Clinical nurse specialist practicum in Nicaragua

In January 1999, I had the unique opportunity to do a two-week practicum in Nicaragua for my master's degree in advanced clinical nursing as part of a cooperative program between George Mason University and the School of Nursing at Universidad Politecnica de Nicaragua. As a public health nurse who focused my master's course work in the public health area, I gained firsthand experience learning to understand cultural competence in a public health setting in a developing country. I gave lectures on HIV to the Nicaraguan nurses, cared for a Nicaraguan family, and worked in the public health department. This article gives a firsthand account of my experience as it relates to the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) role with a focus in public health and discusses some of the health issues in Nicaragua.