Evaluating international clinical education encounters in Lithuania

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• International Health
• Continuing Professional Development

Background:

• Post-Soviet Lithuania saw international nurses sharing expertise through clinical education sessions.
• Evaluation and dissemination of these educational initiatives were lacking.
• This study evaluates international continuing nursing education (CNE) sessions held in Lithuania.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of international continuing nursing education sessions in Lithuania.
• To assess the impact of knowledge sharing on Lithuanian nurses' practice.
• To gather feedback for enhancing future CNE programs.

Main Methods:

• Questionnaires were administered to Lithuanian nurses who participated in educational symposia.
• A holistic framework was employed to analyze the experiences of both U.S. and Lithuanian nurses.
• Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the collected data.

Main Results:

• Lithuanian nurses reported confirming existing knowledge and acquiring new information applicable to their practice.
• Educational content was perceived as less challenging in Kaunas compared to Vilkaviskis.
• Suggestions for improvement included smaller group discussions and enhanced cultural preparation for U.S. nurses.

Conclusions:

• The symposia successfully achieved their objectives of knowledge exchange and relationship building.
• Participants provided valuable recommendations for optimizing future international nursing education endeavors.
• The study highlights the importance of cultural sensitivity and tailored educational approaches in CNE.