The University of Michigan School of Nursing welcomed nursing and midwifery leaders from Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago this week for simulation training as part of a long-standing initiative to strengthen Caribbean health care education and leadership.
Developed by the school's Office of Global Affairs in partnership with the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization, the "Train the Trainer" program marked another milestone for U-M's PAHO/WHO Collaborative Center, which has a 27-year designation and commitment to nursing education in the Caribbean.
Participants in the July 27-Aug. 1 program received hands-on instruction in clinical simulation skills, critical thinking, communication and competency assessment. The program development and delivery team consisted of 15 individuals, including faculty, graduate students and simulation lab technicians.
By the program's conclusion, all six participants will have the skills and techniques to take back to their home countries, train other educators and implement access to high-quality, simulation-based nursing education across the Caribbean.
"There are plans to enhance simulation in teaching, so I want to be prepared to go back and teach others," said Cynthia Pitter, senior lecturer and head of the School of Nursing at the University of the West Indies Mona in Jamaica.
"Simulation is the way forward. We want to make sure that our students are placed in a secure environment and can practice before they get to the bedside with real patients," said Natalie Watson, instructor at Barbados Community College.
Faculty and organizers emphasized the far-reaching impact of the collaboration, not only on the Caribbean but on the global exchange of innovative teaching practices.
"One of my hopes is that we all take to heart and take home how-with skillful faculty-it is not the technology that matters quite as much as how we are using the technology," said Megan Eagle, U-M clinical assistant professor of nursing
"There is a lot we can do with less technology than we think, as long as we use it carefully and skillfully."
The intensive training is part of U-M's broader vision to promote global leadership in nursing and midwifery by fostering knowledge exchange, cultural understanding and ongoing professional growth.
These international initiatives reflect the university's commitment to global engagement, especially in supporting low- and middle-income regions, cultivating nursing leadership and building educational capacity. These efforts closely align with U-M's mission as a national leader in global education and can be seen in the school's ongoing collaborations and programs, says Jeanne-Marie Stacciarini, associate dean for global affairs and co-director of the PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center at the U-M School of Nursing.
Building on the momentum of this summer's Global Simulation Training for Caribbean Nursing Leaders, the School of Nursing will welcome another cohort of international nurses from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay and Mexico for the Latin American Nurse Practitioner Development Program Aug. 11-15.
This intensive weeklong initiative will provide participants with firsthand exposure to nurse practitioner education, practice and regulation in the United States.
With Latin American nations actively considering the adoption of the nurse practitioner role, the program will offer invaluable insights, including opportunities to observe advanced practice nurses in both community and hospital settings, as well as engage in dialogue with U-M faculty, students and national health care leaders.
