The University of Michigan School of Nursing welcomed 20 nurse leaders, educators, policymakers and healthcare stakeholders from 10 countries across Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific for a weeklong program focused on advancing nurse practitioner education through shared learning, collaboration and global partnership.
The immersive program, “Developing Advanced Practice Nurses Globally,” explored nurse practitioner education, practice, leadership, legislation and political engagement through presentations, discussions and collaborative learning.
The program also launched the U-M School of Nursing’s celebration of the Office of Global Affairs’ 30th anniversary, highlighting three decades of global partnerships and impact.
Building global partnerships
During the week, the School of Nursing hosted a signing ceremony for a memorandum of understanding between U-M and the Universidade Federal do Amazonas. The agreement further strengthens the institutions’ shared commitment to planetary health and sustainability.
“A defining strength of this program is its deep commitment to mutual learning, respect and collaboration,” said Jeanne-Marie Stacciarini, U-M School of Nursing associate dean for global affairs.
“While our guests came to explore the development of nurse practitioner education, our faculty, students, staff and community partners also benefited from learning how countries around the world are addressing their own health challenges. Those conversations strengthen all of us and create lasting partnerships that extend far beyond a single week.”
Learning across health systems
Throughout the week, participants shared expertise across the full spectrum of advanced practice nursing. Sessions explored curriculum development, clinical education, simulation, leadership, health policy, global competencies and community-based care. Visits to community health organizations and Michigan Medicine gave participants firsthand insight into nurse practitioner practice in a variety of settings.
“Participating in this program has been a truly transformative experience, broadening my perspective and reinforcing my belief that investing in advanced practice nursing means investing in better health outcomes for the population,” said Ludimila Cunha, a member of the Brazilian Federal Council of Nursing.
“I will return to Brazil inspired by the possibilities of innovation, leadership and professional autonomy, committed to fostering dialogue and advancing initiatives that will help shape the future of nursing.”
Although each participant brought a perspective shaped by their country’s healthcare system, a common theme emerged throughout the week: advancing nurse practitioner education requires both local leadership and global collaboration.
“It has been a tremendously valuable professional experience to learn from the experts and leaders in advanced practice nursing at U-M,” said Juana Mercedes Gutiérrez Valverde of the Autonomous University of Nuevo León in Monterrey, Mexico.
“The program strengthened my perspective on nursing leadership and provided practical knowledge and recommendations that will guide my work to further advanced practice nursing in Mexico. While we have made important progress, we are still in the early stages of developing advanced practice nursing. The need for this education is both clear and urgent.”
A 30-year commitment to global health
The exchange of ideas and experiences throughout the week underscored the value of global collaboration in advancing nursing education and practice. The shared lessons are at the heart of the U-M School of Nursing’s international partnerships and its ongoing commitment to preparing nurses to address health challenges worldwide.
The new agreement with the UFAM further reflects that commitment, creating opportunities for collaboration around planetary health, nursing education and shared global priorities.
“For 30 years, global engagement has been central to how the U-M School of Nursing advances health for all,” Webel said. “Bringing together nurse leaders from around the world reflects our commitment to learning with and from one another, building meaningful partnerships and preparing nurses to care, create and lead in every community they serve. These exchanges of ideas strengthen our global community and challenge all of us to think differently about how we educate nurses and improve health.”
“Many of the most pressing health challenges of our time extend beyond geographic boundaries and require shared solutions. Programs like this create opportunities for nursing leaders to exchange knowledge, adapt successful approaches to local contexts and accelerate innovation. When we learn from one another across countries and health systems, we expand our collective capacity to improve health and well-being in communities around the world.”
Written by the School of Nursing
Source: https://news.umich.edu/30-years-of-impact-u-m-unites-global-leaders-to-advance-nursing/