviews were conducted by telephone or email to update the status of activities and collaborations that were mentioned in a 2016 report (which covered efforts prior to early 2016) by the office of the Regional Advisor on Nursing and Allied Health Personnel at PAHO/WHO. Using that information, two of the authors categorized the Collaborating Center activities into focal areas. RESULTS: Six of the nine Collaborating Centers mentioned in the 2016 PAHO/WHO report participated in the 2017 semistructured interviews. The five focal areas identified were: 1) direct care/primary health care, 2) research, 3) workforce development, 4) curriculum development, and 5) shared educational activities. CONCLUSIONS: Current PAHO/WHO Nursing and Midwifery Collaborating Center partnerships in Haiti support universal health access and coverage through direct provision of care with ongoing Haiti-based clinics; research in topics relevant to Haitian partners; assistance with continuing education for nurses; and shared educational activities. These efforts are enhanced through partnerships with Haitian organizations and the Ministry of Public Health and Population. Coordination among PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centers could augment individual schools' efforts to assist health providers and institutions in Haiti to improve health outcomes and support universal health coverage.

Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Collaborating Centers in Nursing and Midwifery in Haiti

[ABSTRACT]. Objective. To describe partnerships that Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) Collaborating Centers in Nursing and Midwifery have in Haiti, and their contribution to promoting universal health coverage in that country. Methods. In 2017, semistructured interviews were conducted by telephone or email to update the status of activities and collaborations that were mentioned in a 2016 report (which covered efforts prior to early 2016) by the office of the Regional Advisor on Nursing and Allied Health Personnel at PAHO/WHO. Using that information, two of the authors categorized the Collaborating Center activities into focal areas. Results. Six of the nine Collaborating Centers mentioned in the 2016 PAHO/WHO report participated in the 2017 semistructured interviews. The five focal areas identified were: 1) direct care/primary health care, 2) research, 3) workforce development, 4) curriculum development, and 5) shared educational activities. Conclusions. Current PAHO/WHO Nursing and Midwifery Collaborating Center partnerships in Haiti support universal health access and coverage through direct provision of care with ongoing Haiti-based clinics; research in topics relevant to Haitian partners; assistance with continuing education for nurses; and shared educational activities. These efforts are enhanced through partnerships with Haitian organizations and the Ministry of Public Health and Population. Coordination among PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centers could augment individual schools’ efforts to assist health providers and institutions in Haiti to improve health outcomes and support universal health coverage.

[RESUMEN]. Objetivo. Describir las alianzas que tienen los centros colaboradores de la Organización Panamericana de la Salud/Organización Mundial de la Salud (OPS/OMS) en enfermería y partería en Haití y su contribución a la promoción de la cobertura universal de salud en ese país. Métodos. En el 2017, se llevaron a cabo entrevistas semiestructuradas por teléfono y por correo electrónico para actualizar el estado de las actividades y colaboraciones mencionadas en un informe del 2016 (que abarcaba esfuerzos previos a los primeros meses del 2016) realizado por la oficina del asesor regional en materia de enfermería y personal paramédico de la OPS/OMS. Con base en esa información, dos de los autores clasificaron las actividades de los centros colaboradores en áreas focales. Resultados. Seis de los nueve centros colaboradores mencionados en el informe de la OPS/OMS del 2016 participaron en las entrevistas semiestructuradas del 2017. Las cinco áreas focales establecidas fueron: 1) atención directa/atención primaria de salud, 2) investigación, 3) desarrollo de la fuerza laboral, 4) elaboración de programas de estudios y 5) actividades educativas compartidas. Conclusiones. Las alianzas actuales de los centros colaboradores de la OPS/OMS en enfermería y partería en Haití brindan apoyo al acceso y la cobertura universales de salud por medio de la prestación directa de atención en los consultorios permanentes establecidos en Haití, investigan sobre temas de importancia para los asociados haitianos, ofrecen asistencia con respecto a la educación continua para enfermeras y realizan actividades educativas compartidas. Estos esfuerzos se optimizan por medio de las alianzas con organizaciones haitianas y el Ministerio de Salud Pública y Población. La coordinación entre los centros colaboradores de la OPS/OMS podría potenciar los esfuerzos individuales de las facultades para ayudar a los prestadores y las instituciones de salud de Haití a mejorar los resultados en materia de salud y brindar apoyo a la cobertura universal de salud.

