Nursing practice and global refugee migration: initial impressions from an Intergovernmental-Academic Partnership

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Nursing
• Global Health

Background:

• Established in 2017, a bilateral Intergovernmental-Academic partnership between IOM/UN Migration Agency and the University of Minnesota aimed to improve refugee healthcare.
• Key focus on standardizing clinical practice and enhancing nursing leadership for refugee care, guided by CDC experts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the impact of field activities designed to enhance the capacity of IOM/UN Migration Agency and US-based nurses.
• To highlight the nursing role in health assessments and the continuum of care for refugees.
• To detail the development and future steps of an interdisciplinary, collaborative partnership.

Main Methods:

• Conducted listening sessions and direct interactions with IOM/UN Migration Agency and US-based refugee resettlement stakeholders.
• Analyzed patterns in refugee resettlement to inform partnership activities.

Main Results:

• Bilateral activities fostered mutuality, reciprocity, and equity between international and US-based nurses.
• Strengthened systems and resources enhance nurses' ability to optimize the health and well-being of refugees.
• The partnership bridges critical points in the migration and health trajectory of refugees.

Conclusions:

• The initiative demonstrates potential public health impact by improving care for refugees.
• Enhanced collaboration between geographically and contextually diverse health professionals is crucial.
• Strengthening nursing capacity is vital for optimizing refugee health outcomes.