Ready for the World: preparing nursing students for tomorrow.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Intercultural Competence
• Global Health

Background:

• The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) developed the "Ready for the World" initiative in 2004 to foster international and intercultural understanding.
• The UTK College of Nursing has incorporated this initiative into its undergraduate curriculum to enhance students' global readiness.
• Intercultural learning combines classroom knowledge with practical experiences involving cultural interaction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To integrate international and intercultural education into the undergraduate nursing curriculum.
• To prepare nursing students for diverse global health settings.
• To enhance students' cultural competence for future nursing practice.

Main Methods:

• Integration of "Ready for the World" program suggestions into nursing courses.
• Curriculum design incorporating classroom learning and diverse cultural experiences.
• Experiential learning opportunities on campus, in local communities (including vulnerable populations), Appalachian regions, and Central America.

Main Results:

• Nursing students gain knowledge and practical experience through varied intercultural interactions.
• Experiences range from campus diversity to community health and international settings.
• Students develop cultural competence through applied learning in Community Health Nursing and Transcultural Nursing courses.

Conclusions:

• The UTK College of Nursing successfully integrates intercultural learning into its curriculum.
• The program effectively prepares nursing students for culturally diverse healthcare environments.
• Graduates will possess enhanced cultural competence for international and local nursing practice.