Nursing curriculum development in remote southwest Uganda

To describe an intercollaborative outreach between the USA and a school of nursing in Uganda.

Ugandan nurses are essential providers of health care in remote regions. High vacancy rates in health centers impacts care in rural areas.

A 112-bed health center in southwest Uganda supports village health teams that visit remote villages and provides medical, surgical, and maternal-child services to a population of 250,000. A new Ugandan school of nursing has aligned with the hospital to prepare graduates to provide primary care in remote villages. A team from the USA visited the school and hospital to assess the curriculum and offer educational strategies and support to the school's leadership.

Provision of primary health care in the developing world is a longstanding global priority. Nurses are at the center of primary care in remote regions. Educational support for advanced nursing and strategic international relationships can positively impact nursing education in both high and low-income countries.

The USA team took part in assessments, teaching, simulation, and remote village outreach. Educational strategies and modalities were shared.

The Ugandan nursing school is established and affiliated with another Ugandan university. Standardized curriculum is in place, however continued collaboration is needed for program adaptation to accommodate the unique border region environment.

Intercollaborative sharing of information and resources between schools of nursing can have a direct impact on global health initiatives in both high-income and low-income countries.