Date of Award
2001
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Programs for Higher Education
Advisor
Martha J. Morgan Sanders
Committee Member
Susan Keen
Committee Member
Nancy Gadbow
Keywords
competencies, continuing nursing education, course development, course evaluation, developing countries, educational opportunities, faculty, formative committees, implementation, International Services, interviews, literature review, marketing strategy, nursing administration, nursing education, nursing students, online orientation course, orientation, program enhancement, registered nurses, research, Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology, SIAST, summative committees, transcultural nursing, work opportunities
Abstract
International Services, Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST), offers educational and work opportunities to nursing students and faculty. These opportunities are in developing countries and require individuals with skills and knowledge in transcultural nursing. Currently, there is no formal orientation course available as preparation for international assignments. The problem is that nursing students and faculty are not provided with a standard level of orientation prior to working in developing countries.
The purpose of this study was to determine the competencies needed by nursing students and faculty to work in other countries and to develop an online orientation course to meet these competencies. The study was designed to answer research questions related to the transcultural nursing competencies needed by nursing students and registered nurses seeking employment in other countries. A literature search provided the basis for identifying the appropriate content and design for an orientation course of this nature. Research, development, and evaluation problem-solving methodologies were used to address the research questions. Procedures included reviewing the literature, establishing the formative and summative committees, interviewing registered nurses, interviewing nursing students, establishing criteria for the development of the course, and seeking evaluative feedback on the course from both formative and summative committees.
The feedback from the registered nurses and nursing students reflected the results of the literature review. The interviewees indicated that they required additional information related to transcultural nursing prior to working or studying in another country to enhance their competence. The majority of individuals did not receive a formal orientation to transcultural nursing or the country. The interviewees and the members of the formative and summative committees provided support for the development of a transcultural nursing orientation course.
It was recommended that a decision be made by SIAST nursing administration to offer the course in 2001-2002 as part of regular continuing nursing education programming. A marketing strategy should be part of the implementation of the course and various nursing programs in SIAST could use the course as an enhancement to current program content. It was also recommended that resources be made available to support revisions and on-going course maintenance.