Assessing global partnerships in graduate nursing

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Nursing Education
• International Partnerships

Background:

• North-South partnerships in graduate nursing education enhance cultural competence and research capacity.
• Existing literature lacks systematic assessments of these partnerships using established guidelines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and refine an assessment measure for North-South inter-institutional research and clinical nursing partnerships.
• To pilot test this measure through a self-evaluation of a developing Canadian-Malawian graduate nursing partnership.

Main Methods:

• Systematic search and selection of an existing guideline for adaptation.
• Application of the refined guideline to a specific North-South partnership.
• Qualitative data collection via document review and partner interviews.

Main Results:

• An adapted guideline proved effective for assessing North-South partnerships after revisions.
• The Canadian-Malawian partnership excelled in partnership purpose/scope but lagged in implementation/context.
• Recommendations were formulated to enhance the assessment tool's specificity.

Conclusions:

• Regular evaluation strengthens nursing partnerships and improves student educational experiences.
• Comparative research on partnership models can guide institutional choices.
• Ongoing evaluation is crucial for establishing and maintaining effective North-South partnerships.