Development of an International Learning Experience for Baccalaureate Nursing Students in Population-Based Care

Abstract

              Purpose: The purpose of this article was to describe international learning experience titled the Thailand International Learning Experience which was provided baccalaureate nursing students the opportunity to explore population-based care through a comparative clinical learning experience.

             Methodology: The international learning experience was designed within the structure of a four-week clinical course where baccalaureate nursing students from Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) joined in collaborative learning with nursing students at Mahidol University Faculty of Nursing (MU FoN). Learning outcomes were designed to meet essential population-based nursing content and curricular requirements. To meet learning outcomes each student was required to choose a health care issue focusing on a population, which included identifying the population context and practice setting. Demographic and geographic conditions were defined, which considered the impact of potential socio-economic, or urban/rural variances. Participating in clinical practice, attending presentations and interviews with population-based experts provided students with foundational information which they used to evaluate nursing performance, roles, and nursing outcomes in population-based care. The review of evidence-based peer-reviewed nursing journals from both the United States and Thailand were utilized to increase the students’ knowledge. To demonstrate evidence of competence of required learning outcomes, students prepared an individual presentation and paper outline that were evaluated by both MU and OHSU nursing faculty.

             Outcomes: Nursing students had the opportunity to increase their knowledge of nursing practice in population-based care through a comparative international learning experience.