[RESUMO]. Objetivos. Descrever as parcerias existentes com os Centros Colaboradores da Organização Pan-Americana da Saúde/Organização Mundial da Saúde (OPAS/OMS) para Enfermagem e Obstetrícia no Haiti e como elas contribuem para promover a cobertura universal de saúde no país. Métodos. Em 2017, foi feito um levantamento por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas por telefone ou email para atualizar a situação das atividades e trabalhos de colaboração descritos em um informe de 2016 (referente aos esforços anteriores a 2016), sob a coordenação do escritório do Assessor Regional de Enfermagem e Pessoal de Saúde Associado da OPAS/OMS. A partir destas informações, dois coordenadores categorizaram as atividades dos centros colaboradores em domínios prioritários. Resultados. Seis dos nove centros colaboradores citados no informe da OPAS/OMS de 2016 participaram das entrevistas semiestruturadas de 2017. Os cinco domínios prioritários identificados foram: 1) atenção direta/atenção primária à saúde, 2) pesquisa, 3) aperfeiçoamento do pessoal, 4) desenvolvimento curricular e 5) atividades educacionais conjuntas. Conclusões. As atuais parcerias dos Centros Colaboradores para Enfermagem e Obstetrícia da OPAS/OMS no Haiti promovem o acesso universal à saúde e a cobertura universal de saúde com a prestação direta de assistência em ambulatórios permanentes no Haiti, pesquisas em tópicos relevantes aos parceiros no Haiti, auxílio com educação continuada para o pessoal de enfermagem e atividades educacionais conjuntas. Esses esforços são fortalecidos com parcerias entre as organizações e o Ministério de Saúde Pública e População do Haiti. Com a coordenação entre os centros colaboradores da OPAS/OMS, poderiam ser ampliados os esforços individuais das escolas a fim de ajudar os prestadores de serviços e instituições de saúde no Haiti a melhorar os desfechos de saúde e promover a cobertura universal de saúde.

Using International Videoconferencing to Extend the Global Reach of Community Health Nursing Education.

Travel abroad provides college students with a unique learning experience. When plans to take undergraduate community health nursing students from the United States to Haiti were cancelled due to health and safety concerns, faculty piloted international videoconferencing with a nursing program in Haiti as an alternative. During this semester-long course, students in both countries assessed a local community using the Community as Partner framework and compared findings during videoconferences with their international peers. Despite communication challenges such as language barriers and limited internet access in Haiti, evaluative data suggests that all students valued learning with their nursing student peers in another country. For future international videoconferencing endeavors, especially with under-resourced communities, we provide recommendations in the following categories: 1) Building relationships with a partner school, 2) Technology, 3) Pedagogy, and 4) Facilitating interactions between students.

Community Health Nursing through a Global Lens.

Community Health Nursing (N456) is a required senior clinical course in the undergraduate nursing curriculum at the University of Michigan in which students learn to assess and address the health of populations and communities. In 2012, we began our efforts to internationalize the curriculum using a globally engaged nursing education framework. Our goal is for all students to have an intercultural learning experience understanding that all students are unable to travel internationally. Therefore, this intercultural learning was implemented through a range of experiences including actual immersion, virtual activities (videoconferencing) and interventions with local vulnerable populations. Grants were obtained to provide immersion experiences in Quito, Ecuador and New Delhi, India. Several technologies were initiated with partner nursing schools in Leogane, Haiti and New Delhi, India. Weekly videoconferencing utilizing BlueJeans software and exchange of knowledge through the Knowledge Gateway facilitated intercultural exchange of knowledge and culture. Local clinical groups work with a variety of vulnerable populations. A private blog was developed for all sections to share community assessment data from local and international communities. Qualitative evaluation data was collected for local and international students to begin to assess cultural competence and student learning. Analysis of data documented increased awareness of culture and identified the many positive benefits of interaction with a global partner.