KILN COMMUNITY MENTORING PROJECT Djerica Lamousnery April 20 th, 2011

Monica Onyango  Boston University School of Public Health  Clinical Assistant Professor International Health  Managing Disasters and Complex Humanitarian Emergencies  Education  Kenya Medical Training College, RN  Boston College, MS  Boston College, PhD  Boston University, MPH

First Meeting: Global Nursing Caucus  February 2011  Meeting with nurses from Boston with various roles and interest in public health and global nursing  Most nurses were currently or previously enrolled in Monica’s course at BU

What led her to call this meeting?  The Haiti Earthquake  led to her believe that there was either an absence of contributions by RNs or a lack of recognition for what RNs were doing  Guest lecturer at Simmons College:  nursing students approached her and asked why there weren’t courses for RNs regarding disasters  BUSPH nursing students:  what skills do I need to function as a nurse in the field of public health, a need to find a way to synthesize the two professions  Uganda Trip:  students were unprepared for the lack of resources, for cultural differences and also the lack of empowerment of the local nurses

Concerns from nurses  Concern about why so many nurses were leaving the nursing field to gain involvement in public health/international health  Nurses wanted to form a certificate program for RN’s that did not want to pursue an MPH as a career but would like to volunteer in the community during international relief aid and be skilled, competent, and prepared

Nurses and Global Health  Currently no specialty certification for RN’s interested in global health/ disaster management  Important to create one because of nurses increasing role in global health and the need for international aid skills  Goal of certification is to present nurses the fundamentals of global health and relief efforts to enable competent nurses in that field

Global Health Nurse and Disaster Management Certification Program Curriculum  Focus on key aspects of global health and disaster management  Health in the developing world Discuss social determinants of health in developed and developing countries and impacts of disaster on community and major needs during that time  Common Issues in Global Health and disaster relief emphasis on the common types of health problems and diseases Focus on environmental issues and its effect on health

Global Health Nurse and Disaster Management Certification Program Curriculum cont.  International Disaster Relief Management Assess, plan, and evaluate population and its needs during disaster/relief  Seminar Experience key skills needed on a global health scale: Wound management Dehydration protocol Infections disease/skin issues Patient teaching Managing care of women and children Prepare for limited resources/lack of supplies Creative ways to conserve and utilize resources Cultural competence component Language barrier/ communication issues Cultural implications and impacts on health

Length of Course  Program would be a 3 month certification program  Once a week for 4 hours  Include theory, practical (clinical skills), simulation, and case studies  Exam at end of course to test on knowledge and gain certification

Expanding the Curriculum  Curriculum based on the global health but can be used locally in the US too  Possible events where certification could be helpful:  Global medical missions and volunteering  Earthquake (Haiti, Japan)  Tsumani (Japan, Indonesia)  Hurricane (New Orleans)  Destruction (9/11)

References  UMD School of Nursing  programs/grad/certificates/global-health