title: Empowerment of nursing as a socially significant profession in Vietnam.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe nursing education and practice in Vietnam, and strategies that support empowerment of nursing as a socially significant profession for that country.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Jones-Meleis health empowerment model was used as a framework to examine barriers and identify strategies that support empowerment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fieldwork, interviews, and participation-observation in collaborative partnerships with the Ministry of Health, the national nurses association, and schools of nursing in Vietnam.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nurses in Vietnam are eagerly poised to make significant and essential contributions to the well-being of society.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Baccalaureate and master's degree nursing curricula taught by nurses are necessary for professionalization of nursing practice in Vietnam.
authors.affiliation: Loma Linda University, School of Nursing, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA. pjones@sn.llu.edu
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: O'Toole
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ngyuen
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Pham
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009729:Nursing; D011209:Power, Psychological; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D011364:Professional Practice; D011641:Public Relations; D014744:Vietnam