Lessons Learned in Designing and Implementing a Mission Focused Study Abroad Course

Introduction: Based on Duffy’s (2009) Quality Caring Model and Hill and Watson’s Caring Science Curriculum Model (2011), the School of Nursing embraces the philosophy that caring collaborative relationships are the center of a culture of quality caring in nursing. Culture and cultural competence are integral to caring. Immersion experiences have been identified as impacting cultural competence (Bentley & Ellison, 2007; Kohlbry, 2016; Larsen & Reif, 2011; Long, 2012). Methodology: This paper describes the planning, implementation and lessons learned from an immersion experience as part of a mission focused study abroad course to Quito, Ecuador. Discussion: Twelve students, three faculty, and two nurse practitioners cared for approximately 100 patients per day for 10 days. Lessons learned related to faculty, students and logistics are discussed. Results: Students demonstrated positive outcomes related to critical thinking and clinical reasoning, holistic care of diverse populations, communication and collaboration, professional accountability, and effective teaching strategies.

Evaluation of Duffy’s Quality Caring Model© on Patients’ Perceptions of Nurse Caring in a Community Hospital

The purpose of this evaluation study was to examine the longitudinal impact of implementation of Duffy’s Quality Caring Model© on patients’ perceptions of nurse caring on medical, surgical, and telemetry units in a community hospital. Data collection points included pre implementation, and 6 months, 10 months, and 22 months post implementation. After each data collection point, nurse leaders developed interventions based on Duffy’s Quality Caring Model© to improve scores. Findings demonstrated higher patient perception of nurse caring scores at each data collection point and on each nursing unit.