British paediatric and American pediatric nurses: how well do we know each other?
OBJECTIVE
To identify the similarities and differences between pediatric nurses in the United States and Britain, and to compare knowledge of each other's healthcare systems.


METHODS
A descriptive comparative study of 55 U.S. pediatric nurses and 37 U.K. paediatric nurses. Knowledge tests were constructed as parallel forms of items about each healthcare system. "Self-knowledge" and "other-knowledge" scores were compared.


RESULTS
British nurses' scores were higher for self and other than were U.S. nurses' scores. Individual items suggested that U.K. nurses were more aware of U.S. systems than U.S. nurses were of U.K. systems.


CONCLUSIONS
The U.S. and U.K. health systems are equally progressive, yet fundamentally different. To collaborate effectively, we must understand the similarities and differences.
Feeg
Veronica D
VD
George Mason University, College of Nursing and Health Science, Fairfax, VA, USA. rfeeg@gmu.edu
Hunter
Judith
J
D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D007587:Job Description; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012956:Societies, Nursing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce