The nursing leadership program. The Cyprus experience--a tale of two cultures

Implementing a leadership program in a distant and culturally unique country poses numerous challenges and a terrific opportunity to develop cultural awareness and competence. The political history of Cyprus provides a context for understanding the delicate balance that Duke University School of Nursing faculty had to maintain throughout the offering of a leadership program that was funded through a United States Congressional program of Economic Support Funds (ESF). Although participants were all nurses and all Cypriots, they represented two very different cultures, languages, governments, and health care systems. These differences had to be addressed on every level, ranging from the food served and the language spoken in the conference to the need for impartiality when working with participants.