Collaborative online international learning in pre-licensure nursing: A case study

Abstract

Background: Despite the many noted benefits of collaborative online international learning (COlL) projects, it has rarely been used in nursing education. Nursing curricula must employ multiple strategies to prepare graduates for professional practice. With COIL’s benefits, its application to nursing education should be explored.

Methods: A qualitative case study approach guided by social constructivist theory was used to assess the impact of COIL on pre-licensure students' understanding of community/public health nursing, and the impact on preparedness for practice. 10 participants completed COIL projects and two surveys.

Results: Three themes were identified: enhanced perspectives of public health issues/practices/interventions; enhanced knowledge; and broadened understanding of role and scope of practice. 10 participants noted an impact on preparation for professional practice. 7/10 demonstrated a difference in definitions of community/public health nursing.

Conclusions: Further inclusion in pre-licensure curricula should be explored, particularly for its potential impact on preparation for professional practice.

Keywords

Collaborative online international learning / Community health nursing / Professional practice / Preparedness / Public health nursing

References

[1] American Public Health Association. The definition and practice of public health nursing. 2013. Available from: https://www.apha.org/media/files/pdf/membergroups/phn/nursingdefinition.ashx?la=en&hash=331DBEC4B79E0C0B8C644BF2BEA571249F8717A0

[2] Smiley RA, Allgeyer RL, Shobo Y, et al. The 2022 national nursing workforce survey. Journal of Nursing Regulation. 2023; 14(1): S1-S90. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2155-8256(23)00047-9

[3] van Iersel M, Latour C, de Vos R, et al. Nursing students’ perceptions of community care and other areas of nursing practice - A review of the literature. International Journal of Nursing Studies. 2016; 61: 1-19. PMid:27262085 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2016.05.011

[4] Pijl-Zieber E, Barton S, Awosoga O, et al. Nursing students achieving community health competencies through undergraduate clinical experiences: A gap analysis. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship. 2015; 12(1): 1-12.

[5] Agbenyikey D, Kohoun B, Etowa J. Choosing a career in community health nursing: Perspectives of undergraduate nursing students. Journal of Community Medicine & Public Health. 2022; 6(1): 1-20.

[6] Jung D, DeGagne J, Choi E, et al. An online international collaborative learning program during the COVID-19 pandemic for nursing students: Mixed methods study. JMIR Medical Education. 2022; 8(1): e34171. PMid:34982035 https://doi.org/10.2196/34171

[7] Asojo A, Kartoshkina Y, Amole D, et al. Multicultural learning and experiences in design through collaborative online international learning (COIL) framework. Journal of Teaching and Learning with Technology. 2019; 8(1): 5-16.

[8] de Castro AB, Dyba N, Cortez E, et al. Collaborative online international learning to prepare students for multicultural work environments. Nurse Educator. 2018; 44(4): E1-E5. PMid:30339556 https://doi.org/10.1097/NNE.0000000000000609

[9] House S, Nielsen K, Dowell S. International collaboration using Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL)/Globally Networked Learning (GNL) model. Teaching and Learning in Nursing. 2022; 17(4): 421-424. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.teln.2022.06.010

[10] Niitsu K, Kondo A, Hua J, et al. A case report of collaborative on-line international learning in nursing and health studies between the United States and Japan. Nursing Education Perspectives. 2023; 44(3): 196-197. PMid:35420569 https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NEP.0000000000000974

[11] Bragodottir H, Potter T. Educating nurse leaders to think globally with international collaborative learning. Nordic Journal of Nursing Research. 2019; 39(4): 186-190. https://doi.org/10.1177/2057158519856271

[12] Kiegaldie D, Pepe E, Shaw L, et al. Implementation of a collaborative online international learning program in nursing education: Protocol for a mixed methods study. BMC Nursing. 2022; 21(1): 252.

[13] Jenssen U, Bochenek J, King T, et al. Impact of COIL: Learning from student nurses in Norway who collaborated with U.S. students. Journal of Transcultural Nursing. 2023; 35(1): 74-82. PMid:37933746 https://doi.org/10.1177/10436596231209043

[14] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.10 great public health achievements - US 2001-2010. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2011. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6019a5.htm

[15] World Health Organization. 10 years in public health. 2018. Available from: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/255355/8789241512442-eng.pdf

[16] Rector C, Stanley M. Community and public health nursing. (10th ed.) Wolters Kluwer. 2021.

[17] Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (n.d.). Healthy People 2030. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Available from: https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/social-determinants-health

[18] Vygotsky LS, Cole M.Mind in society: Development of higher psychological processes. Harvard University Press; 1978.

[19] Schreiber LM, Valle BE. Social constructivist teaching strategies in the small group classroom. Small Group Research. 2013; 44(4): 395-411. https://doi.org/10.1177/1046496413488422

[20] Wager E, McGough M, Rakshit S, et al. How does health spending in the U.S. compare to other countries? Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker. 2022. Available from: https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/chart-collection/health-spending-u-s-compare-countries/#GDP%20per%20capita%20and%20health%20consumption%20spending%20per%20capita,%202022%20(U.S.%20dollars,%20PPP%20adjusted)

[21] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.National Health Expenditures 2017 Highlights. 2017. Available from: https://www.cms.gov/research-statistics-data-and-systems/statistics-trends-and-reports/nationalhealthexpenddata/downloads/highlights.pdf

[22] Papanicolas I, Woskie LR, Jha AK. Health care spending in the United States and other high-income countries. JAMA. 2018; 319(10): 1024-1039. PMid:29536101 https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2018.1150

[23] Sawyer B, Cox C. How does dealth spending in the U.S. compare to other countries? Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker. 2018. Available from: https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/chart-collection/health-spending-u-s-compare-countries/#GDP%20per%20capita%20and%20health%20consumption%20spending%20per%20capita,%202022%20(U.S.%20dollars,%20PPP%20adjusted)

[24] Squires D, Anderson C. US health care from a global perspective: Spending, use of services, prices, and health in 13 countries. Issue Brief (Commonwealth Fund). 2015; 15: 1-15.

[25] Ely DM, Driscoll AK. Infant Mortality in the United States, 2018:Data from the period linked birth/infant death file. National Vital Statistics Reports. 2020; 69(7): 1-18.

[26] 2021 Annual report. America’s Health Rankings - United Health Foundation. 2022. Available from: https://www.americashealthrankings.org/learn/reports/2021-annual-report/international-comparison

[27] Dagher RK, Linares DE. A critical review on the complex interplay between social determinants of health and maternal and infant mortality. Children. 2022; 9(3): 394. PMid:35327766 https://doi.org/10.3390/children9030394

[28] Kurth A, Potter T. The public health crisis is planetary- And nursing is crucial to addressing it. American Journal of Public Health. 2022; 112(53): S259-S261. PMid:35679564 https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.306877